News Highlights from the 2020 Spring Kickoff
If you weren’t able to catch the Massillon Tiger Booster Club’s Spring Kickoff you missed quite a show. Head Coach Nate Moore provided one the most comprehensive previews of an upcoming Tiger squad in his 5-year career at Massillon. But there were also a couple of prominent guests, including Ohio State Head Coach Ryan Day and Houston Texan cornerback Gareon Conley.
The venue, of course, was a bit different this year due to the social distancing guidelines on account of Covid-19. It was more of an online podcast, with the guests addressing written questions at the end. No one really knows at this point whether the season will go on as scheduled, be shortened or canceled entirely. It all depends on the numbers and the Governor’s recommendation. Nevertheless, both coaches are proceeding with their preparations as if the season will proceed. And the players are buying in.
Eric Smith, this year’s Booster Club President, chaired the event. First up was Coach Day, whose Buckeyes last year fashioned a 14-0 regular season record, followed by a win in the Big Ten Championship Game and a subsequent spot in the BCS playoffs. As a result of this success, Day was named Big Ten Coach of the Year, the first time for an OSU coach in 40 years.
“It’s unbelievable to be a part of this tonight,” said Day. The relationship between Ohio State and Massillon remains strong every day. The ties between OSU and Massillon run deep.” He was referring to the 27 current and previous Tiger players who suited up for the Buckeyes and the three former coaches who became head coaches for Ohio State, including Paul Brown, Carroll Widdoes and Earl Bruce. Several others over the years were also hired as assistant coaches. Players currently on the team are Thayer Munford and Austin Kutscher.
Coach Day is doing everything he can to prepare this year’s team, in spite of the handicaps imposed by the stay-at-home guidelines. “This has been a challenge for us,” he said. “We’re trying to do the best we can to manage it. The players have been with their parents rather than on campus with their teammates. It’s not easy. There’s no real map.” So the coaches and players have been interacting in group meetings using online media
Next up was former Massillon player Gareon Conley, who currently plays for the Houston Texans. He said the transition from Oakland went well and that the Texan players were quite welcoming. A regular starter throughout last season, it appears that he has found a home in Houston. Gareon also addressed his de-committing from Michigan and subsequent signing with Ohio State. After visiting Michigan for the first time, he thought it was prudent to commit early to their offer. But, then he learned that he could still visit additional campuses. That opened up a trip to Ohio State and we all know the rest.
Finally, Coach Nate Moore had the screen and spoke for over an hour. Here is a snapshot of what he provided:
- The assistant coaches are doing a tremendous job keeping the players focused on pre-season activities. He continues to refer to this group as the best coaching staff in the country. Each was named along with their position responsibilities.
- The coaches are meeting online as a staff to manage the program in addition to game planning for this year’s opponents. They haven’t really slowed down and are doing everything they did in previous years, just online.
- Assistant coaches are meeting online with the players in position groups, mostly to perform wellness checks regarding health and school work.
- The players are individually responsible for maintaining their physical conditioning using a plan provided by the coaches. A software app called “Team Builder” has been introduced to monitor all of the players’ workouts. The players log their activities into the app and Coach Joe Studer perform the monitoring and feedback.
- Not all players have weights for workouts. So the Booster Club purchased workout bands.
- There is a weekly challenge to complete certain conditioning activities. Nike has become involved in this and is providing T-shirts and shorts as awards for the best performers.
- “The players have taken to all of this very easily,” said Moore. “Out Tigers are meeting our hardships and tests. We will come out better because of it.”
- Massillon has two goals this year: beat McKinley and win the state championship.
- Coach Moore reviewed this year’s schedule and was excited to note that it includes seven home games. The opener is Bishop Gorman from Las Vegas, Nevada, a game that will be played at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton; they are a national power and a perennial Top 50 team; Moore expects this game to be on national television; he anticipates a fierce battle. GlenOak should be much improved this year and looking to turn the corner after several substandard years. Moore said that St. Ignatius is always tough and well-coached; the best team in the state last year not to make the playoffs; it’s a great challenge. Barberton was young last year and this year’s game should be a good one. Wooster could be a dangerous opponent. McKinley: greatest high school rivalry in the country; young last year; returns several key players, many D1; very formidable.
- All college summer camps have been canceled. Therefore, game film has taken on an added significance. Moore expects additional scholarships to be offered during the early games.
- Currently, nine Tiger players have received scholarship offers to play college football. “And there’s more to come,” said Moore. “This is a very talented senior class. We’ve seen this coming for quite a few years.” Nate read the names of 24 returning lettermen, most of which saw extensive playing time last year and they cover nearly every position on the field. He is really high on his four returning offensive linemen.
- The stadium work is on schedule. It is important to maintain the facility that is now 80 years old.
- The golf outing is scheduled for August 15.
- The Lift-a-thon and many other activities will be scheduled and possibly rescheduled, but not canceled.
No. 45 was called “The Man with the Flying White Shoes,” by sportswriter Chuck Hess. “We had a neighborhood with a bunch of kids who wanted to play for the Tigers,” said Hannon. “And everybody who wanted to play for the Tigers ended up playing for the Tigers. Before the games on Friday night we would always play in somebody’s yard. I was always Bill Blunt because he was my idol. He was number 45. After that Tommy James was 45. After that it was Larry Harper. And after that it was me.” – from Scott Shook’s “A Century of Heroes.”
In 1977, although he always wanted to play for the Browns, Hannon was drafted in the 3rd round (No. 83 overall) by the Minnesota Vikings. There he played safety for eight years, as a starter in all but one, and of course wore No. 45. During that span he participated in 117 games and started 103, recording 13 fumble recoveries and 15 pass interceptions, which he returned for 202 yards. One pick went for 41 yards and a score in a 34-14 victory over Chicago. His team made the playoffs in 1977, 78, 80 and 82.
Massillon senior Anthony Pedro has selected Wittenberg University to continue his education and play the sport he loves. Wittenberg participates in football at the NCAA Division 3 level and is a member of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). The Tigers currently have the most wins of any team in Division 3, with an overall record of 727-353-22. Last year they compiled a mark of 7-3 and finished in a tie for first place in the NCAC. They are coached by Joe Fincham, who has been there for 24 years.
Robbie Page was a starting safety on Massillon’s 14-1, state runner-up team in 2019. He was fourth on the team with 58.5 tackle points (49 solos and 19 assists). He also intercepted three passes, broke up eight passes and recovered a fumble. An All-County selection, Page will be remembered as a player who challenged any opposing receiver to catch a pass over the middle.
But there is one record that always bothered me: Chuck Vliet’s 42 tackles in the 1950 game against Warren Harding. How could this be? Is that even possible? The No. 2 player on the list, Cooper Ivan, has just 14 tackle points. Fortunately, the aging Chuck is still with us to tell the story. And it’s a good one. I had a chance recently to sit down with Chuck and talk about that record, but first a little background.
Former Massillon player and current Mount Union defensive back Kordell Ford was recently named Division 3 1st Team Collegiate All-American by the Associated Press. The 5′-10″, 190 lb. Ford, who majors in Sports Business, had a productive junior year in helping his team to an 11-1 record and a birth in the post-season playoffs. For the season, he recorded 53.0 tackle points, two quarterback sacks and a pass interception, including a season-best eight tackles against Heidelberg. In addition to his All-American status, Ford was named to the All-Ohio Athletic Conference first team and recognized as the OAC’s top defensive back. He has also been nominated for the Cliff Harris Award as the top small college defensive player in the country. In his previous two years, Kordell was credited with 56 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss, a quarterback sack and a fumble recovery.
