PSU All-American Randy Crowder has passed away (siap)

[Bob78]

Randy Crowder passes away

1973 PSU Co-Captain and All-American Randy Crowder passes away May 21, 2025.
The outstanding 1973 team was 12-0, beat LSU 16-9 in the Orange Bowl, finished ranked #5 in a very crowded Top 5+ that season. What a playoff series that would have been!
Crowder and Ed O'Neil were AA on that great defense. (Others too, perhaps, but I'm not sure off the top).
'73 was of course the John Cappelletti Heisman season.
Chuck Herd's terrific one-handed, 70+ yard catch and run for a TD was the offensive highlight of that Orange Bowl. Tom Shuman was a very good QB. Lots of talent on that team, Crowder among the best of the bunch.

 

[OptionBob]

Eternal rest grant unto him.

That 1973 team was the only 12-0 squad in the country ... yet ranked #5.

I still remember DT Mike Hartenstine constantly getting to Stanford's AA QB Mike Boryla (spelling?) in the season opener at Stanford. The next year, Hartenstine was named Defensive Player of the Year by NBC.

 

[Nits74]

Eternal rest grant unto him.

That 1973 team was the only 12-0 squad in the country ... yet ranked #5.

I still remember DT Mike Hartenstine constantly getting to Stanford's AA QB Mike Boryla (spelling?) in the season opener at Stanford. The next year, Hartenstine was named Defensive Player of the Year by NBC.

So typical of that era.
I remember the Pitt game that year. Trailed for awhile, but blew them out in the second half. I think the final was 35-13. Carson Long had kicked a long field goal to end the half after which he briefly taunted the Penn State bench. Pitt paid for that one. He would pay again a few years later after missing a couple of field goals in Pitt's one point loss (7-6) at Three Rivers. I still remember our fans loudly referring to him as Carson Wide as we left the stadium.

 

[JohnJumba]

Sugar Bear.

He will be missed.

 

[Fac]

Born in Sharon and went to Farrell High School.

 

[ApexLion]

Dominant player at DT on truly great teams. As Keith Jackson used to say about O'Neil and Crowder's teams 'that Lions Defense will put a hat on you.'

 

[s1uggo72]

IIRC Randy got in legal trouble. and Joe stepped up an hired him to coach, probably saved his life at that point. Had a very good pro career, mostly with the Dolphins I believe.

 

[Bessmoney]

In 1969 Farrell played Penn Hills in the WPIAL final. PH had George Karl (N. Carolina), Donnie Wilson (Pitt), Artie Barr (Syracuse) and 2-6’6” forwards. Farrell had Crowder and Dave Johnson ( Cincinnati). Crowder crushed PH in the paint as Farrell went on to win the game and state title. PH was a quad A school while Farrell was a Class A school that played quad A. Had a great coach-Eddie McClowskie (sp).

 

[Nits74]

In 1969 Farrell played Penn Hills in the WPIAL final. PH had George Karl (N. Carolina), Donnie Wilson (Pitt), Artie Barr (Syracuse) and 2-6’6” forwards. Farrell had Crowder and Dave Johnson ( Cincinnati). Crowder crushed PH in the paint as Farrell went on to win the game and state title. PH was a quad A school while Farrell was a Class A school that played quad A. Had a great coach-Eddie McClowskie (sp).

Yep, the glory days of Farrell and Midland. Small schools competing above their class levels in FB and/or BB

 

[JohnJumba]

Went to school with Sugar, Cappy and Franco.