Page 48 - Wallingford Magazine Issue 52 Winter 2025

the very colorful by Bob Burghardt & David Burghardt
Mike Cavanaugh

and family :

Laurie, Shane, and Blair

When I was a young boy, the When Mike Cavanaugh was at Ly-
Burghardt boys were allowed one man Hall, being an offensive line-
winter coat. We bought them at a man was not considered a glamor-
store called Tots and Teens. Across ous position. He played guard on
the way you could buy cheaper the offense and linebacker on de-
coats at Barker’s, but my parents fense.
wanted quality coats that could
be handed down. The brand name Three Trojans on that team
was Mighty Mac. The owners of the made All-Housatonic- Ange-
store were Richard and Barbara Ca- lone, Butler, and Mike. The
vanaugh. When I was young I did All-Housatonic was a league
not know their four kids but that that emphasized rivalries be-
comes next. fore computers took over the
world. As a reporter for an-
other relic, the Wallingford
Post, put it, the league was
learning their ABC’s.

Lyman Hall Head Coach Phil
Ottodrian liked having Mike
Cavanaugh as a player. Mike’s
older brother Rich was an of-
fensive lineman for the Tro-
jans and a captain in the 1972
class. He started all three years
at guard and nose tackle. To
add to that, Mr. Richard Cavana-
ugh, Sr. played college football at
A.I.C. in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Understanding football not only
makes it easier to play, it makes it
Mike Cavanaugh at more fun.
16 Years of Age
Rich Cavanaugh was the head
coach at Southern Connecticut
The youngest Cavanaugh is Mi- State College, then University, for
chael. He is one of the most suc- thirty-three years.
cessful and respected line coaches
in college football. Like the Tots and After Lyman Hall Mike Cavanaugh
Teens Mighty Mac coat, he embod- went to the University of New Hav- Photo Credit
ies both quality and quantity. en. He then became a graduate as- x.com/oregonfootball
sistant at the University of Albany.

48 Wallingford Magazine - Winter 2025