LOCK HAVEN, Pa. The Lock Haven University Football Hall of Fame Committee has announced its 2011 class.
The 2011 Hall of Fame class is made up of 11 individuals.
Also being inducted is the 1960 Bald Eagle team.
The 11 individuals, who make up the 2011 class, are Robert Narducci, Daniel Spittal, Robert Difonzo, Fred Peightal, Joseph Speese, David Zielinskie, Robert Craig, Ronald Puhl, Richard Conner, John Fisher and Richard Deibert.
There will also be special recognition of Ross Nevel (former LHU Sports Information Director) and Dr. Barbara B. Dixon (Interim President at LHU, 2010-11).
The 2011 Hall of Fame class will be honored at the second annual LHU HOF Induction ceremony on Saturday, May 21 at the Durrwachter Alumni Conference Center.
Individual biographies of each inductee are listed below.
Click here for more information on the ceremony.
Robert Narducci – Narducci was an All-Conference player for the Bald Eagles for three consecutive seasons from 1978, '79 and '80.
The four-year starter at defensive tackle showed his toughness and determination by never missing a game. Following the 1978 and '80 seasons he was named the team's Defensive Player of the Year.
He played defensive line and linebacker.
Naurducci finished his career with 270 tackles, which is 12th best in Haven history.
After graduating from Lock Haven in 1981, Narducci entered the world of coaching and quickly became an assistant on Jack Fisher's staff at Lock Haven.
For the last 25 years, Narducci has worked for the State of Connecticut in the Department of Children and Families office. He plans to retire in 2011. During that time he also served as an assistant football coach for 12 seasons at Valley Regional High School (Conn.).
He also spent four years as an assistant with Southern Connecticut State University.
Daniel Spittal – After transferring to Lock Haven in 1977, Spittal took over at quarterback and never missed a game or single play in the next three seasons.
He completed over 51 percent of his passes, throwing for 4,001 yards, which is fourth-best in school history.
Spittal, a First Team All-Conference selection in 1979 led the Bald Eagles to the 1979 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) title. He was a two-time All-Conference selection.
Following his graduation in 1981, Spittal never stepped away from the game he loved and has served as a coach in many different arenas. Since 1999 he has served as the head football coach at Eastern High School (N.J.). Spittal led the team into the playoffs six times and into the State semifinals twice. Eastern won the 2003 New Jersey Group IV State Championship in 2003 under Spittal's leadership.
Robert Difonzo – Difonzo was a running back for the Bald Eagles in 1956 and '57. He was joined in the backfield by George Dintiman, in what is arguably the best backfield tandem in the history of LHU football.
Legendary Lock Haven coach Hubert Jack referred to Difonzo as one of the toughest pound-for-pound football players he'd ever seen.
Difonzo helped lead the Bald Eagles to an undefeated season in 1957 (8-0). Playing on both sides of the ball in 1958, he led the team in tackles from his outside linebacker spot.
Difonzo was a two-time All-Conference selection and was a Little All-American Honorable Mention selection in 1958.
The now retired Difonzo spent 30 years following graduation as a high school teacher and coach, coaching both football and track & field.
The 1960 team – The 1960 Bald Eagles went 8-2 overall. LHU was 8-1 heading into the championship game with West Chester, but the Golden Rams came away with a 35-6 win.
Under head coach Jack Fisher (2010 HOF inductee), the 1960 team collected Lock Haven's 10th consecutive winning year.
Lock Haven went 5-0 in Pennsylvania State College Western Conference (now PSAC West) action.
Only the 1957 team at 8-0, had a better record following World War II.
Five Bald Eagles earned All-Conference honors following the 1960 season with the same five players (Fran Cornelius, Ron Puhl, Fred Peightal, Robert Doan & Jerry Roberts) all earning Williamson's Little All-American honors.
Fred Peightal – Peightal was a quarterback for Lock Haven from 1958-61.
The four-year lettermen and three-year starter (1959, '60 & '61) under center threw 13 touchdown passes during the team's 1960 run at the conference title.
While playing quarterback, Peightal went a remarkable 20-5-1.
He was a three-time All-Conference selection.
Following the 1961 season, Peightal was an All-PSAC Second Team selection, AP Little All-American Honorable Mention selection and was selected as the starter in the Gem City Bowl.
Joseph Speese – Evident by his name dotted in Lock Haven record books, Speese is one of the best running backs in Bald Eagle history.
The 1981 graduate still holds the record for career rush yards with 3,399.
Speese was a four-year lettermen from 1977-'80 and he assumed the role as starter in '78, never missing a play from the point forward.
He was voted a Little All-American Honorable Mention selection three times.
On three occasions, Speese was selected to the PSAC First Team.
He is still No. 2 on Lock Haven's all-time rush attempts (651) and yards/game list (82.9.)
David Zielinksie – After a stellar career at Shamokin High School, Zielinskie became a four-year starter at safety for Lock Haven in 1978.
After taking the field during the second half of the third game of the season during his freshman season, he never missed a play from that point on.
The 1982 graduate is still second all-time in the PSAC with 23 interceptions. His 23 interceptions are a LHU record. He also holds the single-season record for interceptions with 11 and his three interceptions vs. Mansfield in 1981 are still a record as well.
Zielinskie was a three-time All-PSAC selection and he signed a free-agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles following his sensational Lock Haven career.
Following his playing days, he went on to a very lengthy and successful high school football coaching career.
Robert Craig – The 1953 graduate was a member of the football team at Lock Haven from 1949-52.
Arguably one of the best athletes ever at Lock Haven, Craig played five sports and earned 18 varsity letters.
While at Lock Haven, he participated in football, wrestling, track & field, gymnastics and swimming & diving (lettered in diving).
In 1953, Craig was named a Pennsylvania State Teachers College (now PSAC) All-Conference running back after he set a new LHU single season record touchdowns.
Following his sensational athletic career, Craig went on an equally successful 41 year career as a high school teacher and coach at Cedar Cliff High School.
Richard Conner – Conner was an important part of the 1957 undefeated team.
He graduated in 1958 after a stellar four-year career.
Following the 1957 season, Conner was an All-Conference selection and a NAIA Little All-American selection.
Following his time at Lock Haven, he went onto a 34-year career as a physical education and drive education teacher at Williamsport High School. During that time he also coached football and wrestling.
He's the founder of the annual Top Hat Wrestling Tournament in Williamsport.
Ronald Puhl – Puhl, a former All-Conference running back for Lock Haven is a 1961 graduate.
He was a member of the football team from 1958-60.
Puhl was a 1959 and 1960 All-PSAC selection and a NAIA Little All-American in 1960.
During the 1960 season, he was ranked among the top-three backs in the NAIA with 1,269 rushing yards. At the time it was the school's single-season record.
Puhl was also a 1960 Associated Press Little All-American and William's All-American selection.
Following his graduation in 1960, Puhl went onto a 44-year career as a teacher and coach at the high school and college levels.
John Fisher – Fisher, a 1964 graduate of Slippery Rock influenced the lives of hundreds of young men during his long and successful career as a coach at Lock Haven.
Fisher coached at LHU from 1974-2002, serving as the head coach from 1978-86.
He led the Bald Eagles to the 1979 PSAC Championships and he was named PSAC Coach of the Year for his efforts.
Fischer helped coach and develop a number of talented Bald Eagle players including fellow Hall of Fame inductee Joe Speese.
As the head coach, Fisher also initiated nine different awards presented to LHU players.
Fisher coached four All-Americans, seven ECAC All-Stars and 79 All-Conference athletes.
Richard Deibert – Deibert is a 1959 Lock Haven graduate and was a four-year starter for the Bald Eagles from 1955-58.
The offensive tackle and defensive end was a key member of the 1957 undefeated team.
Deibert was a 1958 NAIA Little All-American Honorable Mention selection.
Deibert, who was known for his exceptional blocking skills, was a huge reason behind Lock Haven's tremendous running success during the four years he started on the offensive line.
He was also a three-year member of the swim team while at Lock Haven.
Following his time at Lock Haven, Deibert went on a very successful career as a coach at Bedford and Hempfield High Schools. He coached football and basketball.
Last year, Lock Haven inducted 11 members as part of The Haven's inaugural Hall of Fame class.
The 2010 inductees were Robert McLaughlin, Michael Packer, Charles Vennie, George Dintiman, G. Tony Tate, Fran Cornelius, Fred Caro, John Nevins, George Teufel, Hubert Jack and Ronald Bowes.
The Haven's first ever Hall of Fame class was made up of nine former players, a former coach and contributor.