Plattsburgh State Athletics

John Carpenter is the first Plattsburgh State football player to be inducted into the Cardinal Sports Hall of Fame. Football existed at SUNY Plattsburgh between 1969-78.

During his four seasons on the gridiron (1970-73), Carpenter started 32 consecutive games. One of the very first all-purpose players, Carpenter played both offense and defense (1970-71) and was a punter and punt return specialist.He holds school records for career interceptions with 17, interceptions in a game (three against Nichols College), and longest punt from scrimmage (74 yards against UAlbany).

He also has over 200 career tackles from his free safety position and finished in the top three in tackles every year he played. As a punter he averaged 35 yards per punt  and as a return specialist he averaged 13 yards per return with a pair of touchdowns.

A defensive captain in 1972 and 1973, Carpenter was chosen to the All-Opponent teams for St. Lawrence and UAlbany and was selected for inclusion into the 1973 "Outstanding College Athletes of America".

He was also a member of the Cardinal baseball team and served as the defensive backfield coach for the Cardinals' football team in 1974.

Date of Induction to Cardinal Sports Hall of Fame
December 5, 2009

Where are They Now?
Carpenter has been married to Patricia (Filosi) ’73 for the past 37 years, having met in a SUNY Plattsburgh art class in the winter of 1970. They still reside in Plattsburgh, where they raised two children, but spend the winter months in Ponce Inlet, Fla. Carpenter has help run Carpenter Bros. Moving & Storage since 1974. He was named president of the family-run business in 1996 and currently serves as general manager and special advisor to the company. 

Favorite Plattsburgh Sports Moment
“It would be my whole four years of football (including two years on the Cardinals’ club team), particularly the 1971 and 1972 seasons. In our first year as a varsity team (1972), we were very successful with a 6-2 record and played a very competitive schedule. I played a lot of football and was fortunate never to miss any playing time due to injury. On the college level, it would be our Cardinal men’s hockey team winning its first national championship in 1987. My wife and I are huge fans of Cardinal hockey and having the opportunity to follow their progress through those years of club hockey up until the championship was truly special.”