PHILADELPHIA – To honor the 50-year career of recently retired University of Pennsylvania sprint football head coach Bill Wagner, the Penn Champions Club called on members of the sprint football community to create an All-Wags Team for each of the five decades (1970s through the 2010s) the tenured coach served at the helm.

We are happy to announce the second of these five teams. The All-Wags 1980s team consists of 58 alumni with 28 players recognized on offense, 23 players recognized on defense and seven specialists honored.

"This was a talented group of men both on and off the playing field," said Wagner of his teams in the 1980s. "They continued the development of lightweight football as the program moved forward with many challenges. Their leadership, athletic ability and endless energy is evident in how they grew into major careers in every different walk of life. Traditions and life-long loyalty to the lightweight football program are still flourishing today because of your efforts. I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to share in your decade of accomplishments."

The All-Wags 1980s First Team featured 12 players on offense, 12 on defense, a kicker and a punter. The first team is highlighted by five Schmucker Award Winners (team MVP) and Tom Stilwell EAS'81, W'81 also has an annual team award named in his memory.

Tom Frankel W'84 was the first-team QB and he is joined in the backfield by Sean Madden C'88, W'88 and Mark Dianno C'90.
 
A trio of wide receivers landed on the first team with Seth Berger C'89, Nate Scott C'89 and Mike Rauch C'90 all being recognized.
 
Up front, the first-team offensive linemen were Eric Furda C'87, Paul Vaccaro C'90, Tom Stilwell EAS'81, W'81, Sean Mahoney C'89, Steven Warner ENG'88, W'88 and Taro Fujimori C'85.

In the trenches, the first-team defensive line featured Eric Borman EE'83, Ed Dziadzio EE'83, Fred Moran W'88 and Ralph Rosato C'81.

Mike Cochran W'81 highlighted a quartet of linebackers on the first team. Paul Moschella W'82, Ed Baldwin C'83 and Paul Gabos W'87 joined Cochran in this group.
 
Roaming the secondary on the first team were Chuck McCall EE'90, Jim Thurston C'84, Michael Gardner C'86 and Jerry Novick W'81.
 
Kicker Tim "Benny" Hill W'90 and punter Joe Walsh W'82 rounded out the 1980s All-Wags First Team.
 
1980s All-Wags Team
(Those who were nominated for multiple positions received recognition at the position they received the most votes)
FIRST TEAM
QB: Tom Frankel W'84
RB: Sean Madden C'88, W'88
        Mark Dianno C'90
WR: Seth Berger C'89
         Nate Scott C'89
         Mike Rauch C'90
OL: Eric Furda C'87
       Paul Vaccaro C'90
       Tom Stilwell EAS'81, W'81
       Sean Mahoney C'89
       Steven Warner ENG'88, W'88
       Taro Fujimori C'85
DL: Eric Borman EE'83
       Ed Dziadzio EE'83
       Fred Moran W'88
       Ralph Rosato C'81
LB: Mike Cochran W'81
       Paul Moschella W'82
       Ed Baldwin C'83
       Paul Gabos W'87
DB: Chuck McCall EE'90
       Jim Thurston C'84
       Michael Gardner C'86
       Jerry Novick W'81
K:   Tim "Benny" Hill W'90
P:   Joe Walsh W'82
 
SECOND TEAM
QB: Bob O'Brien C'89
RB: Rich Calabrese EE'88
       Rob Shnider  W'85
WR: Dan Doheny C'85
         Jon Beard C'86
         Steve Lipper W'83
OL: Ed Hom C'84
       Dan Schwartz EE'82
       Eric Frank C'82
DL: Ron Woodmansee W'82
       Robert Beechy W'85
       Rigoberto Cornejo C'90
LB: Arthur Chou ME'84
       Eric Fisher C'86
       Brian Fitzburgh ENG'86
DB: Rich Rutledge C'81
       Fred Elmy W'82
       Tom Amos EE'81, W'81
       Jim Kearns ME'82, W'82
K:   Joe Halprin C'87 W'87
P:   Chad Smith '88
 
HONORABLE MENTION
QB: Rob Camastro C'85
        George Pronesti C'81
        Joe Alpert C'85
RB: Darryl Bull W'82
       Michael DiCandilo W'82
       John Lopez C'85
LB: Brian Fradin W'86
       Matt Paumen W'83
K:   Bob Marshall C'83
       Jon Seitz C'83
P:   Jon Rubin W'87