Damon Robinson was a stud.

Justin Zwick does not even belong in the discussion whether he played 2 years or 4, not even close. He was a liabilty as a freshmen. Threw 8 int's and 6 td passes and completed around %42 of his passes in 4 playoff games that year and we actually won it anyway. Was only marginally better his soph year. Larry Johnson was a stud in the late 60's as was Jimmy Johnson. Bill Coyer and Ross Bartchey both played for the Buckeyes back in the thirties. Somebody threw out the whole '95 team. If that's the case how about the team that actually won it in '98. The coaches will tell you that team had the best offensive and defensive lines they ever coached, and most of those guys had been coaching since the '70's. Denny Curtis played in the 60's and coached from the '70's up until the '2000's and he will tell you without question the best 2 defensive ends he ever coached where Brandon Bowman and Ben Stocker. I'm glad to see someone mentioned Tom Troyer as well as Brandon Bowman. Those were 2 guys along with Jonny Haley that they couldn't replace off the '94 team. Not sure we've ever had a linebacker more physically talented than Thad Tillison. Didn't read the whole thread but nobody mentioned Brent Steiner? Coach Shonk was a terrific player in the late fifties. The '63 team had some great players too. Houmard was mentioned along with Lowell Geiser, but Chet Amstutz whose son played for Rittman and Brandon Bowman's father Ron played both ways on that team. Another guy I like to mention just because he was a couple years behind me and I really liked the way he played was Todd Sprunger. Played nose guard, not sure we have ever had a better one. Was kind of atypical for a nose guard, small, athletic, and played %100 from snap to whistle on every play. Jeff Gype told me several times he used to actully feel sorry for the opposing center. I think he led the team in tackles his senior year, incredibly rare for a nose in the 50 defense.

Nice post. Yes many of those guys were mentioned but you brought up a few good new ones. Thad Tillison was mentioned earlier and Thad was one of the former players who took time to speak to the team after one of the Wooster week practices. He did a great job.

Wow guys this was fun. Many great stories and opinions. Some names I havent heard in a long time or ever before. I think maybe we the fans deserve the 12th man award! Bring it loud this weekend and make sure LaBrae always remembers the night they played the Riders!

I think we could possibly have a top 10 list at each position grouping. Offensive lines, defensive line, lbs & de's, dbacks, qbs & rbs, wrs, coaches, fans, etc...

Red Rider Nation;954391 wrote:Wow guys this was fun. Many great stories and opinions. Some names I havent heard in a long time or ever before. I think maybe we the fans deserve the 12th man award! Bring it loud this weekend and make sure LaBrae always remembers the night they played the Riders!

Always good to welcome a new opponent to Red Rider Stadium!

^^The 3rd "new" team we've played in the last 3 years.

2009 - Genoa
2010 - Chagrin Falls
2011 - Labrae

First new team to come to Red Rider Stadium in quite a while. Clear Fork was the last new team to play at Red Rider Stadium and that was in 2004 when they joined the OCC....but we played them once before that in the playoffs in 1994. Last truly new team to play at Red Rider Stadium was Vermillion in 2001.

Nice article in the DR about Drew. He's fun to watch.
I see Fantastic50 has updated.....after week 10 it has our strength of schedule 5th in all of the 122 schools in Div IV. Similar to previous years...let's hope it pays off in the playoffs!

5knots;953013 wrote:Nice topic and should generate a lot of interest and arguments. haha. So hard to compare generations. For one thing, we all know that the older we get the better we were by those that remembered us! haha. I don't think you will ever come up with a consensus. And maybe that's because we have too many great football players. The modern day era players ( since play offs) have had the opportunity to showcase their talent against the best in the state which tends to maybe give more substance to their talents. Tyrone Barnett played for Woody...has to count for something. Chase Hoobler held the record for most tackles in school history until a few games ago. That HAS to count for something when you think of the great defensive players over the years. James Bradley, Renauld Ray, Marcell Denson, Jared Zwick, Thad Tillison, Brent Steiner, Damian Vaughn, Wow that is just off the top of my head. What we have blessed with on the football field is truly amazing.

Wow tough question but here goes in no particular order, Mark Griggs, Jimmy Johnson, Jason Haley, Kyle Simmons, Tom Bolyard, Chase Hoobler, Dru Robinson, Craig Pack, Brent Steiner, James Bradley. There are so many more who could be on this list, maybe a top 50 would cover most lol.

So many names could be on the list! Orrville has produced a number of great players and many more good solid contributors that have made up a number of good teams and 22 years of playoff's. Let's make this years edition of Orrville football one to remember!
Go Riders!:thumbup:

LaBrae plays on a field thats 100 yds, they play in the same region, they tie their shoes the same, snap their chin strap the same, where the same cleats, have the same smell in their lockeroom, have a lot of heart, have determination, have a no quit attitude, but when Orrville puts on their jerseys it just means a lot more!!!!! Loud and Proud Riders good luck this weekend. Get on them early, often, and dont ever look back! RTR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5knots;954569 wrote:Nice article in the DR about Drew. He's fun to watch.
I see Fantastic50 has updated.....after week 10 it has our strength of schedule 5th in all of the 122 schools in Div IV. Similar to previous years...let's hope it pays off in the playoffs!

Crappy "weak" teams we played left us 5th. Time to beef up the schedule

Yeah no doubt! I mean 5th?!? I wonder If St. Eds has an opening?

I think we should schedule Mentor, Mooney and Massillion, we could call them the 3 m's before league play. Maybe that would help our strength of schedule and make 1 rider fan happy.

How about Eds, Igs and X? We have to beat the parochial schools sometime.:laugh:

If we're talking about beefing up the schedule, I would rather see:

Steubenville
McKinley
Coldwater

That would be a little more realistic.

OQB;957748 wrote:If we're talking about beefing up the schedule, I would rather see:

Steubenville
McKinley
Coldwater

That would be a little more realistic.

Naahhh, somebody would think those teams are too weak.

No...we'd likely lose all three of those games most years...then the same folks could call for the coach's resignation.

See, no matter the outcome...there's always something to complain about....it's how haters roll.

RedRider1;957795 wrote:No...we'd likely lose all three of those games most years...then the same folks could call for the coach's resignation.

See, no matter the outcome...there's always something to complain about....it's how haters roll.

Agree. There will always be people, even those that call themselves "fans", that will never run out of things to complain about.

How about Colts, Dolphins,Broncos, 1 game in a dome, 1 game in the sun, and 1 game we can go skiing, probably still 2 weak, they wouldn't get us any pts, they can't win a game, lets stick with Triway they gots us 2 wins.

You guys keep this up and he'll be back. Enough already!!! Lol

Coach D's 50th win tomorrow night if we win.

Pretty impressive that he's averaged over 8 wins per season since taking the job in 2006.

Anyone that can't admit he's running a solid program has alterior motives and/or a personal agenda.

RedRider1;957795 wrote:No...we'd likely lose all three of those games most years...then the same folks could call for the coach's resignation.

See, no matter the outcome...there's always something to complain about....it's how haters roll.

Wow man let it go! I think everyone has moved on and you should do the same

Hello, everyone. Haven't posted in a while. Sure did like the chit chat on the all time players. The subject was brought up by RRN, I believe. True, we are all hard pressed to come up with a top ten. Lots of greats.


I will just throw in one more. He was a little running back who graduated in 1939 and went on to play at John Carroll. He also happened to be the last person to see Melvin Horst alive. Tony Yonto.

Oh, and a couple others missed: Kim Anderson from the early 60's and Thomas "Mummy" Moore from the mid 80's who both went on to play at Ohio State. Mummy was a 4 year letterman for the Buckeyes as a long snapper.

Well, RRN, you've made quite an impression around where BRF tramps. The judges say: :thumbdown:

BRF gives a good old steam engine whistle for you!

BRF;958276 wrote:Hello, everyone. Haven't posted in a while. Sure did like the chit chat on the all time players. The subject was brought up by RRN, I believe. True, we are all hard pressed to come up with a top ten. Lots of greats.


I will just throw in one more. He was a little running back who graduated in 1939 and went on to play at John Carroll. He also happened to be the last person to see Melvin Horst alive. Tony Yonto.



Oh, and a couple others missed: Kim Anderson from the early 60's and Thomas "Mummy" Moore from the mid 80's who both went on to play at Ohio State. Mummy was a 4 year letterman for the Buckeyes as a long snapper.

Well, RRN, you've made quite an impression around where BRF tramps. The judges say: :thumbdown:

BRF gives a good old steam engine whistle for you!

BRF
That is a cool fact! The Melvin H story sure is a fascinating event in Orrville history. I remember walking the tracks headed to the trestle and trying to imagine the event that happened back in the day!
Thanks