BOASTS
- As of 2019, has the most victories in Ohio (899). Currently ranks 5th in the nation in this category.
- Has won many championships:
- Has the most national championships (9).
- Has the most Ohio state championships (24).
- Twice won seven state titles in a row (1935-41 under Paul Brown and Bud Houghton; 1948-54 under Chuck Mather and Tom Harp).
- Won eleven All-American Conference championships during its 17-year span (1963-1979).
- Qualified for the first ever Ohio playoffs (1972).
- Has the most regional playoff championships among Ohio’s large public schools (13).
- Fashioned one of the greatest championship runs at any level of football, over a 31-year period from 1955 to 1965. During that time, Massillon won 274 games, lost only 27 and tied 11 (.896), outscoring the opposition by an average of 31-6. Included in that was 15 unbeaten seasons. They captured 9 national championships and 20 state championships, while 26 times being ranked in Ohio’s Top 10. Recorded a 52-game unbeaten streak. Lost only 5 games to Canton McKinley.
- Has not been shut out in a game since 2007.
- Had several of the largest attendances for any playoff state finals game:
- 1st in Division 1: 31,409 vs. Cincinnati Moeller 1982.
- 3rd in Division 1: 22,751 vs. Cincinnati Moeller in 1980.
- 6th in Division 1: 20,227 vs. Cincinnati St. Xavier in 2005
- 2nd in Division 2: 16,213 vs. Akron Hoban in 2018.
- Owns the largest single-school high school stadium in Ohio (capacity:16,884):
- The stadium is named after Paul Brown.
- Massillon sells around 3,500 season tickets each year.
- The average home game attendance is around 8,000. Since 1891, the Tigers have played in front of over 10 million fans.
- The stadium has the largest high school scoreboard in the country for a single-school stadium.
- The stadium has hosted 92 playoff state finals games, more than any other location (1972, 1973, 1990-2013).
- The adjacent indoor sports facility has a full-size playing surface and is heated.
- Part of the second-longest rivalry in the state (Massillon vs. Canton McKinley).
- Home to many famous players and coaches:
- 19 Tigers have earned collegiate All-American honors.
- 37 Tigers have gone on to play professional football.
- Three head coaches became head coach of Ohio State (Paul Brown, Carroll Widdoes and Earle Bruce). Many others have become head coaches of other Division 1 colleges. Three became NFL head coaches (Paul Brown,
- Five former players/coaches have become professional head coaches (Paul Brown, Bill Edwards, Earle Bruce, John McVay and Chris Spielman) one became an NFL team manager (Rick Spielman).
- Three coaches went on to coach collegiate national championship teams: Paul Brown (Ohio State), Don James (Washington) and Bill Edwards (Wittenberg, twice).
- Has significant media presence:
- The games are live video broadcast to the world via the internet and then replayed throughout the week on local cable TV.
- The games are live audio broadcast over local radio.
- A game or feature story can be found in the local newspaper each day during the season.
- Paramount Studios produced the film “Touchdown Town,” documenting Massillon’s traditions in the 1950s.
- The film “Go Tigers” was released following the 1990 season. It documents the football experiences of the three co-captains and the town’s effort to pass a school levy.
- A group of sideliners act as mentors to the players throughout the year.
- Game-day enthusiasm rivals that of many major colleges, from tailgating and to the spectacular show in the stadium.
- Several Massillon stores are devoted exclusively to Tiger apparel.
- The Paul Brown Museum is an integral part of the Massillon Museum. It exhibits both artifacts from Paul Brown’s coaching career and rotating displays related to Massillon High School football.
FIRSTS
- Under Coach Paul Brown (Ohio State, Cleveland Browns; Pro Football Hall of Fame):
- First high school team to have a playbook.
- First coach to film games and practices.
- Only coach to win national championships at the high school, college and professional levels (Massillon, Ohio State and Cleveland Browns).
- First high school to have a booster club.
- First Ohio high school to have a marching band play at games.
- Under Coach Leo Strang (Kent State):
- First high school to place a logo emblem on the side of the helmet.
- First high school to award helmet stickers for good performance.
- First team to have V-Neck jerseys.
- First team to wear white shoes.
- Under Coach Chuck Mather (Kansas):
- First coach to film plays during the game for sideline review.
- First coach to computerize practices and games.
- Invented the “Green Bay Sweep” and used it at Massillon. Then taught it to Green Bay’s Vince Lombardi.
- Under Coach Lee Owens (University of Akron):
- First Ohio high school stadium to have artificial turf.
- First high school to recognize players by displaying signs in house windows and yards.