Thanksgiving Tradition for 87 Years - Are you going LaSalle & EP fans and alumni?

By Bob Rodericks

Will the Tradition end this year?

The rivalry officially began in 1929. Although the two schools started turkey day play in 1927 (EP won 6-0), there was no game in 1928 and the league “started” in 1929 with a LaSalle 19-6 win. The 2015 EP-LaSalle game will be the 87th contest between the two Turkey Day rivals. When the stand's at LaSalle's old football field were closed because of safety reasons in the early 80's, LaSalle would host home Thanksgiving games at various venues in Providence. Brown University and City Stadium behind Mount Pleasant High School were used a few times. But the cost and inconveniences caused LaSalle officials to keep all Thanksgiving games at Pierce Stadium. "It was cheaper for us to rent and Pierce is a great field," said one LaSalle official.

Should the state not revisit the playoff change (there will be another re-alignment meeting for next year), Pierce may no longer host games on Thanksgiving Day. At least not any that have any divisional meaning. Pierce Memorial Stadium was built under the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a New Deal agency of the Federal Government during the 1930’s. Completed in November of 1939, the stadium cost $300,000. The field bears the name of one of East Providence's most prominent residents, W.B. Pierce who had bequeathed a trust fund to the town to save this land specifically for recreational use. On November 30, 1939 Pierce Memorial Stadium opened to the public in time for the traditional Thanksgiving Day football game between East Providence and La Salle Academy. The Townies won, 10 to 0.

The rivalry has cooled down in recent years as LaSalle has been on a roll while East Providence has been struggling. LaSalle now leads the series - overall - with 49 wins to the Townies 35 wins with two 0-0 ties. The series has often seen changing momentum swings. From 1929 through 1940 the series pretty much went back and forth between schools. LaSalle dominated the series from 1941 through 1948, winning a state title in 1942. A little back and forth again and then the Townies won from 1960 through 1967 and then again in ’69 and ’70 and ’72 and ’73. EP won state titles in ’66, ’67 and ’69 and ’70. LaSalle took over and won the 1974, ’75 and ’76 games while EP bounced back to win from 1977 through 1980 and then again from 1982 through 1984. It was an eight year run next for LaSalle as they beat EP from 1985 through 1992. LaSalle spanked EP in 1992 by a 50-6 score but EP returned the favor somewhat with a 41-6 victory the next year. And on it went, win one, lose one, until LaSalle regained dominance in the series.

Facts & Figures:

La Salle leads 49-35-2