I was surprised, even shocked, that your January 2025 edition did not include my classmate George Sella ’50 among Princeton’s 25 Greatest Athletes.
George starred at wingback in the single-wing offense and at cornerback on defense of our 1947, 1948, and 1949 teams. This was prior to “free substitution” being introduced, but even if later on, he would have starred playing both ways. He was a spectacular ball carrier, pass catcher, blocker, and tackler and, in my opinion, was a more talented allaround football player than Dick Kazmaier. I take nothing away from Kaz, but he played on offense only and was a member of a superior team his senior year — third in the nation if I recall correctly.
Further, George at 5-foot-10 held the great Yale basketball scorer, 6-foot-3 Tony Lavelli, to one field goal and three foul shots in Dillon Gym. Coach “Cappy” Cappon had devised a box and one defensive scheme and George, catlike, smothered Lavelli, almost completely denying him the ball.
Incidentally, George was rated New Jersey’s top high school athlete of the year in 1946 out of Cliffside Park High School over the great multi-sport star Bucky Hatchett, out of Verona High School and later Rutgers.
I note that almost all of your greatest 25 athletes went on to the Olympics or played as professionals. Not George. After Princeton he was drafted by the Chicago Bears but opted to earn his MBA at Harvard and went on to become CEO of American Cyanamid.
George Sella was a very special athlete and individual.
I was surprised, even shocked, that your January 2025 edition did not include my classmate George Sella ’50 among Princeton’s 25 Greatest Athletes.
George starred at wingback in the single-wing offense and at cornerback on defense of our 1947, 1948, and 1949 teams. This was prior to “free substitution” being introduced, but even if later on, he would have starred playing both ways. He was a spectacular ball carrier, pass catcher, blocker, and tackler and, in my opinion, was a more talented allaround football player than Dick Kazmaier. I take nothing away from Kaz, but he played on offense only and was a member of a superior team his senior year — third in the nation if I recall correctly.
Further, George at 5-foot-10 held the great Yale basketball scorer, 6-foot-3 Tony Lavelli, to one field goal and three foul shots in Dillon Gym. Coach “Cappy” Cappon had devised a box and one defensive scheme and George, catlike, smothered Lavelli, almost completely denying him the ball.
Incidentally, George was rated New Jersey’s top high school athlete of the year in 1946 out of Cliffside Park High School over the great multi-sport star Bucky Hatchett, out of Verona High School and later Rutgers.
I note that almost all of your greatest 25 athletes went on to the Olympics or played as professionals. Not George. After Princeton he was drafted by the Chicago Bears but opted to earn his MBA at Harvard and went on to become CEO of American Cyanamid.
George Sella was a very special athlete and individual.