Urban Meyer – Head Football Coach, The Ohio State University

Former Tiger Coach Earle Bruce Passes Away

He was only in Massillon for a brief amount of time, but Earle Bruce left an indelible mark on this town with his success on the football field, compiling a 20-0 win-loss record and capturing two Ohio High School State Championships.  He died at 87.

Having prepped with stints at Mansfield, Salem and Sandusky, Bruce took over the Massillon job in 1964, replacing long-time, highly successful coach Leo Strang, who had moved on to Kent State.  But it didn’t take long for Bruce to experience the pressure to win.  Following a rocky start against Cleveland East, Game No. 2 was slated against Niles McKinley, which owned a 48-game winning streak and had topped the Tigers in the state championship voting just a few years before when both teams finished undefeated.  The venue was the Akron Rubber Bowl, selected as a neutral site for this intense battle.  After falling behind 8-0 early in the second quarter, Massillon fought back to take a 14-8 lead by halftime.  And that score stood up in front of a near-capacity crowd of 30,128.  After the game, Earle Bruce stated that “it was night I became a Tiger.”

The comeback victory was characteristic of several more games to come that season, particularly the one against Canton McKinley.  Both teams entered the season finale with 9-0 marks, with Massillon No. 1 and the Bulldogs No. 2 in the A.P. Poll. The interest in the game was so high that a Cleveland television station opted to broadcast it live throughout northeast Ohio.  After falling behind 14-0 at the half, the Tigers roared back to score 20 fourth-quarter points behind backup quarterback Dave Sheegog to pull out a 20-14 win, capturing the state title and finishing second in the national poll.  For the year, Massillon scored 297 points (a high amount for that era) and gave up just 46.

Season No. 2 for Bruce went a little easier, but again it was a déjà vu struggle against Canton McKinley, with the Tigers again falling behind 14-0 by halftime.  This time, however, the comeback starter earlier and Massillon escaped with an 18-14 victory and another state title.  It was also Bruce’s 43^rd consecutive win.  Looking back later, Bruce said that he felt more pressure to win the Massillon-McKinley game than he ever did when facing Michigan while at Ohio State.

The predominant characteristic of Bruce’s teams was defense.  In 20 games his teams surrendered just 126 points or just six points per game.  They also recorded nine shutouts and only one team scored more than twice.  Offensively, no opponent held the Tigers to less than two touchdowns.  His methodical full house T, grind-em out offense was the rule of the day and the “smash mouth” football style seemed to be the right formula for this future Buckeye boss.

Based on his success in Tigertown, Ohio State Coach Woody Hayes hired Bruce away to become an assistant coach.  Bruce stayed six years there and left to become the head coach of Tampa, but stayed for just a single year, finishing 9-1.  This writer particularly remembers his close win in the Rubber Bowl against the Akron Zips.  The next stop was head coach of Iowa State (current position of former Perry player Matt Campbell).  Following Hayes dismissal by OSU, Bruce took over the reigns there for the next nine years.  He finished his college coaching with short tenures at Northern Iowa and Colorado State before moving on to the professional American Football League.

By the end of his career Earle Bruce had compiled high school mark of 82-12-3 and a collegiate mark of 154-90-2.  But for Massillon, he will always be remembered for his two unbeaten seasons and a pair of state titles. And he was also a superb gentleman off the field.  Earl will be missed.

Massillon to Host Ohio North-South Football Classic

Ohio – The Ohio high school football 73rd annual North South Classic all-star game will be held on Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Massillon, Ohio at Washington High School’s Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. The North South Classic is contested between the top senior football players in the state of Ohio as selected by the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association.

Two games will be played. The first at 12:00 noon, featuring senior athletes from high school football divisions IV, V, VI and VII. The second at 4:00 p.m., featuring senior athletes from high school football divisions I, II and III.

Team Rosters:

North Team DI-III Roster     South Team DI-III Roster     North Team DIV-VII Roster     South Team DIV-VII Roster

A $10 ticket includes admission to both games and can be purchased online at massillontigersathletics.org (direct link https://ticketracker.com/store?schoolId=1360&departmentId=190), or at the gates on game day.

First held in 1946, the North South Classic is the nation’s oldest-running high school football all-star game. The game boasts a legacy of top athletes who have participated in it over the years, including Pro Football Hall of Famers Len Dawson, Roger Staubach, Jack Lambert, Alan Page, Larry Csonka and Paul Warfield.

The Ohio High School Football Coaches Association operates the North South Classic with the support of Tournament Director Steve Channel, Head Football Coach at Miamisburg High School. The game is supported locally by professional staff and volunteers from Visit Canton, the City of Massillon, the Massillon City School District and Ohio’s Region 7 high school football coaches.

Event sponsors from Massillon and the greater Stark County business community include: Visit Canton, The City of Massillon, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Aultman Sports Medicine, Massillon Parks & Recreation Department, The Canton Repository, Massillon Eagles Aerie #190, Donatos Pizza, Buffalo Wild Wings in Massillon, Kimble Recycling & Disposal, Papa John’s Pizza in Massillon, Farmers National Bank, New-Talk 1480 WHBC, Massillon Washington High School Alumni Association, Up in Smoke BBQ and Catering, TIG Grille & Catering, Smiley’s Ristorante & Pizzeria, Bella Sera Pizzeria, Mid’s Homestyle Pasta Sauces, and Farris Produce Inc. For more information on becoming an event sponsor contact Mary Vlahos, Vice President of Sales at Visit Canton, at MaryV@VisitCanton.com or 330.454.1439.

CONTACTS:

Steve Channell, Region XV Director/All Star Game Coordinator, schannell@miamisburg.k12.oh.us

James France, President – Ohio High School Football Coaches Association, james.france@manchester-panthers.org Tony Carr, Region VII Director – Ohio High School Football Coaches Association, Phone, tony.carr@perrylocal.org

Another Successful Steve Studer Memorial Lift-a-Thon

The weights were clanking, the muscles straining and the sweat flying as nearly 100 Tiger athletes gave it their all, attempting to set personal bests and perhaps win some awards.  The annual event honors Steve Studer, the late strength and conditioning coach, who was also eager to display the energy exhibited by these fine young men to their friends and relatives.  After compiling the marks for both squat and bench press, medals were awarded to the top three in each weight category.  But in the eyes of the couple hundred fans in attendance, all of the athletes came away as winners.

The overall champion lifter was Senior Hunter Wantz, who competed in the Super Heavyweight Division.  He had a combined lift of 1,049 lbs., including a squat of 665 lbs. and a bench press of 384 lbs.

“I thought we had a great turnout,” said Massillon Defensive Line Coach J.P. Simon who, along with Cornerbacks Coach Terrence Roddy, organized the event.  “I thought the crowd was awesome.  Just first glance, looking at the numbers, I think we blew it away.  It shows how hard the guys have been really working in the weight room.  We had a little success last year and went on a run and things could have gone two ways this offseason.  It’s either guys get happy and complacent and feel like they’ve arrived a little bit, whereas I think this group has taken it as we got that close and didn’t finish and really had a chip on their shoulder.  They’ve really gotten after it and attacked the weight room this winter.  It’s been really impressive to see them work.

So how does all this translate into success on the football field?  “I’ve always said that you win your games in the offseason,” said Simon.  “We do all our work and prepare all offseason long.  What you see on Friday night is just a product of all this.  And since I’ve been back, this will be Year 3, this is hands down the best offseason.  And to be honest it’s not even close.”

Here are this year’s winners.

xxx

2018 Football Schedule Released

Massillon Head Coach Nate Moore has released the 2018 schedule, having filled the remaining open spot with Montclair, New Jersey.  Montclair joins two other out-of-state opponents, including East St. Louis, Illinois, and Sun Valley, Pennsylvania.  This marks the fifth time that three or more non-Ohio teams have appeared on the schedule.  The Tigers also have eight home games for the first time since 2004.  Once again it will be a very challenging schedule.

Here is a rundown of each opponent:

Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary – 2017 record: 10-4.  The Irish move to the opener from Week 9, replacing Mentor.  Last year St. V scored a touchdown with 3:15 remaining in the game to defeat the Tigers 13-10.  In the Division 3 playoffs they advanced to the state semifinals where they lost to Tri-Valley, 24-6.  The Irish have defeated Massillon in four of the last five years.

Canton GlenOak – 2017 record: 3-7.  Last year the Golden Eagles had an uncharacteristic subpar season, which included a 24-10 loss to Massillon.  The Tigers have won four of the last five matches.

Warren Harding – 2017 record: 3-6.  The Panthers suffered through the loss of graduated quarterback Lynn Bowdon.  One of the losses was to Massillon, 31-21.  The Tigers own a 3-2 edge over the past five years.

Montclair, NJ – 2017 record: 12-0.  Last year Montclair captured the New Jersey North I Group 5 championship with a 35-14 win over Union City.  This should be a balanced matchup for the Tigers.

Akron Firestone – 2017 record: 4-6.  The Falcons return to the schedule for the third consecutive year.  Last year the Tigers defeated Firestone 35-6.  The Falcons were 3-2 in Akron City Series competition.

Austintown Fitch – 2017 record: 6-4.  Last season Massillon broke a 28-28 tie in the fourth quarter by scoring 10 consecutive points.  The Tigers have now won the last two meetings following three consecutive losses.

East St. Louis, IL – 2017 record: 10-2.  This may be the toughest opponent on Massillon’s schedule.  East St. Louls, with Cleveland Glenville-like talent, is considered to be a national power and annually plays teams from across the country.  Last year they lost to another national power in Evangel Christian Academy (Shreveport, LA), 14-6.  There is a chance that this game will be televised nationally.

Sun Valley, PA – 2017 record: 5-7.

Louisville – 2017 record: 5-5.  Having been booted out of the NBC, the Leopards are now forced to schedule independently.  Ergo, the Tigers will visit Lousville this year in a first-ever meeting.  Last year the Leopards started out with three consecutive losses: Canfield (28-48), North Canton (14-41) and Austintown Fitch (21-42).

Canton McKinley – 2017 record: 8-3.  Last season Massillon held off the Bulldogs 16-15 in the inaugural meeting of these two teams at Canton’s Tom Benson Stadium.  The Tigers now have beaten McKinley in six of the last seven games, with the lone loss coming in 2015 by the score of 30-28.  The Bulldogs advanced to the playoffs last year but were defeated in the first round by Lakewood St. Edward.