The telephone switchboards at The Oneonta Star and Hartwick College were extremely busy Friday, Nov. 26, 1971. Operators answered the calls from people wanting to know, "Is the Hartwick soccer game on tomorrow?" That contest was an important playoff game in the NCAA soccer tournament, with Hartwick’s Warriors taking on "The Big Red" of Cornell University.

Official word kept coming from then-athletic director James Konstanty, "We are playing tomorrow at 1:30." The problem was that the region had been blanketed by 20 inches of snow overnight. The looming question became: Could Elmore Field be cleared in time for Saturday’s game?

From just after dawn Friday, the day turned into a remarkable show of volunteerism and community spirit.

Hartwick soccer players had a slightly different kind of workout that morning. Some were pushing around snowblowers or maneuvering small tractor plows.

Oneonta High School basketball players showed up and went to work, as they more than likely had the day off from school.

One spirited older gentleman showed up with a shovel, saying only, "I just want to help out the ’Wick." A well-known contractor, Neil Nielsen, sent equipment to help out, and other contractors tried to find equipment that might be helpful.

Mayor James Lettis asked city crews to go up to campus and see if they could help out. The thought was probably appreciated, but the city’s equipment was too heavy for the soft playing turf.

Bruce Sloan, a Hartwick alumnus, showed up in the late afternoon and saw that some reinforcement volunteers were needed for the task. He rounded up several volunteers a short time later to work well into the evening.

George Lambros was a bit concerned about whether the game was on or off. He was preparing for the Cornell team, as it had planned to dine at his Diana Restaurant, where today’s China 19 is found on Main Street.

The Hartwick soccer players took a break for lunch and then dressed for an indoor practice session. Coach Al Miller took them through a long drill and then joined them for dinner at the Star Restaurant, in the area of today’s Iannelli’s on Chestnut Street. Miller let his players take the rest of the day off, but he returned to Elmore to help with the snow removal.[an error occurred while processing this directive]