Walter Bahr and Soccer’s ‘No-Hopers’ Featured in the N.Y. Times
December 10, 2009 at 11:30 am Ryan Jones 7 comments
It’s been a good week for Penn Staters in the New York Times. Two days after a profile of women’s volleyball coach Russ Rose dominated the Times’ front Sports page, today’s section includes a terrific feature on the 1950 U.S. World Cup soccer team responsible for the biggest upset in the game’s history. One of the key players on that squad was Walter Bahr, who went on to coach the Penn State men’s soccer team for years (and whose sons, Chris ’75 and Matt ’79, played soccer for Bahr and football for Joe Paterno and went on to kick in the NFL). Down in Brazil nearly 60 years ago, Walter assisted on the only goal in the Americans’ monumental upset of the heavily favored English.
So why is Walter, now retired and living in Boalsburg, back in the news? Because last week, the current U.S. national team was drawn with England in the opening game of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The Americans figure to be slight underdogs against the Brits next summer, but a U.S. victory wouldn’t be shocking. Either way, expect Bahr’s name to come up in the media more and more as June 12 approaches. As he told the Times, “The older I get, the more famous I become.”
Ryan Jones, senior editor
Entry filed under: Famous Penn Staters, Other Penn State sports. Tags: Chris Bahr, England, Matt Bahr, New York Times, soccer, Walter Bahr, World Cup.
Subscribe
1. Anonymous | December 10, 2009 at 3:06 pm
great. Thanks for posting this. Another Penn State celebrity right here in Happy Valley.
2. Jerry Moyer | December 15, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Thanks for sharing. I had the great pleasure of playing for Coach Bahr at Penn State (1981-85). He’s a most spectacular man who has not only helped American Soccer through the years, but has influenced the lives of all who he coached. It’s rare that a day passes that I don’t somehow use the “wisdom” he shared with me. While I can’t believe it’s been nearly 25 years since I played on Jeffrey Field, I cherish every moment I had there and continue to be influenced by the man I simply called “Coach”. Congratulations to Coach Bahr and to all of Penn State for everything you continue to do. WE ARE…PENN STATE!
3. Don Shirk | December 16, 2009 at 5:06 pm
That was a wonderful story about coach Bahr. Some people believe that upset win against the highly favored British was the greatest upset ever in any sport. One thing though that I would like to point out is that the Americans were coached by my old coach at Penn State, Bill Jeffrey.
4. Stuart Kessler | December 18, 2009 at 9:55 pm
I have known Coach Bahr for more than 50 years and would bet he can still kick 40 yard field goals in his bare feet. Great Guy and great Family. And — on his travaels throughout the world as a soccer player he learned at least one song in every country and can play them all on the ukelele.
5. Ron Coleman | December 23, 2009 at 11:19 am
It is amazing that the Penn Stater staff failed to mention Bill Jeffrey in this blog. Don Shirk did mention him in his comment. Walt Bahr was not the only Penn Stater on the team. It was actually coached by Bill Jeffrey, former Lion soccer coach after whom Jeffrey Field is named. I didn’t play with Shirk but I did play for Bill Jeffrey whom we referred to affectionately as “Old Bagpipes.” Another bit of nostalgia current students and recent alums couldn’t possibly know.
6. Jerry Moyer | December 23, 2009 at 11:26 am
Thanks for the Bill Jeffrey notes. Playing on “Jeffrey Field” was amazing. It was also a big pleasure to receive the “Bill Jeffrey MVP” award. While I did not know Bill Jeffrey personally, I’m sure Coach Bahr (who I played for from 1981-85) was influenced greatly by Bill Jeffrey. Great stuff…thanks Don and Ron.
7. Kamel Haddad | January 2, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Great to see this nice article in the NYT on Coach Bahr. I played for the Booters from 86 to 89 and consider myself lucky to have met and played for Coach Bahr. I learned so much from him. Jeffrey field was a great field to play on and it’s great to have all those memories. Good luck in the next season. Go Penn State!
Kamel or #14.