Alan Greenwood

As an NFL coach, Ron Meyer’s claim to fame – or infamy, as others would insist – features a prisoner on work release, a snow plow and an irate Hall of Fame coach.

Anyone whose recollection of this incident has been fogged with time, use your search engine of choice and type in “Ron Meyer, football coach.” Somewhere high on the list will be “Ron Meyer, snow plow game.”

On Dec. 9, 1982, the Patriots and Dolphins battled on Schaefer Stadium’s snow-capped field. Late in the fourth quarter, the game remained scoreless. With the ball on Miami’s 16-yard line, Pats placekicker John Smith trotted onto the field and joined his teammates in trying to clear a spot for the holder.

Meyer trotted down the sideline and ordered snow-plow driver Mark Henderson to clear a spot the new-fashioned way. Henderson, a convicted burglar then enjoing the Commonwealth’s hospitality at nearly MCI-Walpole, brushed off a clearing on Schaefer Stadium’s aritificial turf.

Miami coach Don Shula was understandably apoplectic. The referee shrugged; there was no rule against snow plows helping placekicker.

Smith drilled a wobbly 33-yarder and the Patriots held on for a 3-0 win.

Shula vowed vengeance and rammed a rule change during the off-season.

Henderson had his 15 minutes of fame.

And Ron Meyer had his signature moment.

This comes to mind because the Jan. 15, 1982 Telegraph sports page featured Meyer’s hiring by the Patriots.

Also on Jan. 15, 1982:

“Nashua Senior High vs. Trinity High of Manchester promised to be a girls basketball blowout and it was. The Purple Panthers raised their record to 8-2, third-best in Class L, with a 78-30 home victory Thursday night.

“Behind a game-high 18 points by center Sally Madeira and 15 from guard Kim Fay, Nashua built an 18-5 lead after eight minutes, 37-16 at the half and 62-24 after three.”

JAN. 16, 1987 – “The Keene High School girls basketball team was red hot before Thursday night’s game with Merrimack. … The kids from Merrimack came to town and dumped a bucket of ice water of their heads.

“The Tomahawks jumped out to a 17-3 first-quarter lead and cruised to their 10th victory in in 12 games, 44-28. … Kris Trapp had 10 of her 14 points in the first quarter against the 5-5 Blackbirds, then played sparingly the rest of the way as (coach Ginny) Corriveau emptied her bench.”

JAN. 17, 1992 – “Hollis recovered from a desultory first half for a 28-15 second half that gave the Cavaliers a 46-31 win over Bishop Brady on Friday night.

“Carrie Darling led the way for the Cavs, who raised their record to 6-4. Kathy McCarthy, Kim Homoleski and Jean Pendleton each contributed five points.”

Note: For whatever reason, Darling’s point total is missing in this report. The analytics suggest it’s somewhere between 10 and 19 points.

Thank the heavens for analytics

JAN. 18, 1962 – “State golf king Bill Lochhead of Nashua was among athletes honored at the 14th annual Major League Baseball Dinner last night at the state armory.

Lochhead also won the New England college golf title last year, was NH athlete of the month last May and was in contention for the first state male athlete of the year honors.”

JAN. 19. 1967 – “The Nashua High harriers opened the defense of their winter track championship at Phillips Exeter Academy yesterday and from all indications it will take a mighty good team to wrest the crown away from Fran Tate’s runners. Nashua dominated the dual meet with Phillips Exeter’s junior varsity, 95-49.

“Pat Lessard scored victories in the 50-yard dash and the 300-yard run. The Royal Purple captured four of the first five places in the 45-yard high hurdles with Johnny Demers crossing the finish stripe first.”

JAN. 20, 1961 – A brief “Lost, Then Found” note from Mike Shalhoup’s “Mike’s Musings” column:

“Tom Gondek, one of the few schoolboy athletes wearing contact lenses, had the misfortune of losing one during the heat of the battle at Keene on Tuesday night.

“A frantic search during the game failed to uncover the tiny object. It was uncovered after the game, however, but damaged.”

JAN. 21, 1972 – “The Mount St. Mary Seminary basketball teams defeated the Wilton High girls 36-15 recently using a strong defensive game to capture the win.

“… Betty Barowski led the scorers with 13 points followed by Missy Jordan with 10. Nancy Foote was high Wilton scorer with seven points.”

Contact Alan Greenwood at agreenwood@nashuatelegraph.com.