Mount Hosts Tribute to Football Coaching Legend John Pont
September 9, 2008 (Mount Release)
CINCINNATI , OH - A tribute to the late football legend John Pont will be held at the College of Mount St. Joseph Saturday, September 27. The event takes place before the Mount's football game against Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology that evening at 6:30 p.m.
Coach Pont arrived at the Mount in 1989 to help establish the College's football program. In the fall of 1990 the Lions took the field for the first time in Terre Haute , Indiana , against the Rose-Hulman Fightin' Engineers and garnered the team's first and only win of the season.
In the early days of the program, Pont and his assistants were involved in all aspects of football - from recruiting the students and press box staff to marking the fields and washing the uniforms. Pont was the consummate fundraiser and friend-raiser who forged new relationships for the College. He served as the Lions head coach until 1992 when he left to build a football team in Japan . Pont died July 1 in Oxford , Ohio , after a long illness.
Former athletes and coaches who played for Coach Pont will be on Schueler Field for the tribute, which begins around 6:15 p.m. Memories of the former coach will be offered by colleague and close friend Ron Corradini, who succeeded Pont as head coach, and Mount alum Craig Hockenberry, principal at Oyler School in Price Hill and a former Lions defensive lineman. There will also be a special presentation to John's wife, Sandy Pont, and family.
The football game takes place at the Mount's Sports Complex, located at the corner of Neeb and Delhi roads. Game time is 6:30 p.m. General admission tickets may be purchased at the gate for $7/person, $2/students and seniors.