Larry Fox
Larry Fox joined Monmouth in 1975 and was part of a contingent of high school friends, who banded together from Laurence Harbor, Cheesequake, and Parlin areas. Also included in the list were Tommy Lyons, Pete Schultz, Mike Lesko as well as others. Like Mike Liscovitz, Larry Fox was brought to the club by Ed Windas; thanks Ed! During Larry’s first seasons he was somewhat of an awkward back with quickness, fitness and speed but not the greatest running style, however, it was his fitness which stood out the most, making him a capable player no matter what position he was fielded at. Unfortunately, he also personified fun and enjoyment to the max.
Coach, at the time, Carl Hamm had a better defined visage for Larry, though, and talked him into trying out hooker, no matter how many objections Larry had to make. This is one of Carl’s most noted lines about coaching, which is that you can’t always trust that a players best position is necessarily the one they claim to be. It didn’t take long before Larry became one of the best at his position, definitely in the Union, maybe anywhere else.
Because of his high level of fitness, as well as being double jointed and maybe a little nuts, Larry was able to steal one against the head, even with it back against the opponents second row. From Carl Hamm “The things he did at hooker I have never seen before or since. When you look up past Eagles you will come across the name of Tom McCormack — Hooker from NY Rugby Club. He would even admit to you that Fox outplayed him every time — I would add that it was by a wide margin. McCormack became an Eagle Hooker because he had perseverance and discipline and didn’t mind riding the bench and waiting his turn to be noticed.”
Larry loved rugby, and even more so, he loved Monmouth Rugby. In what was supposed to be his first match for the select side, against Ontario in Canada, Larry opted not to play, but instead to play the night before with Monmouth against Buffalo, a match which ended with Larry stealing a scrum, leading to one pass from 8 to Timmy Welter and an 80 meter try in the final minute. Would hear any of his teammate’s urging him to miss the match, for the opportunity to play at a higher level.
Larry’s bar stunts are legendary and we won every party because of him he could chug in an upside down hand or head stand; he did full splits off the bar landing precariously with his Bollix over a small shot glass or full beer glass and the would reach between his legs and chug it; he and Ray McLaughlin were the cleanup chuggers in many a boat race and flaming ass trick; when there were girls to entertain the Monster would often appear to scare everyone there. The stories of the Fox are legendary but he was always fit and ready to play and would chastise those who were not serious about winning the game.
He was a key player in our 7′s success in the early 80′s. When we had our great Hawaiian tour of 1983, we had one very large problem. We had assembled a very good team with mostly Monmouth backed up by guests. He even was the key point in the greatest try in Monmouth history handling the ball twice in the 90m sequence that beat Williams Lake of Alberta, Canada in the last minute.
Sadly, after 10 years we lost Larry to a severely broken leg or to marriage and no one could be ready to admit which is worse. We definitely missed his influence. I am proud of the fact that Larry after a long hiatus got back in the game in Naples. Larry was accustomed, anew, to the sport of rugby, when after spotting Paule Barford and Carl Hamm coaching USA South, he was brought to tears, and started soon the Florida rugby Academy, Naples HS, and the Pegasus touring side. He has become a lineout specialist coach even though he never lifted or was lifted by anyone, in fact, because we were so short in the pack, Monmouth used to have a line out play where we tossed it on the ground in the middle of the lineout and kicked it though. Larry’s best throw.
