BRIDGEWATER, Mass.  --  Bridgewater State College football will kickoff the 2009 season honoring the original "Bears" from the 1960 team.  BSC will celebrate the 50th year of the college's modern football program by recognizing each decade throughout the season. 

For each home game this season, a decade of teams will be honored starting with the special first team members on September 5th, when BSC kicks off the 2009 campaign against Mount Ida College at Swenson Field. 

The 1960 decade will also have a special celebration during the Homecoming festivities on October 31st, with representation in the parade during the game and a memorabilia display at the Alumni Tent at Swenson Field.

In 1960, Ed Swenson, coach and athletics director, partitioned the college to bring back the football program after a 33 year hiatus. Swenson also initiated the formation of the New England Football Conference (NEFC) in 1965 with two other charter members, Curry College and Maine Maritime Academy.  Heading into the 2009 season, the NEFC is sixteen teams strong with two divisions, the Boyd and Bogan.  The divisional champions compete each November for the NEFC title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Peter Mazzaferro took over the head coaching duties from Swenson in 1968 after serving two seasons as an assistant coach.  Mazzaferro put BSC football on the map and held the reins of the program for the next 36 years before retiring after the 2004 season.

In his 36 seasons at the helm, Mazzaferro guided the Bears to 195 wins and seven NEFC titles.  His teams competed in postseason play in 1989 and 1992 (ECAC), and also in 1999 and 2000 (NCAA).  Mazzaferro was named the New England Football Writers Coach of the Year for Division II/III in both 1989 and 1999, and was also awarded the George C. Carens Award in 1996 for outstanding contributions to college football in New England. 

Current BSC skipper, Chuck Denune, is entering his fifth season as the Bears' head coach.  Denune, who served under Mazzaferro as an assistant coach for seven years starting in 1998, has posted a record of 30-10 (.750) in his first four season at the helm.  He also directed his teams to three straiight ECAC Bowl game appearances from 2005 to 2007.  The Bears captured the ECAC Northeast Bowl in 2005 and the North Atlantic Bowl the following season.  Also in 2005, Denune was selected by the New England Football Writers as the Division II/III Coach of the Year.