California University of Pennsylvania Athletics

Under Head Coach Bill Hepner, Vulcan football became one of the most diverse and explosive offensive teams in small college football and one of Cal’s most prolific game-breaking threats was Ettore Perri.

Perri, a four-year starter, was the consummate wide receiver and starred for the Vulcans from 1963 through 1966.

By the conclusion of his senior year, Perri owned all of the Cal’s receiving records. His 27 career touchdowns remained the school standard for 34 years and is still the second most in Vulcan football history behind Wesley Cates, Jr, who finished in 2001. Perri is understandably pleased with his Hall of Fame honor and his brother-in-law keeps him informed on the current Vulcan football team.

“It’s a great honor and really the icing on the cake for me I guess,” Perri said. “From what I hear my record was broken by a very classy young man. I am not sure how accurate the records were back when I played but that was not what it is all about. I was involved with many quality people.”

Perri spoke highly of Hepner and Elmo Natali, an assistant coach and former Vulcan star running back who would later be Cal’s head football coach.

“Those were good men and smart football coaches,” Perri said. “They were aggressive people and so were we on the football field. We were wide open and challenged the other teams.”

Aided by Perri’s consistency, the Vulcans achieved two winning seasons and one non-losing season during his era. During Perri’s four seasons and 33 games, Cal scored 20 or more points 14 times and 34 or more points seven times. Not including two shutout defeats, Cal averaged 25 points a game during Perri’s 1966 senior season. The Vulcans compiled consecutive 4-2 records against their PSAC-West rivals in 1965 and 1966. Cal’s primary quarterback during Perri’s years was Bill Lee. Jeff Petrucci also played quarterback during the second half of the 1966 season.

“I wish I would have had Jeff for more,” Perri said. “He and Bill were both strong competitors.”

Perri looks back favorably on his collegiate playing days and believes football was more team-oriented than as opposed to now.

“We just loved playing and did it for nothing back then” Perri said. “We did not have modern facilities and using the weight room was optional. I think athletics has been blown out of proportion these days and there is too much pressure on coaches and player to win. It is a lot different now and we did it just for fun.”

One of many exceptional games the Lee-Perri duo enjoyed was a 27-20 win over Lock Haven in 1966 when Lee passed for 367 yards, which was the second-highest total in school history. Perri accounted for over 150 receiving yards in that seven-point win with two touchdowns. He had one fumble recovery for a touchdown in his illustrious career and 26 receiving touchdowns. Perri also caught two touchdown passes in a dramatic come-from-behind 14-14 Homecoming tie with Clarion at Cal’s Booster Field in 1964. Perri was also a member of the Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity and received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics education in 1967.

Born in Washington, Perri was a 1963 graduate of Bentworth High School, which was called Bentleyville-Ellsworth High School at the time. He was a three-year scholastic letterman in football and two-year letterman in basketball. He was a two-time scholastic football all-star selection who played numerous positions on both offense and defense. In college, he was used only as a receiver but was called upon to play defensive backfield in certain passing situations by the opposition. A quick and athletic guard, Perri helped the Bearcat boy’s basketball team win the 1963 WPIAL Class AA championship.

Perri retired this past January after a 36-year career as an operations research analyst for the Department of the Army. He graduated a semester early and began working one month later. At his job, Perri met his wife, Mary Lou, and the couple lived the majority of their lives in Joppa, Maryland. Just as he credited his coaches, Perri praised the faculty that taught him and still keeps in touch with Cal U mathematics and computer science faculty member George Novak.

“The faculty in the mathematics department was excellent,” said Perri. “For the Army we tested and evaluated all the equipment they bought such as tanks and guns. Analytical work and understanding of statistics played a big part of my work every day on the job. I went to work right after college and my education from Cal paid off immediately.”

The couple now resides in New Freedom, Pa., York County. They are the parents of two grown children—Frank and Sarah, and have five grandchildren.

Though unable to attend this year’s Hall of Fame Banquet, Perri does plan on returning to his alma mater soon. He hopes to make it back for a Football Alumni Weekend, which was held for the 25th consecutive year earlier this spring.

“I regret that I cannot come to the banquet and am grateful and appreciative of this honor,” said Perri. “But now that I am retired I should have more time and would love to come back soon. I have a lot of good memories.”