February Alumnus of the Month: Tom Foley

Congratulations to our February Alumnus of the Month, Tom Foley.

When did you play?

I only played one full season for Michigan: Fall of 1986 through the Spring of 1987; however, I often picked up games when I came home for weekends from college and played 7s for Michigan during the summer of my freshmen and sophomore year. I also have represented Michigan Olde Blue in a number of Cherry Pit Tournaments.

What positions did you play?

With Michigan, I played wing—where else do you play a 17-year-old kid who weighs 125 lbs (often playing against grown men)? While at Northern Michigan, I played scrumhalf. For the majority of my playing career with Grand Rapids, I became a utility player, mostly in the backline playing fullback, scrumhalf, or wing—every now and then I would show up in the centers, at flank or even hooker.

A point of pride is when my coach/friend Graeme Leask said, “Tom may have more A-side appearances than any other GR player in club history, but he doesn’t have a position.”

What got you started playing rugby?

I’m not ashamed to say that my sister Beth introduced me to rugby. In the spring of 1986, my junior year in high school, she and I were working together at Nicholby’s Pub in the Briarwood Mall; one day she asked me if I wanted to leave for work early so that we could stop and watch her friend, Mark Matossian, play rugby. (She was also friends with Dave Perpich and John Wooley, having worked with them at Dooley’s.) I watched that first game and was hooked—I wanted to play! I was told that being a club, I didn’t have to be a student to join, so, the next fall (‘86) Mark took me to my first practice on the turf field where Schembechler Hall now stands. (At the time, I was told I was the youngest player to play for Michigan; not sure how accurate that is; even if it is true, Sean Knight started a year or two after I left for college and took that title.)

Rugby has been a mainstay of my life since that fall.

Any honors or awards?

My first season with Michigan, I received the Cowmeadown Award. I don’t remember all the details, but it mostly had to do with one tackle. We were playing Indianapolis and they had a big loose forward (#8 I believe) who was an Eagle (or in the USA pool). He was on a break and I made an open-field tackle on him (In reality, it was probably me throwing myself at him and getting tangled up in his legs), either way it was a massive collision—I walked away and the Eagle was helped off the field with a leg injury. (The Michigan Rugby pennant that I received for the recognition has hung behind my desk in my classroom for 30 years.)

While at NMU, I received a number of yearly awards, captained the team my junior and senior years, and played for the Wisconsin Collegiate Selects.

In my long tenure with Grand Rapids, a number of yearly awards; plus, I was honored to be awarded the Ed Teliczan Award, the highest honor in the GR club, in recognition of not only play on the field, but,. more importantly, for the spirit, development and contribution to the game of rugby as a whole.

I played Michigan Selects for a number of years, and represented the Midwest in 7s (2x) and 15s (1x).

As a referee, I am the lead referee for the High School National Championships, have officiated national championship tournaments, and been invited to a number of overseas events, including the London Rosslyn Park National School (the world’s largest school-age 7s tournament) where I received recognition as the “Referee’s Referee.”

I am also a founding member of the Michigan Youth Rugby Association, having helped start high school rugby in Michigan.

What are your favorite memories/teammates?

(Too many to give justice and many more forgotten, so here’s a few that evolve around Michigan Rugby—playing for and against.)

I started playing rugby when many of the Michigan greats were at the peak of their careers; I learned the game under the tutelage of Jeff Hagan, Dave Weber, Dave Perpich, Dale Tuttle, John Wooley… the list goes on and on. 

On and off the field (remember, I was only 17), I often was under the “protection” of Dan Mascellino, Tom Stulberg, Elmo, Jim Hagerman, Kevin and Brian Zimmer, Jack Fisher, Mike Lisi, Paul Lund, and many others.

Jeff Hagan (filling in on the C- or D-side) gave me my first try. Surely, he was on a clean break, only to pass the ball to me—I was most likely lost and had no idea what I was doing rather than in support. I fell over the tryline onto the cedar infield that was the in-goal of Elbel Field, gashing my knees open. I couldn’t have been more proud.

The fall of ‘86 ended with what we called the November Death March, having played our last three or four games traveling into Ohio and Indiana late into November. The weekend before Thanksgiving, we were playing in Columbus and Michigan football was playing Ohio State in Ann Arbor. It was a close football game and with little time left the Ohio State kicker missed a field goal; as soon as the ball flew wide of the goalposts, someone stood up and yelled something along the lines of “Let’s go boys, we need to get the hell out of Columbus!”

Sleeping on Masso’s couch: Every Thursday, I would drive in from Plymouth (where I lived) for practice, was snuck in the side door of Fraser’s after training (there was no way the bar staff believed I was 21), slept on Masso’s couch, drove home in the morning to go to school, run a cross-country meet on Saturday morning, play rugby in the afternoon, only to sleep on Masso’s couch at the Old Stone School House again. (In the spring I was accompanied by my high school buddy Tom Perkey who I talked into playing.)

In the late 80’s when the college and men sides were combined, Michigan would field 3 or 4 sides a weekend. On football Saturdays, after the football game, it was usually the C- or D-side on the field when 100,000 football fans would stream out of The Big House past Elbel Field. It wasn’t unusual to have a thousand or more spectators leaning on the fence to watch the rugby.

The ride home from Fort Wayne after my first rugby-overnight, which was spent at O’Sullivan’s. Let’s just say that the last thing I remember is being carried to the apartment above the bar where we were staying. I might have done permanent damage to Tony Menyhart’s car and his sons due to how sick I was on the way home.

While playing for Grand Rapids in the 90’s, the rivalry between Michigan and GR was heated. In a brutal game in Ann Arbor, I found myself on the wrong side of a ruck, knowing I was going to get pummeled. Sure enough, I looked up to see Perpich with his fist cocked back ready to let me have it, but right when the hammer was about to fall, Perp realized who it was and said, “Hey Tommy,” hauled me to my feet and sent me on my way. I am sure that I am the only GR player on the field that day shown such courtesy. 

The last time I played A-side for Michigan was in the Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Tournament. About 4 or 5 GR players filled out the Michigan-side. We went to the finals, but lost to NYAC.

Having the nickname “Young Tom Foley” due to an “Old[er] Tom Foley” joining the club after I left for college. Nothing better now that I am in my mid-50s to still be called “Young Tom Foley.”

What have you done since Michigan Rugby?

As I previously mentioned, I only played full-time for Michigan my senior year in high school. Although getting much encouragement from the club to apply to U of M (especially support from Mike Lisi), I chose to attend Northern Michigan University. (My mom liked to say I was smart but lacked the motivation to study.) The plan was to go to Northern for a year and transfer to Michigan once I worked on my study skills; however, I loved NMU and Marquette and never made the move to Ann Arbor.

I played for Northern for my college years, spent a season with Green Bay Rugby Club while doing my student-teaching, and then moved to west Michigan to “party on the beach” for a summer – I have been in Grand Haven for 31 years now. I played for Grand Rapids Rugby Club from 1992 to 2009. While with the GR, we had many successes in both 15s and 7s; including two Div. II National Championship finals (lost both times) and two National 7s tournament appearances.

I have been refereeing since 2009, which has provided me with as many opportunities and experiences as I had playing. I started rugby at Grand Haven High School, coaching both the boys and girls teams. I am also a World Rugby Educator.

Outside of rugby, I have two wonderful children, Zoe (18) and Oliver (10). Zoe will be attending Wayne State in the fall. (She is disappointed they don’t have a rugby team after playing four years in high school.) I have taught English at Grand Haven High School since 1994. (I’m looking to retire sooner rather than later. (Any jobs out there?)) Along with coaching rugby, I coached wrestling for 18 years.

How has Michigan Rugby affected your life beyond rugby?

Starting to play rugby with Michigan is one of the defining moments of my life—it is that simple. Although I only played for Michigan the one year, I still identify myself as being a member of Michigan Rugby. For the good and bad, many of my life’s decisions have been made with rugby as part of the equation.

Again, congratulations to our February Alumnus of the Month, Tom Foley!