BUTLER TWP — The proof was in the numbers — and on the scoreboard.

Members of the 1963 Butler High School varsity football team — only the second Golden Tornado squad to put together a perfect regular season — gathered for a 50-year reunion at this year's football season opener.

It was 50 years ago this week that Butler dropped a 12-6 decision to West Mifflin North in front of more than 20,000 fans at Forbes Field.

“The competition on that team was fierce,” guard and eventual NFL standout Ron Saul recalled of the 1963 Tornado squad. “Like everyone else, I worked for my job.

“The coaching staff was excellent. When I went on to Michigan State, I was way ahead of a lot of the other players coming in.”

Saul went on to become the only offensive lineman ever named team MVP at Michigan State. He still owns that distinction.

Art Bernardi was in his third year as Butler head coach in 1963. The Tornado returned 14 lettermen from the 7-2 squad of the previous year.

Bernardi used the practice field to determine who would play on Friday nights.

“If you practiced hard and practiced well, you played,” he said. “We went to a two-platoon system because we had so many quality players and there were auditions at every spot.

“We developed intensity and self-discipline that lasted all season.”

Tony Bonetti, a tackle, remembered the practice field well.

“Our practices were tougher than our games,” Bonetti said. “We were physical and tore into each other every day. When we played other teams, they didn't have a chance.”

Consider the following:

Butler quarterback Mike Zaccari attempted only 37 passes all season.

Fullback Bill Rettig became Butler's first-ever 1,000-yard rusher.

The Tornado averaged 258 yards rushing per game to the opponent's 91.

Butler's defense intercepted more than half as many passes (18) as the opposition completed (34) all year.

Rettig and halfback Mike Guinta combined to rush for 24 touchdowns.

Only two Butler opponents — Har-Brack and Beaver Falls — scored more than 13 points against the Tornado.

“I learned perseverance through that team,” halfback Gordon Frole said. “That's what made us good. We had great players in the Sauls and (Terry) Hanratty, but the coaches made everybody better.”

Center Gordon Cavalero said Bernardi's leadership, coupled with going through an undefeated junior high season, spearheaded the 1963 squad toward success.

“We were hungry back then and there weren't as many sports available to play,” Cavalero said. “Just knowing everybody had each other's backs at all times was a great feeling.

“I grew up with a bunch of good guys.”

End Russ Rockenstein shakes his head when he thinks back to the talent pool of the 1963 team.

“Between Coach (Paul) Uram, Hanratty and Ron Saul, there's six Super Bowl rings there,” he said. “I was 150 pounds and Rich Saul was the other defensive end.

“We weren't big, but that team had so much pride. We played hard in every phase of the game, including special teams. Just getting on the field, I so badly wanted to make something happen and contribute to the team.”

Tackle Tom McGrath wound up joining Bill Rettig at Penn State.

“The biggest thing I learned from playing on that team was you can do anything in this life if you set your mind to it and work hard enough,” McGrath said. “You want an education? It's out there. Go get it. A bunch of guys on our team did that.”

Fellow tackle Nick Jankovich said he learned to be humble in life from playing for the 1963 team.

“I look back at the camaraderie of all the guys on Friday nights,” Jankovich said. “How we worked in camp, the way we practiced ... It was all business.

“As an individual, I was one guy. All of us together as a team, working together, we accomplished so much.”

Guinta said he learned about “dedication, work ethic and handling adversity” while halfback Pat Coyle said “I felt fortunate just to be in that room” with a team of that quality.

Backup quarterback Jerry Will said he was educated in the classroom and “learned how to compete in life on the football field.”

The toughness of the 1963 team was evidenced by Rettig in the championship game. He continued playing despite suffering a broken nose in the contest.

“I'll never forget that,” Bonetti said. “It was really bleeding. They stuffed it with gauze and Bill didn't wear a mouthpiece after that because he couldn't breathe otherwise.

“He was the heart and soul of that team.”

Rettig smiled when reminded of that injury.

“There was blood, but I could play,” he said. “When it stopped bleeding, I just pulled the gauze out.

“All I felt at the time was I couldn't let anybody down. That was the beauty of that team. No one ever left anybody down.”