Stories about Big Red

• FairwoodKing

  I also remember the night the horse burned the tiger. That was quite a sight. The Massillon people were really pissed at us. So was their team. They killed us that night.
• swoosh

  

  FairwoodKing;1054239 wrote:I still remember that 1987 game. I'm still not sure I know what happened. All I know is that when we thought Big Red lost, my father heard me use some language he never heard me use before. And then when we learned we won, I never heard so much cheering in my life. I thought a full-fledged riot was going to break out in the stadium that night. The following Monday, Sammy took tapes of the game to Columbus to try to get the OHSAA to overturn the verdict. They pretty much told him to piss off. The two schools blamed each other for the problems and declared they would not play each other again in any sport. That lasted twenty years.

  
  Sammy as in SOS?
• FairwoodKing

  IchsCreekPRIDE;1054254 wrote:Sammy as in SOS?

  The same.
• swoosh

  

  Good luck in 2012. Hope we get a rematch in weeks 11-13 :thumbup:
• FairwoodKing

  IchsCreekPRIDE;1054282 wrote:Good luck in 2012. Hope we get a rematch in weeks 11-13 :thumbup:

  One thing is for sure. Every time Big Red plays Creek/Wintersville, there is a story to be told. We're still talking about games that happened 25 years ago.
• Red Lady

  Interesting thread you have started Fairwood. I go back a long time following Big Red in football and basketball. So many personal memories! Actually, one of my first real memories of Big Red football (back when I was more interested in what boys were in the stands) was Paul Warfield (Warren Harding) flying down our side line. There were many jam-packed crowds on Friday & Saturday nights at Harding Stadium - Big Red playing Massillon or Canton McKinley on Friday and Central & Niles McKinley on Saturday. Those games brought out the "characters" dressed in their topcoats, hats (and carrying brass knuckles!). You could always count on one good fight in the stands! The '63 team that beat Massillon - I remember like it was yesterday. Our visitor stands were so packed that everyone stood the whole game. Ron Mazzaferro was MVP. I saw him the next day downtown leaning against a parking meter and just beaming. The "Night The Lights Went Out in Massillon", (Dave Corsi was our quarterback & we ending up losing 12-0) - this was before the Route 22 four-lane. So cars & buses headed out thru Main Street in Wintersville and turned right on Route 43. There was so much traffic that Wintersville posted a cop at Main and Route 43 to direct traffic. The Massillon game when the "Horse" breathed fire on the "Tiger" - I still have the Herald-Star picture of that. We were leading at halftime. I was so excited that when Big Red came out for the 2nd half, I came very close to fainting (saw stars - lol). Well, we ended losing that one too. Lots of bonfires, pep rallies down Fourth Street and nighttime car parades back then.
• Red Lady

  Sorry, I did not mean for my post to be one long paragraph; but Edit Post won't let me change it. I can also remember traveling up to Warren to watch Wintersville take on Harding (not sure what year). Wintersville came out strong early in the game, but Harding ended up scoring quite a few touchdowns. In basketball, I especially remember a very hot, packed St. John's arena for our games against Weir High when they had Fritz Williams. One interesting fact ( this goes for all levels - high school, college & the pros) is that 40/50 years ago fans did not wear team colors, shirts like they do now. Heck, I wore a pink sweater to a Steeler Super Bowl! RRR
• ManO'War

  

  The biggest crowd in Arena history was when Big Red played Weir High in basketball when they had Fritz Williams...I forget the exact number, but it was close to 6,000 people in there.
  
  I always remember a packed house the night Big Red took on Jay Burson...I got there a little late and had to sit on the steps in the upper section.
  
  It's a shame, because we used to really support our basketball program.
• FairwoodKing

  Red Lady-- Thank you for your comments. You bring back a lot of memories.
  
  As far as Big Red's victory over Massillon, I think I can add a few things. The game actually took place in 1962, not 1963. I'm sure of this because it was my freshman year in high school. I marched with the Big Red Band and this was my first away game. Tony Violi, the band director, wanted to do a blockbuster halftime show, so he cut the band down to 64 plus majorettes and benched almost the entire freshman class. I was one of two freshmen allowed to march. We did a blackout show that night. They turned out the stadium lights and we did the drills in the dark with lights on our feet. It brought down the house.
  
  The real thrill came after the game. The Massillon people were somewhat shellshocked that they had lost to us. The Massillon band did not take to the field after the game. The Big Red Band did. We lined up in tight formation and marched around the field as though it was a parade while playing the Big Red Fight Song. All the Big Red people stayed in the stands and clapped to the music.
  
  The next day the band was scheduled to have a tag day to raise money. I never saw anything like it. People were so excited about the game that they literally threw money at us. Even the Central people were generous. We raised more money that day than at any other tag day the band has ever had.
  
  All in all, it was a very exciting weekend, one that I will never forget.
  
  In a day or two, I will give you the Massillon coach's take on the game. He and I became good friends, and we often discussed it.
• Thinthickbigred

  ManO'War;1054603 wrote:The biggest crowd in Arena history was when Big Red played Weir High in basketball when they had Fritz Williams...I forget the exact number, but it was close to 6,000 people in there.
  
  I always remember a packed house the night Big Red took on Jay Burson...I got there a little late and had to sit on the steps in the upper section.
  
  It's a shame, because we used to really support our basketball program.

  I was at the John Glen game when Jay Burson played for them 80% John Glen fans and maybe 20% Big Red ..and it was way over 5,000 fans extra bleachers etc .. It was like an away game and naturally we had 7 guys foul out and Burson shot 30 free throws and it was still a tight game .. By that time our football team was rolling again and we sure didnt and dont follow our basketball team like our football team .. I was embarrased and pizzed
• FairwoodKing

  I remember the first event ever held in St. John Arena. It was a rally for a newly-formed high school basketball conference. The teams were Big Red, Massillon, Canton McKinley, East Liverpool, Salem, Niles, Warren Harding, and Alliance. The Big Red Band actually marched in a halftime show right on the court. Everything went well except for one thing. President Kennedy had been assassinated the day before. Nearly every school and every business was closed in mourning. Trust me, everyone involved with that event was severely criticized for many months because we didn't postpone it.
• Thinthickbigred

  FairwoodKing;1055462 wrote:I remember the first event ever held in St. John Arena. It was a rally for a newly-formed high school basketball conference. The teams were Big Red, Massillon, Canton McKinley, East Liverpool, Salem, Niles, Warren Harding, and Alliance. The Big Red Band actually marched in a halftime show right on the court. Everything went well except for one thing. President Kennedy had been assassinated the day before. Nearly every school and every business was closed in mourning. Trust me, everyone involved with that event was severely criticized for many months because we didn't postpone it.

  Now that is interesting That really ruined everything back then... On the basketball note . How long did that confrence last ?
• FairwoodKing

  Thinthickbigred;1055607 wrote:Now that is interesting That really ruined everything back then... On the basketball note . How long did that confrence last ?

  It lasted until the night Big Red got stuck in the snow while going to Warren. Our team never did get there. They didn't get home until well past midnight. The school finally decided these long bus rides in January just were not a good idea.
• FairwoodKing

  Big Red basketball was involved in a major scandal in 1952. We were undefeated and clearly had the best team in the state. Our star player was a sensation. No one could beat him. That is, until Big Red got to the state final game. All of a sudden, the star couldn't do anything. When he finally fouled out, Big Red was down by more than ten points to Middletown. Ang Vaccaro, the coach, was heavily criticized for leaving him in so long. After he was gone, the team rallied, but they were too far behind and ultimately lost the state championship. The next week the star player was driving a new car. The FBI came in to investigate. Sure enough, the star had been bought off by the mob.
  
  MIddletown had a star player, too. I cannot remember his name, but he was one of the best pro players in history. I would appreciate it if someone could refresh my memory.
• swoosh

  

  FairwoodKing;1056411 wrote:Big Red basketball was involved in a major scandal in 1952. We were undefeated and clearly had the best team in the state. Our star player was a sensation. No one could beat him. That is, until Big Red got to the state final game. All of a sudden, the star couldn't do anything. When he finally fouled out, Big Red was down by more than ten points to Middletown. Ang Vaccaro, the coach, was heavily criticized for leaving him in so long. After he was gone, the team rallied, but they were too far behind and ultimately lost the state championship. The next week the star player was driving a new car. The FBI came in to investigate. Sure enough, the star had been bought off by the mob.
  
  MIddletown had a star player, too. I cannot remember his name, but he was one of the best pro players in history. I would appreciate it if someone could refresh my memory.

  
  It kinda reminds of when Lebron was in HS... getting the new hummer somehow while his mom was facing money issues.
• bases_loaded

  

  How does an agent giving Lebrons mom money remind your of the MOB paying off a high school player?
• swoosh

  

  Idk. I have reminders like that bout everything. Some can get strange (i.e. scratchy noises reminds of Heath miller).
• FairwoodKing

  The day we lost to Middletown was the blackest day in Big Red history. It's one thing to lose the state championship when the game is fair and honest, but when your star player screws you, that's pretty bad.
• 4cards

  

  ^^^^
  ...Don Barnett?
• 4cards

  

  FairwoodKing;1056411 wrote:Big Red basketball was involved in a major scandal in 1952. We were undefeated and clearly had the best team in the state. Our star player was a sensation. No one could beat him. That is, until Big Red got to the state final game. All of a sudden, the star couldn't do anything. When he finally fouled out, Big Red was down by more than ten points to Middletown. Ang Vaccaro, the coach, was heavily criticized for leaving him in so long. After he was gone, the team rallied, but they were too far behind and ultimately lost the state championship. The next week the star player was driving a new car. The FBI came in to investigate. Sure enough, the star had been bought off by the mob.
  
  MIddletown had a star player, too. I cannot remember his name, but he was one of the best pro players in history. I would appreciate it if someone could refresh my memory.[/QUOTE]
  
  ...Jerry Lucas played for the Middies in the late 50's. "Big Luke" was an All American at OSU & then had many great years in the NBA with a couple of teams.

• scoreboard

  

  Jerry Lucas played around 57-58 though. It couldn't have been him in 1952.
• FairwoodKing

  4cards;1056988 wrote:

  FairwoodKing;1056411 wrote: MIddletown had a star player, too. I cannot remember his name, but he was one of the best pro players in history. I would appreciate it if someone could refresh my memory.[/QUOTE]
  
  ...Jerry Lucas played for the Middies in the late 50's. "Big Luke" was an All American at OSU & then had many great years in the NBA with a couple of teams.

  Thank you. I have been beating my brains out trying to think of his name.

• FairwoodKing

  scoreboard;1057005 wrote:Jerry Lucas played around 57-58 though. It couldn't have been him in 1952.

  Are you sure?
• Thinthickbigred

  FairwoodKing;1056411 wrote:Big Red basketball was involved in a major scandal in 1952. We were undefeated and clearly had the best team in the state. Our star player was a sensation. No one could beat him. That is, until Big Red got to the state final game. All of a sudden, the star couldn't do anything. When he finally fouled out, Big Red was down by more than ten points to Middletown. Ang Vaccaro, the coach, was heavily criticized for leaving him in so long. After he was gone, the team rallied, but they were too far behind and ultimately lost the state championship. The next week the star player was driving a new car. The FBI came in to investigate. Sure enough, the star had been bought off by the mob.
  
  MIddletown had a star player, too. I cannot remember his name, but he was one of the best pro players in history. I would appreciate it if someone could refresh my memory.

  scandel and mob and Steubenville in the 50's .. I heard we lost a game dont know if it were the game but we lost a game when we were undefeatd in the 50's when my mother went to big Red and we lost a basketball game by one point in the tourny and we were ranked #1 and a photographer flashed his camera as our guy was about to score and blined him . Back then they had those big flash cameras . He did it right under the basket . I guess it had everybody screaming foul on that one
• FairwoodKing

  Thinthickbigred;1058057 wrote:scandel and mob and Steubenville in the 50's .. I heard we lost a game dont know if it were the game but we lost a game when we were undefeatd in the 50's when my mother went to big Red and we lost a basketball game by one point in the tourny and we were ranked #1 and a photographer flashed his camera as our guy was about to score and blined him . Back then they had those big flash cameras . He did it right under the basket . I guess it had everybody screaming foul on that one

  I don't think this was the same game, but I do have a vague memory of the story you told. If my father were still alive, I would ask him. He had a remarkable memory for this sort of thing. I really miss him.