“Massillon Against the World”: An Interview with Scott Ryan and Becca Moore

Most of you have read the book, “Massillon Against the World,” which chronicles the Tigers’ run to the 2024 Ohio Division II State championship.  While not necessarily a game-by-game blow of the season and subsequent playoffs, it deals a lot with the challenges and controversial roadblocks that needed to be overcome in order for the team to achieve its ultimate goal: a state championship.  The book does a great job of this.  But there is just a bit more to the story.  You will find that below in the interview of Scott Ryan and Becca Moore that was conducted exclusively for this website, for which this author thanks them immensely.

The book is a collection of feature stories that surround the season, some related to particular games, some not.  Conversely, it is not a blow-by-blow breakdown of what transpired within each game; i.e., who scored the most points, what were the biggest plays, etc.  Was the idea of using feature stories your intent when you originally planned the book?

• Becca: That’s a great question. To be honest we had a list of questions we agreed upon. We then decided we would do a few interviews and see where that led.
• Scott: I wanted to get into more controversial issues, but the coaches didn’t want to take my bait about Public V. Private schools, so we ended up changing a lot of it. It is probably because, as a fan, I learned how hard the coaches actually work and how much they care about our kids.

Each chapter of the book contains numerous quotes from various team coaches that supplement the topic.  What inspired you to include these quotes and did they have the intended impact on the book content that you anticipated?

• Scott: We both really wanted to do an oral history and that is when you use direct quotes from the people that you interview.
• Becca: I definitely feel like the quotes really inspired the book, and made it easier to read. I believe it had the intended impact – that was to give an inside glimpse of what Massillon Football and coaching to win is really about. You begin to understand the process of what it really takes to be a Massillon football player or coach.

How did you decide who wrote which chapters?

• Scott: Becca tells me what to do and I do it or else.
• Becca: We duked it out. Ha! Actually Scott and I decided chapters and then divided it up, but the Massillon vs. McKinley we couldn’t decide so we both authored it.

What was the most surprising thing you learned during the research and writing processes?

• Becca:  That Scott had quite an experience being a Massillon Tiger fan growing up in Perry.
• Scott: For me, it was learning how private schools really don’t have that different of rules in recruiting. Or at least that is what Nate kept telling me. I’m still not sure I believe him, but Nate approved what I wrote about that. Also, the amount of work those coaches do is insane. I don’t think fans have any idea how hard they work. I know I didn’t.

Is there a section in the book that you love the most?

• Scott: I love the chapter on the OHSAA and I love what Becca wrote about moving to Massillon. Also, I love every quote from Travis McGuire.
• Becca: I love the beginning and the ending and how it all ties together. I really feel like you get perspectives you haven’t gotten in other books about Massillon. Also the ending is just like a movie, in my opinion.

What was the most challenging part of writing the book and what chapter in the book was the most difficult to write?

• Scott: The Massillon Against the World chapter was the last thing finished and that was on me. Every day Becca would text me and say, “Did you finish it yet?” Then when I did, she was like, “Why is it so long?” But it was important to me that I explained why that mantra mattered to this team and this town.
• Becca: I would say Chapter 2, Massillon From the Inside. Because I was being very honest and I wasn’t sure how people would take it. I believe you need to be raw and honest when telling this story and give a glimpse of what it is really like in this job. Most people see the glories and the accolades, they forget what goes into getting there and how it may affect the family.

At times the book contains negative views of various groups and opponents, specifically the allegations of recruiting by parochial schools, instigators of the fights near the end of a couple games and the suspension of Da’One Owens regarding residency.  Did you anticipate any controversy and/or negative feedback from outside parties when you wrote it?

• Becca: I honestly didn’t care. Most people can’t handle the truth and facts and that’s what we wrote.
• Scott: Honestly, we haven’t got a peep of negative feedback. I don’t know if anyone from The Repository read it, but I haven’t heard from them. There isn’t a lie in that book, we researched, fact-checked and did more than our due diligence.

For Becca: You wrote in your first chapter of the difficulty in assimilating into a new community, but in later chapters about now fully embracing it.  How did you make that successful transition?

• Becca: Staying true to myself and what Nate and my goals were when we moved here. Learning to embrace and trust the process and remember at the end of the day you can’t control what other people think and say.

What do you want readers to take away from the book?

• Becca: How much love and support we get from our administration. How much these coaches put into the players on and off the field. How much this town is filled with love and pride and tradition and there is no place like Massillon. As Coach Dan Hackenbracht would say, “We are a small town, with a football problem.”
• Scott: That this town loves this team and that love is pure. I think many people want to add a negative to it. I think there are some negatives to sports, but the love affair of this town and this team is not one of them. Also, I think it’s a great story of the importance of letting a town have its own identity and not trying to make all of America the exact same. Differences are good. Here is what Coach Dave Weber said: “We’re a weirdo town. Not to me, not to the people that live here. But if you’re from outside of here, we are the weirdest town on the frickin’ planet.”

Feel free to add any closing comments.

• Becca: It was such a great experience writing this book with Section 14 guy, aka Scott Ryan. Really, the love and support we got from the Massillon Museum book signing was so overwhelming and I couldn’t be more honored to write on this historic moment that is now captured for future Tigers to read or listen to.
• Scott: We love all the great feedback we have received and the reception has been incredible. We have an audio book out that I edited some fun audio clips in from the last game (https://amzn.to/3zQZ3ob) and we are really proud of that. Also, you can order the book at our website. (https://www.tuckerdspress.com/product-page/massillon-against-the-world). We also want everyone to know Becca and I will be asking questions to Nate Moore on Tiger Talk on YouTube.(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjpV6YMCMTjJJZc1n9Mi3aw). We don’t promise Nate will be ANSWERING any of those questions.