Relph's career took off with Colgate

Bob Relph was a three-sport standout for Carthage Central in the early 1970s, equally blessed with athletic talent on the football field, the basketball court and in the high jump.

But nothing that he exhibited during his All-North high school career could have prepared fans of the Black River native for what he would accomplish in college.

Relph, as they often said during his playing days, wasn't the quickest nor the strongest, but the 6-foot, 175-pound player got the job done through intelligence and hard work. With Relph as the quarterback, Colgate University enjoyed one of the finest seasons in the history of its program, going 10-1 in 1977, Relph's senior season.

By the time Relph was done with his collegiate career, he held eight Colgate records. Not bad for a player who rarely stood out quarterbacking Carthage's wishbone offense.

Relph produced decent passing numbers in the Comets' run-oriented offense, and he could run as well as pass. But the passing marks he came up with in Colgate were startling. He finished as the Raiders' record-holder in most yards passing per game and per season, most career passing yards, pass completions in a season, touchdown passes in a season, total offense in a season, touchdowns responsible for in a season, and touchdown passes in a game.

In a 49-17 victory over Bucknell his senior year, Relph set four school marks. He remains in Colgate's top 10 in total offense in a season (8th), career passing yards (9th) and most yards passing in a season (9th).

As perhaps a testament to the wisdom he exhibited behind center, he still holds Raiders marks for highest average gain per play in a season (7.63), highest percentage of passes for a touchdown in a season (8.2 percent), highest pass completions percentage in a career (.535), and yards gained per completion (14.8).

Colgate went 8-2 in Relph's junior year, his first as the team's starter. Then, in his senior year, the Raiders went 10-1, led the nation in total offense, and were ranked in the Associated Press Division I poll. Relph was inducted into the Colgate Athletic Hall of Honor on Sept. 28, 2007.

After his career at Colgate, Relph went on to coach at West Canada Valley high school, where he led the team to a 14-game winning streak and a share of the league title. He also was an assistant coach for Davison College. Relph now lives in Victor and owns an insurance business in Pittsford.

Relph and his wife, Dee, have four children. One son, Tyler, plays basketball at St. Bonaventure and the other son followed his father to Colgate, and became the starting quarterback. After starting last season as a junior and exceeding some his father's marks, Alex injured his ankle during Colgate's season opener and is out indefinitely.