History History Posts
History 
News 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 43rd 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.
News 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
News 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.
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History Time to Purchase That Commemorative Brick
Spring is here and that means graduation is just around the corner . If you have a graduating bandsman, athlete, or student from WHS or college, a great way to honor them is with a brick in the Walk of Pride at Tiger Stadium. They are available in 4 x 8 or 8 x 12 inch sizes for $100 or $250, respectively. You may have the message of your choice inscribed on the brick along with a pre- selected location. Orders should be made by May 10 to insure arrival by graduation date .
Click this link to order a brick.
Any questions please call John Liebermann at 330-445-9250
News Lift-a-Thon on Tap for April 15
The annual Steve Studer Memorial Lift-a-Thon will be held in the WHS main gym on Sunday, April 15 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Come out and support our Tigers.
For additional details contact one of the following:
- Coach Terrance Roddy (330) 268-8190
- Coach JP Simon (513) 748-4829
- Coach Rob Oviatt (509) 432-6362
History The Bell Was Ringing for One Tiger Honorees
One Tiger, now in its ninth year of operation, is non-profit organization whose purpose is to “benefit Massillon youth by supporting and promoting the institutions and programs that deliver success skills.” Annually, One Tiger honors individuals that have an extensive track record of giving support to the kids in this manner. This year’s honorees are Dale Walterhouse and Esther Bryant.
A lunch at Washington High School kicked off the event and then the recipients were honored in the auditorium by proclamations from Mayor Kathy Catazoro-Perry, by those closest to them with short speeches (each one punctuated by an enthusiastic ring of the Massillon-McKinley victory bell) and finally by presentation of the One Tiger awards. The event concluded with dinner at Tiger Town Grille and Pub.
Dale Walterhouse
At the request of his Upper Sandusky High School coach Leo Strang, Dale Walterhouse moved to Massillon to coach at Lorin Andrews Junior High. After stints as Jones Junior High and Washington High School sophomore coach, Walterhouse became varsity assistant and served under head coaches Strang, Earle Bruce, Bob Seaman, Bob Commings and Mike Currence. He coached six state championship and two national championship teams and was a member of the inaugural class of the Tiger Hall of Fame. His Massillon coaching career spanned 24 seasons, compiling a record of 201 wins, 21 losses and 4 ties.
Coach Walterhouse taught health, physical education, and general chemistry in the Massillon School System, served as district supervisor of health and physical education, and was briefly Washington High School’s athletic director. An active member of the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club, Walterhouse has served as president and treasurer as well as president of Sideliners.
Walterhouse has served his community through the Massillon Alumni Scholarship Committee, the Community Improvement Corporation, the Civil Service Commission, the Spring Hill Historic Home board of directors, the Lions Club as chairman of the eye screening program, the Ohio North-South All-Star football game assistant events director, and state football playoffs parking coordinator. He served as a Massillon city councilman and the manager of The Elms Swim Club.
Walterhouse and his wife Jo have three children—Kathy, Kurt, and Steve, eleven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
“You’ve been a wonderful asset for this city,” said presenter and former Tiger player and past Football Booster Club President Brock Herring. “You always had the best interest of the Massillon kids in your heart. You were like a dad to many of us.”
“It’s our community that comes out on top because of people like these (Dale and Esther),” added former Football Booster Club President Steve Berecek. “For Dale, it was a labor of love. He always wanted to give back to the community.”
Dale graciously thanked One Tiger and all of the presenters. “Massillon has been very good to us,” Dale said. “I’ve surrounded myself with great people and it is great people that make you successful. I give football a lot of credit for my being here today. You can do a lot more with team than individual.”
Esther Bryant
A 1959 graduate of Washington High School, Esther Bryant studied at Kent State University and the Washington Beauty Academy in Akron, where she taught for many years. She also taught at the Jane Skinner Modeling School and Christina’s Hair Weev (the inventor of the hair weave) before opening her own beauty salon and boutique in Massillon, Juannee’s Total Image.
As a Stark County Human Services foster parent, she recognized a need to provide basic life skills and cultural experiences for foster children. With the assistance of Rev. Reginald Hye at Friendship Baptist Church in Massillon, she founded Lighthouse Visions. For 22 years, as CEO/executive director of Lighthouse Visions, she tirelessly bettered the lives of foster children, until she suffered a serious stroke in 2015.
Bryant served the community in many capacities, volunteering with Westark Family Services, Downtown Massillon Association, Massillon WestStark Chamber of Commerce, the Fair Housing Board, Massillon Museum, Canton NAACP, Massillon Woman’s Club, CAN (Collaborative Agency Association), Board of Stark County Community Action and the Massillon Parks and Recreation board.
Bryant has two daughters—Judge Valarie Hill and Bridget Hill, three grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. She is a member of Friendship Baptist Church, where she served as pianist for more than 50 years. She now sings in the choir. She also attends Massillon Connections Church and leads praise workshops.
Margy Vogt contributed to this story.
News 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.
Editorial Rehashing the Infamous 1957 Clock Game
Story by Gary Vogt
Mention the Massillon-Warren football series to a Harding fan and he is sure to bring up the infamous “1957 Clock Game,” where it was claimed by Warren that the Tigers won by virtue of having an extra minute of time added at the end. Here is that story.
The build up to the game was huge to say the least. And the outcome would certainly go a long way that year in determining the eventual state champion. The fact that the attendance that night was 21,322 fans attests to its magnitude.
Warren came into the game with a record of 6-0 and they were ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Poll, which was used to select the state champ at that time. The Tigers had a record of 4-1 having lost to Cleveland Benedictine 13-7 (they only played five games at that point in the season, as the contest with Mansfield was canceled due to a flu epidemic).
Massillon scored two first quarter touchdowns to take a 14-0 lead. Warren then fought back with two second half touchdowns to tie it up at 14. Then the epic drive and resulting controversy took place.
The Tigers had returned a punt to their 38 yard line with 2:38 showing on the clock to set up the drive. When it was over, the clock had expired and Massillon was celebrating a victory. Along the way, the Tigers used three different quarterbacks and converted on two fourth downs. The first conversion required a measurement, which the Tigers made by inches. The second occurred on the last play of the game with the Tigers on Warren’s 38 yard line. With just four seconds left, sophomore quarterback Joe Sparma tossed deep to end Clyde Childers for the game-winning touchdown. Childers snagged the pass between two Warren defenders and lunged across the goal line for the score. Pandemonium broke loose and the try for the extra point never did not take place.
According to the Warren Tribune Chronicle a Warren fan contacted Harding coach Gene Slaughter on the sideline after the game and claimed that a minute of time was added to the clock after it reached the 0:59 mark, obviously aiding the Tigers during their final march to the endzone. Thus began a detailed investigation conducted by both schools.
Background:
- The clock operator that night was Bill Archibald.
- The game was broadcast on WHBC radio.
- Referees – Stan Machock – Referee, Eric Calhoun – Umpire, Sam Hadnick – Head Linesman & C. W. Kupp – Field Judge.
- Warren’s head coach – Gene Slaughter
- Warren officials did contact OHSAA to ask if they could look into the clock operation that night. OHSAA assigned the investigation to an E. M. Ensminger, an OHSAA Commissioner. He later found in Massillon’s favor.
Without discounting this information, Coach Slaughter contacted Head Referee Stan Machock to inquire if his crew had noticed a clock malfunction. Machock stated that no one on the crew was aware of any such malfunction. Machock and Slaughter climbed the stands to the West Press Box where Bill Archibald, the clock operator, was wrapping up his evening’s work and was putting away his equipment. Machock asked Archibald if he had noticed any clock malfunction during the conclusion of the game. Archibald had not noticed any such malfunction. Machock asked Archibald to re-run the clock down to check it’s reliability. He re-ran the last four minutes three or four times for Machock. The clock performed accurately each time. Machock told Slaughter that there was nothing more he could do and they departed the Press Box.
The next day Warren school officials contacted the Ohio High School Athletic Association and asked if they would look into the Massillon clock situation from the night before. The OSHAA then contacted the Massillon school officials to inquire about the clock and its operation.
The following Monday, October 28th, Massillon officials obtained an audio rebroadcast of the game from WHBC. By replaying the tape they could determine if the time was properly gauged. The process was repeated three or four times and the clock appeared to be operating properly.
The worksheet below outlining the last four minutes of the game was believed to be generated by the Massillon officials as they replayed the tape and prepared their response to OSHAA. It shows a play by play account of the last four minutes of the game by displaying the start time, the time run off and the clock reading after the play. It also describes what happened on the play and the yards gained or lost. What is of tremendous significance is the red OK on the left edge of the worksheet. Then trace across the line with the red OK to the right edge. The pencil lead colored notes on the right edge justify the clock readings after the play in question. The notes read “TAPE”, “CAK” and “POWELL”. The term TAPE refers to the rebroadcast from WHBC, the term CAK refers to Massillon’s statistician Chuck Koch and POWELL refers to the Massillon Evening Independent’s sport writer Charlie Powell’s article on the game. These three sources verify that the times are an accurate account of what is displayed on the worksheet.
The first question to consider: why didn’t the Warren coaching staff bring the clock malfunction to the attention of the referees when it occurred rather than wait until the game was over? Either the Warren coaches were asleep at the switch or the clock had operated correctly. Were they not paying attention to the clock with one minute left in the game and Massillon driving for the winning score? The clock was probably the focus of everyone in the stadium at that time.
Let’s be clear. No Warren official claimed that the clock was purposely configured to add an extra minute. Again, how can someone reconfigure the clock without the Warren coaches observing the clock altering process? Surely someone would have noticed if Mr. Archibald had purposely tried to add a minute. No one did.
There is one possibility that cannot be proved or disproved. It is possible that the clock went from 1:00 minute to 1:59 and then immediately corrected itself. This may have occurred, but regardless it did not alter the timing of the game and no extra minute was added as some claimed.
The loss knocked Warren out of contention for the 1957 state championship, which was awarded to Cleveland Benedictine based on their victory over the Tigers and their 9-0 season record.
In conclusion, the evidence overwhelmingly supports that claim that the clock kept an accurate account of the time and no extra minute was granted to the Tigers. The scoreboard and clock mechanism were state of the art equipment for the 1950s and ran accurately during the post-game trials. The worksheet breaks down the final four minutes in detail and is supported by multiple sources. The WHBC broadcast combined with the clock rerun proved that the clock had accurately kept the time of the game. OHSAA investigated Warren’s claim and found in favor of the Tigers. With little or no evidence to the contrary it becomes obvious that the clock at Tiger Stadium performed accurately in timing the game that night.
History Five Former Tigers Take the Next Step
February is the time of year when football players from around the country determine if college football is in their future. And this is no exception in Massillon, where five former Tigers, with much help from head coach Nate Moore, have determined their future endeavors. They are:
- Anthony Ballard, 5′-8″, 153 lb. cornerback, 3-year starter. Committed to Division II Notre Dame of Cleveland.
- Ty Keirns, 6′-5″, 231 lb. defensive lineman, 2-year starter. Committed to Division II Ohio Dominican, which is located in Columbus, Ohio.
- Lucas McGuire, 6′-2″, 272 lb. offensive lineman, 2-year starter. Committed to Division II Fairmont State, which is located in Fairmont, West Virginia.
- Austin Kutscher, 6′-1″, 180 lb. wide receiver, 2-year starter. Committed to The Ohio State University.
- Gaige Hodgson, 6′-10″, 160 lb. kicker. Enlisted in the United States Air Force.
The Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club congratulates these fine players and wishes them success in all their future activities.
