ON THIS DATE IN 1973: Harold Stringert returns punt 82 yards

On this date in 1973, Harold Stringert victimized Santa Clara to break a UH record in a 40-9 victory in front of 22,987 fans at Honolulu Stadium.

Stringert, a cornerback, returned a punt 82 yards for a score, beating Bobby Ahu‘s 65-yard effort in 1969 against Linfield. Stringert’s mark held until Gerald Green returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown against Arizona in 1977. That mark still stands.

Stringert, a Saint Louis school standout, is still considered one of Hawaii’s all-time greats at cornerback and played six seasons with the San Diego Chargers. His mate on the other corner, Jeris White of Radford, played a long career in the NFL.

Stringert wasn’t the only record breaker during the 1973 Santa Clara blowout, as kicker Reinhold Stuprich booted a school-record four field goals, with the final one the first 50-yard boot in Hawaii history. The previous record long was 47 by Wilson Fatefehi in 1967 against Central Washington.