Mansfield Athletics

Ted played four sports. In football he was a lineman, center, guard and linebacker. In basketball he was a guard, in baseball he played infield and was a pitcher and in wrestling he finished the season for the regular 145 lb. man who broke his leg. Ted began his career in 1929 and concluded in 1933. Football and basketball were 4 year sports for Ted while baseball was 2 years and wrestling was 2 year. A newspaper article reads “The Mansfield State Teachers College football team is undefeated, with a record of no games lost and one tied, with Cortland at 6-6. The unusual part of this record is the fact that of the five games played the total score is only 28 points to their opponents 18. This is an average of less than a touchdown a game. Two of these games were won by the extra point after touchdown, and one victory was won by a 2-0 score. Mansfield is the only unbeaten teachers college team in the state, with the exception of West Chester, which although it has been beaten, has not been defeated by a teachers’ college. Because Mansfield has not been beaten, even by outside teams, West Chester comes in for a second rating… the championship rests between these two teams which are located in opposite parts of the state.” During these depression years in football there were no “stats”, but they played 60 minutes with offense and defense. In 1952-1953 Coach Ed Russin was injured and Besanceney was asked to help with the football team followed by the basketball team. During this season Joe Linkoski broke Ray Kodish’s scoring record at MU. Following that Ted was asked to coach the baseball program.