Harry Shaidnagle III

Leo Strang’s 1961 Tigers registered Massillon’s first 11 win season in history. Their 11-0 season gave Massillon its third consecutive state championship. Research indicates this may have been the toughest schedule in Tiger history.) Massillon’s opponents in 1961 had a combined record of 65-37-1. For five consecutive weeks, the Tigers faced teams ranked among Ohio’s top ten in the state wide poll – Alliance, Steubenville, Cincinnati Roger Bacon, Mansfield and Warren. Three of these teams were undefeated when they played the Tigers. Akron Garfield’s, Roger Bacon’s and Mansfield’s only losses were suffered at the hands of the Tigers. The grueling five week stretch took its toll physically and mentally as the Tigers finished the season with tough one point wins over Parma 21–20 and Canton McKinley 7- 6. The UPI respected this difficult schedule by naming Massillon state champions. Niles 10-0-0 , whose opponents had a combined record of 37-57-1, was the choice of the AP pollsters. (Coach Strang had offered Niles a contract to open the 1961 season but they turned him down.)

630 attended the annual football banquet in the high school cafeteria. Jim Graner, Cleveland TV and radio personality, was the principal speaker. Dr. Robert Immel served as toastmaster. President Shaidnagle introduced Richard L Immel as the Booster Club’s 1962 president.