From the 1930s to present day, several annual Tiger fan gatherings are held to enhance the Massillon football experience. Foremost among these are the Spring Stagg (Spring Kickoff), the Sideliners Sportsmanship Award Banquet and the Tiger Team Banquet. In order to enrich these events, organizers over the years have engaged many nationally known key speakers, a list of which reads like a variable “who’s who” of high school, college and NFL football.
The early Spring “Stagg” / “Smokers” were held from 1938 through 1956, following the conclusion of spring practice. The event is now called the Spring Kickoff, although spring practice is no longer allowed. The original format was a social occasion, whereby notable high school, college and professional coaches from throughout Ohio and beyond attended, in addition to many Cleveland and Ohio-area sports broadcasters.
The Sportsmanship Award Banquet is held at the end of each season in order to recognize the achievements of one player from each opponent. An effort of the Massillon Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Tiger Sideliners, the players, their parents and their respective head coaches were invited for the trophy ceremony. Collectively, the group of players comprises an “All-Opponent” Team.
The Tiger Team Banquet celebrates the successes of the immediately concluded season.
The list of speakers for these events included Elmer Layden and Massillon’s own Harry Stuhldreher as members of the famed “Four Horsemen of Notre Dame. From Ohio State were Woody Hayes, Jim Tressel, Paul Brown, Glenn “Tiger” Ellison, Darrell Hazell, Glen Mason, Lee Owens, Greg Gillom, Tim Beckman, Francis Schmidt and Urban Meyer. Several national collegiate championship coaches were engaged, including Paul Brown, Paul “Bear” Bryant, Larry Keheres, Nick Saban and Don James. And former Cleveland Browns players Bill Glass, Bill Willis and Brian Brennan were also featured.
Below is the best compilation of speakers for the three Tiger Banquets noted above. The list is surely not complete, but represents the best accumulation of speakers that research would permit.