Hall of Fame
Following the practice of a special team recognition established in 1998, the Committee recommended that a similar honor be accorded to the undefeated 1972-73 Championship football team. This was the forty-second and last gridiron squad coached by John Barnes and accounted for the first eight victories in the New York State record-a 43 game undefeated streak.
Prior to the season, Coach Barnes had announced that it would be his last year coaching the Crusaders. As the year continued and the squad remained undefeated, excitement grew at the possibility of an undefeated championship season for Barnes' last CHS squad. It came down to the last game of the year and Canisius found themselves undefeated and playing against a tough Bishop Timon squad for the championship. Running backs Bill Koessler and Carl Emerling were both injured early in the game, and senior Charlie Weber (a backup QB) was then called upon to fill in for the injured players. Weber rushed for 100 yards and accounted for all the crusaders points-his first time even at that position for the Crusaders.
Coach Johnny Barnes' 1972-73 championship team goes down in Western New York history as having won one of the biggest and most exciting football games of that century.
