I'd like to share one of Dad's favorite stories about Big Red basketball. This happened about 60 or 65 years ago. I think we were playing at East Liverpool. Back in those days, EL was a state power. Any way, a fight started that turned into a full-scale riot. Ang Vaccaro, the Big Red coach, tried to break it up. Someone punched him in the jaw and knocked him out cold. One of the Big Red players punched a hole through a plate glass door and nearly bled to death. The police had to be brought in. Just a typical Big Red basketball game.

Big Red/East Liverpool basketball games were fierce and a huge rivalry. East Liverpool always put together big physical teams.

Fairwood: I too remember vaguely a Big Red player punching a hole in a glass door and I think that might have been up in Liverpool. That possibly was the same game that Big Red lost and it was reported that Liverpool people flashed some kind of lights in our players' faces. But you know how stories of old go: they get embellished as the years pass!

Good ole Ang! What a legend he was! And when he was principle - he ruled! Everyone feared getting called into his office.

Does anyone remember Harry Wilson's fan club? It always chartered a bus to away football games and you would see the bus out at Tappan Lake for it's first pit stop! Wonder why

Red Lady;1058469 wrote: But you know how stories of old go: they get embellished as the years pass!

That was the good thing about getting stories from my father. He never exaggerated. He had a wonderful memory for detail and always told the stories exactly as they happened. I just hope my own memory is as good when I retell them.

Red Lady;1058469 wrote: Does anyone remember Harry Wilson's fan club?

What ever happened to him? I heard he was put in jail for bank robbery. I did not get this from my father, and I have no idea if the story is true.

Harry Wilson?!?

He comes back occasionally for games, so I don't think that story is true at all.

Why would you even say that if you didn't know it was true or not??

I believe that basketball conference was called The Big 8 or something similar.

ManO'War;1058730 wrote:Harry Wilson?!?

He comes back occasionally for games, so I don't think that story is true at all.

Why would you even say that if you didn't know it was true or not??

Because I think it is true. I distinctly remember a story about him from the 1970's. I know he got into trouble for something.

You just keep digging yourself deeper and deeper. Even if it was true, why would you bring that up???

I think it was either '85 or '86 and they found out the new move - in kid who was tearing it up during 2 a-days was really 21 yrs old. Now that was a funny Big Red story!

I was in school then...who are you talking about??

Tiernan;1059086 wrote:I think it was either '85 or '86 and they found out the new move - in kid who was tearing it up during 2 a-days was really 21 yrs old. Now that was a funny Big Red story!

To bad it isnt true

ManO'War;1059136 wrote:I was in school then...who are you talking about??

The first time we played Wintersville in the 70's ,is the first time they didnt split the home side in half like they did at Central games . They put all the Wintersville people on tthe far side . Before that game I remember the Big Red student section was over on that side of the stadium . Big Red also had a teachers section in the middle section of the far side bleachers . I used to watch Big red games from over there . I also remember in the 70's The Big Red team would sit on the far side of the stadium . I remember when Massillon came to town with all those thousands of fans and many of them got seats on the lower parts of the home side . Lousy seats . Central students also sat on the far side for there games,but they sat close by the scoreboard . . Ever since that 79 game with Wintersville our student section was in the endzone and eventually they took out the teachers section and now the far side is for the away fans . Although several hundred Big Red fans still sit where the old student section was today . Its much better seating over that way . Back when we played Massillon they had there team on our home side and they brought in little Obie . Now the past two games we have played them they didnt bring Obie . I think though alot of it might have to do with our loud sound system and everything .. We have the loudest high school stadium ive ever been in . In part because we have no track and its a bowl type stadium . the sound just echoes down on the field .

As far as I know any kid that would be in pads (aka 2 a days) would have to be enrolled and cleared to play.

Big Red is like Ohio state of high school football i think we blew more state titles late in the year than anybody 62,66,67 just in the 60's

Thinthickbigred;1059422 wrote:The first time we played Wintersville in the 70's ,is the first time they didnt split the home side in half like they did at Central games . They put all the Wintersville people on tthe far side . Before that game I remember the Big Red student section was over on that side of the stadium . Big Red also had a teachers section in the middle section of the far side bleachers . I used to watch Big red games from over there . I also remember in the 70's The Big Red team would sit on the far side of the stadium . I remember when Massillon came to town with all those thousands of fans and many of them got seats on the lower parts of the home side . Lousy seats . Central students also sat on the far side for there games,but they sat close by the scoreboard . . Ever since that 79 game with Wintersville our student section was in the endzone and eventually they took out the teachers section and now the far side is for the away fans . Although several hundred Big Red fans still sit where the old student section was today . Its much better seating over that way . Back when we played Massillon they had there team on our home side and they brought in little Obie . Now the past two games we have played them they didnt bring Obie . I think though alot of it might have to do with our loud sound system and everything .. We have the loudest high school stadium ive ever been in . In part because we have no track and its a bowl type stadium . the sound just echoes down on the field .

The teachers still have Section S on the 50 of the visitor side. The only time they don't get it is for Massillon and playoffs.

The Big Red team went to the visitor sideline under Abe Bryan because back then the coaches didn't have as many headsets as they do now, so our coaches wanted to face the pressbox so they could see the ones in the box. Jerry Harris brought the team back over to the home sidelines around 77.

We also used to wear white at home from the early 70s until the late 70's....Jerry Harris changed that too.

I remember going up to Warren Harding on a school bus to watch them play Warren Harding back in 81 . We beat them 20-7 . Never been to Molly . Saw that stadium I was like whoa that place is frigging huge . sat in the upper deck . atleast thats what it seemed like with that wall they have on the visitors side . Naturally Big Red brought several thousand people . that was a fun game to watch and it propelled us into our first playoff appearance. I also remember going to Niles for the first time . That stadium is huge . What people dont realize is Big red had the second smallest stadium in the All American confrence and our stadium is not small . Never been to Alliance Harshorn stadium though .

Thinthickbigred;1059426 wrote:Big Red is like Ohio state of high school football i think we blew more state titles late in the year than anybody 62,66,67 just in the 60's

Yea, the one year we finally beat Massillon we had the #1 ranking and state championship in sight, but as luck...bad luck...would have it, that was the year that McKinley got the Death Penalty, so instead of playing them we ended up signing Toledo Central Catholic...and they just happened to have their best team ever. They beat us in week 9 20-12 and they won the state title.

ManO'War;1059427 wrote:The teachers still have Section S on the 50 of the visitor side. The only time they don't get it is for Massillon and playoffs.

The Big Red team went to the visitor sideline under Abe Bryan because back then the coaches didn't have as many headsets as they do now, so our coaches wanted to face the pressbox so they could see the ones in the box. Jerry Harris brought the team back over to the home sidelines around 77.

We also used to wear white at home from the early 70s until the late 70's....Jerry Harris changed that too.

I can always count on you for good info thanks

Thinthickbigred;1059431 wrote:I remember going up to Warren Harding on a school bus to watch them play Warren Harding back in 81 . We beat them 20-7 . Never been to Molly . Saw that stadium I was like whoa that place is frigging huge . sat in the upper deck . atleast thats what it seemed like with that wall they have on the visitors side . Naturally Big Red brought several thousand people . that was a fun game to watch and it propelled us into our first playoff appearance. I also remember going to Niles for the first time . That stadium is huge . What people dont realize is Big red had the second smallest stadium in the All American confrence and our stadium is not small . Never been to Alliance Harshorn stadium though .

I remember that Warren Harding game...Andre Creech had a big game. The one thing that sticks out is that Warren had stickers on the side of their helmet that said "Wam" "Pow" "Blam" like cartoon sayings...it was strange to say the least.

Both Warren and Niles have since downsized their stadiums. At one time Riverside, aka Bo Rein, sat 15,000. Warren was about the same, but they removed both wings of their home side...which is where they used to put the Big Red fans back in the 70's.
Alliance is where Mount Union plays, and MU has kind of taken over that stadium. We played there vs Canton South back in 06.

ManO'War;1059437 wrote:I remember that Warren Harding game...Andre Creech had a big game. The one thing that sticks out is that Warren had stickers on the side of their helmet that said "Wam" "Pow" "Blam" like cartoon sayings...it was strange to say the least.

Both Warren and Niles have since downsized their stadiums. At one time Riverside, aka Bo Rein, sat 15,000. Warren was about the same, but they removed both wings of their home side...which is where they used to put the Big Red fans back in the 70's.
Alliance is where Mount Union plays, and MU has kind of taken over that stadium. We played there vs Canton South back in 06.

I worked with a guy that played against Warren Harding in 74 and he said the running backs had hello on the front of the helmets and goodbye on the back of them .. funny stuff . Boom Boom Mancini fought in Molly atleast once and I saw that fight on TV . they had to have 25,000 at that fight

Did you go up to the Big Red vs Perry game at Warren in 08? They really did a great job with fixing it up. And they have a brand new school too.

I waited so long to see the Red beat Massillon and beating them 2 out of 3 years and handily has been very satisfying . Beating them up at Tiger stadium will be terriffic and I dont think Ill miss a Big Red Massillon game as long as we play .

ManO'War;1059441 wrote:Did you go up to the Big Red vs Perry game at Warren in 08? They really did a great job with fixing it up. And they have a brand new school too.

No I didnt . I took a look on the net some time ago and saw that they were putting in turf . thats a very formidable place . Im not sure why they havent been good lately but ill guess they will turn it around and we may see them on schedule again . Id like to see a very good Big Red team play them as well as Canton in the same year

That will be the challenge for the next Big Red team to go up to Massillon to play.

That 62 game was the only time that Big Red has won at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium vs the Tigers. We beat them in Massillon in 1930 but it was in their old stadium.

Although in the playoffs at Massillon we are 5-1.

ManO'War;1059449 wrote:That will be the challenge for the next Big Red team to go up to Massillon to play.

That 62 game was the only time that Big Red has won at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium vs the Tigers. We beat them in Massillon in 1930 but it was in their old stadium.

Although in the playoffs at Massillon we are 5-1.

You sure? That 1930 game where we were un scored on all year I believe was in the brand new Harding stadium and we killed them 68-0