American International Yellow Jackets (1970-72, 74)

The more I think about it, the more I realize the period from roughly 1963-73 was a bit of a golden age for New England/Ivy League football. Little (and big) All-Americans, undefeated teams, bowl teams, nationally ranked teams, a Heisman runner-up, a game of the century candidate — there was always something going on each fall. 

The wonderfully named American International College of Springfield, Mass., made its own contribution to this era, Although the Yellow Jackets played what would be considered a Division II/III schedule by today's standards, they somehow came up with Little All-American Bruce Laird, a Lowell, Mass, native who went on to a 12-year career as a standout safety for the Baltimore Colts and San Diego Chargers. (An aside: Do you realize after the 2026 season the Ravens will have been in Baltimore as long as the Colts were? We're all getting old.)

A Portland Press Herald clipping from 1971.

At AIC, Laird was more than a great defender: he was close to a 60-minute man at a time when 60-minute men had gone the way of leather helmets (well, at least until Gordie Lockbaum came along). He ran for 1,402 yards as a senior in 1971, and he was the team's punter and punt/kickoff returner. The Colts grabbed him in the sixth round of the 1972 NFL Draft and he made the Pro Bowl as a return specialist his rookie year. He also played a couple years in the USFL.

An AIC newsletter from 1971 hypes up Bruce Laird.

Oddly enough, AIC never had a winning record with Laird; the Jackets were 4-5, 2-6-1 and 4-5 in his three seasons in Springfield.

A few years later, AIC made a bit of history when it defeated Vermont in the final game in Catamounts' history.

The uniforms, at least from '71 onward, vaguely resemble the New Orleans Saints, especially those Topps cards from the '70s when all the logos were airbrushed off.