On December 3, 1983, the Dutchman football team came within three minutes of winning the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, the Division III national championship game. While Union finished second in the country, as it did again in 1989, the accomplishments of the 1983 Dutchmen continue to be goals that players look to attain when they put the pads on in September.
On Saturday, September 20, Union hosted a 20-year ReUnion for the '83 squad. A reception prior to the game against WPI was held at Abbe Hall and those that returned to campus were recognized on the field at halftime.
The 2003 Dutchmen added to the success of the event as they played, and won, their first night game in 20 years by defeating the Engineers, 19-16, as senior placekicker Cliff Eisenhut contributed 13 points on a point after touchdown and four field goals, the last coming with 27 seconds remaining to provide the margin of victory. Union's only other night game came on October 1, 1983 when the Dutchmen defeated Albany State in the rain, 24-7. A crowd of 3,120 turned out for this year's game.
Those former players who returned included:
Joe Allen, Tom Almedia, Dale Bajcer, Winston Britton, Gerry Campanelli, Steve Cirillo, Brian Cox, Dan Doherty, Dan Stewart, Anthony Valente, Roger Harris, Tim Howell, Len Huttner, John Johnson, Rich Kellaher, Steve Olsen, Tim Ramundo, and Todd Walker.
The players were joined by retired Union athletic director, Dick, Sakala, former coach Fred Brown, and former head athletic trainer Tom Fausher.
Members of the media who followed the team to through the playoffs and to the Stagg Bowl were Bob McNamara, John Thomas, Scott Wyckoff, Eric Hornic, and Bill Arsenault.