University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame
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Clement A. Forte 1955 - Football
One of the best football linemen to don the Green and Gold, Clem Forte's induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame, which happened in 1988, probably should have come sooner.
Like most offensive linemen, pertinent statistics simply aren't available; and, defensive statistics weren't kept back in the '50s. "He was, without question, the best linemen I played with and the best I saw while I was coaching (the Catamounts)," said UVM's Director of Athletics, Denis Lambert. Lambert played in the early '50s and coached for several years after graduation. "Clem was strong, very tough and by far, the quickest linemen on the team."
J. Edward Donnelly, Clem's coach at Vermont, agreed with Lambert. "He certainly deserves to be in UVM's Athletic Hall of Fame. Clem was one of the best I ever coached," remembers Donnelly.
A three-year All-Yankee Conference lineman, he was also one of the best offensive guards (played on defense, too) in the region. Nominated for the Little All-America and All-New England football teams his senior year, Forte was also a first-team All-Vermont selection in 1953 and 1954. The mainstay of one of the best teams at Vermont, Forte's Catamounts - under Donnelly - were 5-1-1 in 1954, winning the last five games of the season. After an opening-season tie with Union (14-14) and a three-point loss to Maine (23-20), Vermont reeled off consecutive wins over Dartmouth "B" (19-12), Rochester (19-12), Norwich (41-0), Massachusetts (27-25) and Middlebury (30-6).
Even though the schedule would be strengthened in the ensuing years, Lambert still believes the 1954 squad was one of the strongest in UVM history. Only the 3-0 record in the inaugural season in 1897 and 7-1 mark in 1964 surpassed the 1954 campaign. Three others from the 1954 squad, Eddie Beck, '56; Paul Harasimowicz, '57 and Al McLam, '56 have been inducted into UVM's Athletic Hall of Fame.
Clem stayed active in football as an assistant coach at Rutland High School. Both of his sons went on to play major college football, Chip at Tulane ('81) and Jeff at Iowa ('82).
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