"Tradition Speaks"
A chronicle featuring past Big Red players and coaches remembering their time beneath the Crimson & the Black.
Volume 13: Marlon Lawrence, 2015, 16, & 17.
I played on the offensive and defensive line for the Mighty Red!! There are no words to describe what it means to me to be apart of a legacy that is phenomenal! Being apart of Big Red isn't just being apart of a team, you're apart of a family! The most memorable game for me was the 2017 State Championship game when we faced our foe Clinton Massie. I've played in 3 straight State Championship games, but to come out on top as a senior is the best feeling ever!! I can still hear Coach Reno saying "Seniors, this season will go by like a blink of an eye." Friday nights are the best nights in Ohio!! RRR
Volume 12: LeShawn Luke, 2009, 10, & 11.
RRR: Why did you choose your jersey number and position?
LeShawn Luke: I played runningback and linebacker. I wore #33. I chose this number because it was the first number that I had ever worn playing the game. My position kind of chose me, because I was the type of player that simply did what was best for the team.
RRR: Favorite on the field moment at Big Red?
LL: First time having Massillon back on the schedule in 2009. Massillon is on the goal line trying to score the go-ahead touchdown and I had back to back goal line stops to help seal the game.
RRR: Favorite off the field moment at Big Red?
LL: Being in the Sports Friday commercial my senior year. It was such a fun experience.
RRR: Favorite game that you played in at Big Red?
LL: 2011 versus Akron Buchtel. Had the most tackles that I've ever had in a single game.
RRR: Best Coach Sac moment?
LL: Being apart of Coach Sac's 300th win. This was a special moment not only for me but for Coach. A lot of coaches don't get than many wins and to be apart of the team that got that win is phenomenal.
Volume 11: Chris Van Dine, 1996 & 97.
In Steubenville we take tradition very seriously. We constantly talk about how important that tradition is to us as a community. Anyone who has been a part of that tradition that we hold so dear knows the hard work, sacrifice, and dedication that those before us have laid down. The tradition is all over the place. It’s on the walls of the field house. It’s on the banners we hang. It’s all over the town. We celebrate the successes of the past with pride. Sometimes in the excitement of success we lose sight of the very best qualities of our tradition. For me, our best quality of all is that we come together as a family. That togetherness saw me through some of the toughest times of my life.
I am not going to tell a story of Friday night glory. My football career at Big Red was extremely underwhelming. The coaching staff had high hopes that for many reasons did not work out. My lack of on field success does not mean that Big Red football did not have a significant impact on my life. The impact for me was felt on the night of September 29, 1995. On that Friday night, the city of Steubenville was preparing for its annual civil war between Big Red and Central. I was just a freshman and back then freshman generally did not dress for varsity games. Still, I woke up excited. I remember having a brief conversation with my dad (who loved Big Red as much as anyone I have ever met). He drank a cup of coffee and we discussed what we thought about the game. My dad was unable to attend the game as he had to work an afternoon shift at Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel. I knew he would be glued to his radio listening while I was in the student section. We parted ways by saying “Roll Red Roll“ and I went to school.
Once game time came I sat in the stands doing whatever most freshman did. To be honest, I don’t remember much about the game other than the end. Central lead 6-0 in the fourth quarter. We had one last drive to win the game that fell short when a pass to Dejoeve Platt fell incomplete in the end zone with just seconds remaining. You could feel the disappointment in the student section. Little did I know my night was just beginning. Due to a curfew that was imposed by then Freshman football coach Joe Biasi, I had to immediately go home after the game. Once I got home I anticipated my dad coming home shortly after. His shift ended at 11. My mom and two brothers both sat up with me. We talked about the game and watched Sports Friday. We were not surprised when he did not get home at his normal time. We figured he just stayed late talking shop with the guys at the mill. It was not until his boss Charlie Kyer and friend/co-worker Terry Mackey arrived at our house. We immediately recognized that something was wrong. Charlie and Terry explained that my dad, Ernie Van Dine had suffered a heart attack and died while listening to the game. He was just 44 years old.
I can’t begin to explain the shock I felt that night. It was an unbearable sinking feeling. I felt like everything was lost and that my world had collapsed. My dad was gone. He would not be there to see me dress in my first varsity game. He would not be there to see me wrestle. He would not be there to see me graduate. My mom did her best to console me but she was grieving too. My youngest brother Jon was just 8 years old at the time. My older brother Brandon was inconsolable. At first it felt like I had nowhere to turn for help. However, what I quickly found out was that I had another family that would not let me down. My family at Steubenville Big Red quickly came to my defense. Coach Biasi had heard about what happened and immediately called to check on me. He had the unenviable job of breaking the news to the team. I hated making him shoulder that burden. So many of my friends loved my dad. He had coached some of us through elementary flag football at Wells, Little League and Babe Ruth. This was hard on them too. We were all just 14-15 years old and few of us had ever dealt with real loss in our young lives. Still, my teammates stood by my side, many of them staying for the duration of both viewings. They saw how hurt I was and did everything in their power to help me. They did their best to talk to me, keep my mind positive, and just let me know that we were a family, and they were not going to let me fall. They kept me company for hours, embracing me when I needed embraced, making jokes when I needed a laugh and listening to me when I needed to talk. The funeral was even harder. The whole team showed up in support. Many of them came to my house after the funeral. At the time I did not recognize what they were doing for me. However my mom saw the support and greatly appreciated it all. She was not from Steubenville, our crazy traditions had been thrust upon her through her marriage. She, like many outsiders did not totally understand it. This experience showed her that Big Red was about much more than winning some football games. It overwhelmed her to the point that she wrote an editorial in the Herald star thanking Coach Biasi and Coach Saccoccia for helping to instill values in us. She saw that winning was a part of our tradition, but it was not everything. The coaches, players, and teachers at Big Red gave me the strength to move on with my life and focus again on my future. I wanted to make my school, my community and my family proud of me. While my own success on the football field was limited to say the least, I found that wrestling was my calling. I dedicated the next four years of my life to working as hard as I possibly could on the mat and in the classroom. I graduated knowing that I gave my all for Steubenville Big Red.
It has been almost 18 years since my dad passed away. Still I will never forget what so many people did for me and my family. It is true that we have built a tradition of winning in Steubenville. The winning pales in comparison to the tradition of family that we have as a community and no one will ever take that away from us. We need to cherish that idea during some of the toughest times our school has ever seen. I have seen what the power of our tradition can do first hand. I know what kind of impact it can have on a young kid’s life. This is why our school means so much to us. This is why our tradition is so important. This is why we are BIG RED!
As always, Roll Red Roll
Chris Van Dine
Class of 1999
Volume 10: James Creech, 1985, 86, & 87.
I played in 85,86, and 87. I was a 3 year letterman. Everyday was a bitch getting ready for the season, both on and off the field. I can say there wasn't a team, perhaps a college team, not all but some, weren't in shape like we were. I think we had the best conditioning in the state. I mean we worked our asses off, and it made a difference come time for the 4th quarter. We would wear teams down. My sophomore year I was a wide out and back up QB. I gained so much experiance that it carried over the following year. There were doubts that I could lead the team, or throw for that matter. This was all in the off season so I came out the winner for the job in the 86 season. We were full of juniors and a couple of sophomores. We only had 17 seniors that year, and only a handful of them played, so I came and led my team to a 10-0 season. Only loss in the opening round of the playoffs to a very good Wooster team, 21-6. From that point on I was hungry to back to the playoffs. That off season we never worked so hard as a team. We had everybody back except maybe three people. We had the whole backfield back, known as the Smurf's.. me, Tubbo Yetts, Dunrick Yetts, and Jimmy Kelley. We were challenged. Also we had Chuck Hython on the outside. I swear we were unstoppable. Tubbo was the back of the year, and Chuck All State that year, but the line was stacked and ready to go. But most exciting player in Big Red history was Tubbo Yetts. Your talking about a game changer, and he was unbelievable. Our Defense was the Sledge Hammer, and it always put me in positive mood to win. To make a long story short we came up just short in the title game, and although we didn't win, I wouldn't trade those men for nothing. 1987 team I love y'all.
Volume 9: Vinnie West, 1997, 98, & 99.
Growing up in Steubenville every kids dream is to play and star for Big Red. Every class adds a new tradition and wants to upstage the class before them. The class of 2000 was no exception! We had alot to live up to, all the great teams of the PAST. The "94" team set the standard for us, they finished 12-1 losing in the semi-finals. To me they are the greatest team in school history. My greatest memory as a fan was the "94" DeSales game. When Nate Johnson took the game over, catching a screen pass and trucking through 3 defenders on his way to the end zone. They came back to win 35-31 after trailing 24-14 at half.
My career was bitter sweet.We went 4-6 one year, posting the one and only losing season in Coach Sac's tenure. We compiled a 21-12 mark in my 3 years, which also is probably the worst class he's had! My Senior season of "99" we put the Ville back on the map. It would mark our first playoff appearance since "94". This year was special as it was the 100th year of Big Red football. We wore black helmets and brought back the red jerseys. We had the greatest running attack in school history. Featuring two 1,000 yard rushers... I had 1,933, Brian Benton 1,301, and Tackling Machine, and fullback Todd Filtz chipped in with 406. Our offensive line blew open holes to allow this trio to run for this type of yardage. With all the success we had that year most of my best memories as a player often came in losses! My best memory came in a loss. 1999 Big Red at Boardman. Both teams were undefeated they were ranked #1 in Division 1. All season long we won games with a smash mouth in your face offense. Against the Spartans we'd need to be able to run and pass. Problem was through 5 games we didn't have to pass. This was a big game for us as we'd never beat them in 3 tries. The year before they shut me down big time for the first and only time in my career rushing 17 times for 34 yards, often getting pounded in the backfield! We lost that game 21-20 on a blocked PAT. Needless to say in my final game against them I was out for revenge. Before the game we had a rigatoni dinner that was the best we'd had in 4 years, as they actually put meatballs in it LOL! I had a few healthy plates and drinks. Corny, Cam, and Pierro proceded to dope me up with energy pills, bananas ,and fluids. Any former player knows this is a regular pregame ritual, and on this day it was over done! During warmups I talked to my cousin who played for Boardman. He informed me that I was a marked man, and they had posters of me and had been preparing to stop me all week long. It motivated me that much more to have a great game. Before we took the field, I began to get nervous and started to yell and scream at teammates. About how important this game was and how we'd never beat them. They are goin down tonite!!! I told teammates they shut me down last year and nobody shuts me or this offense down. That bulls*&t aint happenin' tonite! I began pacing around and pulled a Willie Beamen and started vomitting up all the pills, bananas, fluids,and rigatoni. Teammates looked on shocked and worried, asking if I was ok? I said "yea Lets GO! nothings goin' stop me from playing!"
We got the ball first and i think it was the first time all season we took the ball first. We scored in 3 plays. I took a pitch that was slightly behind me, caught it on my hip with a hop and a skip, cut sharply up field, stiff armed a defender, and coasted past the D for a 48yd TD. The crowd was screaming the bands were banging, Friends and family came to the sidelines to congratulate me as if we'd already won. I knew better, I knew we were in a dog fight! Our celebration was short lived as they aired us out first play scoring a long TD. The score was 7-6 Boardman. After those two big plays the game turned into a hard hitting slug fest. Both teams moved the ball well, but couldn't score, and at the half the score was 7-6. Coach Sac gave us the worst half of Big Red football ever speech. I thought we were playing well, considering we were without one of our best lineman ,Jared Angelica, and one of our best defensive players in Andrew Zapolnik, who I subbed in for. Thats one of the things that I'll always remember about Coach Sac, even when you were doing good he'd never let you know it. It kept us hungry as a team and as individuals. In the 2nd half I played both sides of the ball for the first time in my career. I had to guard receivers 6'1, 6'3, & 6'7. Luckily none of them could use their size to their advantage, and I held the trio to zero catches. On one of the defensive stops I came off the field to a standing ovation! The next possession the 6'3 receiver plowed through me instead of trying to run his route, I was a physical corner so I was able to grab his shirt and pull 'em down with me dodging an obvious pass inerference call. Boardman finally caught on to how I was being used defensively on 3rd and long or passing downs. They snuck a run on us, while I was covering a receiver down field. I turned around and their back was running up my back. I tried to react only to be blocked out of the play and tried to dive at the end like a punter. I was pissed and the score was 14-6. All night long we pounded the ball down field into enemy territory only to come up empty, we went 2 for 7 in the red zone. We got deep into the redzone and turned the ball over. Boardman would air us out again and march down field for a score 21-6. After that turnover and score our team morale was a little down, but we kept fighting together as a team. Whats even bigger is that our fans were still in the fight with us! I was enjoying a great game individually, but as team we couldn't take advantage of their mistakes. After back to back 3 and outs, we were on the move pounding the ball down field. When it looked like our drive was gonna stall, I ran over to the sidelines and asked Coach Sac to please run me outside. I was taking a beating up the middle but killin 'em on the outside. He asked what I wanted to run? I said option or power, and he said "no they're waitin for that." He asked Coach Radak what he wanted to run he says stretch. Coach Sac says No and calls our bread and butter cross buck. Which is exactly what I didn't want to run. I sulked and he smacked me on my ass and said "Vin we know what we are doin!" Sent me in and got smacked in the backfield for a loss. The drive stalled and we were down 21-6 in the 4th QTR. On the next drive we moved the ball successfully both running and passing. I ran the ball 6 times on the drive. On one play I broke 7 tackles, spinning, fighting, and kicking for every inch against the stout Boardman defense who out weighed us by 30 lbs. per man. I took myself out the game to vomit again. We got down to the 1 yard line and it took us all 4 downs to punch it in. I walked in from the 1, blew a kiss to the band and signaled them to start playin'. In the end we ran outta time and lost 21-12.
As a player it's most memorable for me because it was a championship atmosphere. Our team gave a championship effort. The fans were great, the bands were great, the cowbells were ringing and the field smelled like s#*t! On a personal note it was a game of revenge and redemption. We didn't win the game like I hoped, but I feel I won individually. I played that game harder than any other game I have ever played. I rushed for 170yds on 25 carries and scored our only 2 TDs. The loss hurt and it still bothers me today that we NEVER beat them! This was a very special team and special year. Our whole season was based on revenge and redemption we came off our 4-6 to comeback and go 10-3. Although we didn't achieve the ultimate goal I believe we redeemed ourselves big time. I hope you all enjoyed reading this story as much as I did telling it. There are thousands of stories I could tell but most would be inappropriate for this site. All my former teammates know what I'm talkin' 'bout LOL! I will close by saying it's an honor to be apart of and add to the tradition of Big Red football. I'd like to thank MR JC Parks for inviting me to do this story. To All my former Coaches especially Coach Pierro y'all instilled a work ethic in me that still exists today, Thank You for bringing out the best in Vin West#22!
ROLL RED ROLL
Volume 8: Anthony Atkins, 1992, 93, & 94.
When I was first contacted about adding my memories to the “Eye of the Past”, my first thought was, “As a non-impact football player for Big Red, how any of my memories could be considered interesting compared to the likes of Doug Charland, Jeff Grill, Aaron Pease and Andrew Radakovich?” Then I remembered Big Red Football has an impact on everyone regardless of how many times your name was called over the PA system during games, or appeared in the paper on Saturday morning! I then thought of two memories that give an idea of what is expected of every football player and proof that the highest level of effort is expected from everyone.
My first memory is from freshman year and Coach Sac was talking to the freshmen team in the field house. As he was talking to us, one of the varsity players walks through the door; Coach Sac stops talking to us and asks the player what time was he supposed to be there. The player stops, looks at his watch and responds with the time he walked through the door! Coach Sac then tells the player that he’s LATE! He then explains to the player that when a time is given to be at practice, film session or any team activity that they are supposed to be there 15 minutes before the given time or else they’re late. He then told the person to get changed, go out grab a heavy bag and start running!
Needless to say, from that point forward I made a point to make sure I was at least 20 minutes early to every football event. The funny thing is that even now, being late is a major pet peeve of mine and when I am running late I get huge knot in the pit of my stomach, which feels a lot like an unexpected jab to the gut!
My second memory is from my senior year and takes place well after the football season. Big Red had an “elite” club known as the 300lbs club. The “members” of this club consists of players that were able to bench press 300 pounds! When I first learned of this club my freshman year I knew I wanted to be a member! The funny thing is, my freshman year I weighed about 145 pounds and bench pressing maybe 185 pounds. Fast forward to about two weeks before the end of the school year of my senior year; I’m in the weight room and I decide to go ahead and attempt to enter the “elite” 300lbs club. There were two options to complete the required 300 lbs lift; you could lift the actual weight of 300 pounds or you could complete a rep test of 225 pounds. I decided to complete the rep. test, which required 225 pounds to be bench pressed at least 12 times. I get on the bench and I do it, I bench pressed 225 lbs 12 times. I struggled on the last one, but I did it! When I was done, I rushed up to the ticket office to where Coach Sac was to let him know that I was the newest member of the “elite” 300lsb club! After a few minutes of giving me a hard time, Coach Sac digs into a box and pulls out my prize, a plain grey t-shirt with wording “Big Red 300 lbs. Club” written in black letters on the front! I clutched that t-shirt like it was the greatest prize ever!
A couple days after my debut into the “elite” 300lbs club, I’m walking in the halls of Big Red and from around the corner walks Nate Johnson (at least I think it was Nate) and he has on a brand new plain grey t-shirt. On this t-shirt, is printed in large red text, “Big Red 350 lbs Club”! I about died; after 4 years of lifting to join the “elite” 300lbs. club the bar is raised and my once “elite” club is no longer all that elite! I actually wasn’t too upset about the new club because the fact that I was able to bench 300lbs was an incredible feat in and of itself considering when I graduated high school I weighed at most 170 lbs.
Editors note: Mr. Atkins went on to school and wrestled for Waynesburg College. He graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science, and currently works for the City of Cleveland as a GIS Specialist.
Volume 7: Aaron Pease, 1989, 90, & 91.
"My Story, or Everything I Needed to Know About Big Red Football I Learned At Central!
I transferred to Big Red my sophomore year, for entirely unrelated-to-football reasons. Some Central people might say different, but one reason that I find this argument so funny is that, at the time, I was convinced I wasn’t good enough to play for Big Red.
One of the reasons was the 37-14 whipping the Big Red frosh laid on us Central Frosh. The loss was demoralizing. We were not just outplayed, but outclassed. On the bright side, however, I did learn a tough lesson in what Big Red football was all about:
Speed: In the first half we exploited Big Red’s poor pass defense by sending me out into the flat for screens and flare passes (I was a fullback then). Unfortunately, I was slow, so what should have been touchdowns resulted in 30-40 yard gains and only one touchdown drive (another TD was called back on an illegal motion play).
Conditioning: Even when we stopped them, they ran back to the huddle, called the play, whirled out of the huddle, and sprinted up to the line of scrimmage so fast it made me dizzy. I couldn’t catch my breath.
Speaking of which, at halftime my coach belatedly gave me instructions about open field running, but I couldn’t hear him over the sound of my own lungs gasping for air, sputtering and coughing like a broken-down car, or an old man with emphysema.
Blocking: On defense, I experienced a relatively new phenomenon: someone was blocking me!!
Until this point, my play at inside linebacker involved nothing more than “running to the ball.” And it seemed to work, until now. Even more frustrating, the Big Red offensive linemen weren’t huge and they weren’t dumping me on my ass. The ball would be snapped, the fullback (Mark Palmer) would get the ball, I would set myself on a collision course just beyond the line of scrimmage, and What the….??? Where’d he come from? Someone just got in my way, jostled past me, and was gone. It was like bumping into a glass door. Next thing I knew, Palmer was into the secondary for another 15-20 yard gain.
The second half was more of the same, culminating with Jonathan “Juice” Collier throwing a perfect fade pass for a TD to Big Red’s future All-State Offensive Guard and Defensive End, Nate Burress. Yep, Nate played wide receiver back then. Just a glimpse of the athleticism on display for the Big Red.
I hated Big Red because they killed us. With revenge in my heart, the last thing on my mind that day in November was going over to the dark side.
Yet there I was the next summer, at Big Red’s conditioning camp, struggling to run those damn 300s. Sometimes I think back on how slow and weak I was, and it’s a mystery how I made it on the team. But what wasn’t a mystery was that everything I accomplished was thanks to being pushed and cajoled, praised, teased, and (somewhat affectionately) punched by Coach Sac, Coach Bruney, and Coach Pierro; to the tears in Moe Pearson’s eyes as he told me what it was like to play his heart out in the Championship game two years in a row and come just inches short; to the friendly but intense competition with Todd Anderson, Corey Tomasso, and Steve Terry; to Nate Burress threatening to take my position from me; to Coach Camilleti and his weight room motto: a strong mind needs a strong body. (At the time, I mistakenly thought my mind was plenty strong.)
And the memories!
The Good:
Witnessing the incredible 31-7 comeback against North Canton Hoover from the sidelines. It was so satisfying to shut down their clown mascot and equally irritating bragging about their plyometric training methods. I did get in one play, our only punt. I downed the ball.
On 4th and 10 against Boardman senior year, Big Red driving for the tying score: Nate Burress throws his man down like a rag doll, then climbs back and blindsides another pass rusher about to sack Jeff Grill, who completes the pass to Buster Tillman for a first down. We score to tie and then win in overtime.
Jeff Grill, who everybody thought was too short to play QB, leading us to a 10-0 regular season and setting passing records. Also the only starter who benched less than me…I think.
Wondering if there is any position Todd Anderson can’t play well…as he subs in for an injured Nate Burress in the playoffs and our defense doesn’t skip a beat.
Senior year (1991), every offensive and defensive lineman previously played a skill position, and I’m not talking in Pop Warner.
Going out with a bang, stopping Matt Christopher on 4th and 1. I still kick myself for my poor tackling form on that play, but everybody piled on so it didn’t matter.
The Bad:
Losing 3 straight times in the semifinals.
Having an easy interception bounce off my chest against Columbus DeSales, who beat us 13-0 by running 5 plays over and over and over.
Losing 18-7 in my last game ever for the Big Red, to a Uniontown Lake team that got bigger and faster from when we ended their season the year before. At the same time…if the refs don’t call a phantom roughing the kicker when we had all the momentum…
Busting my ACL and missing 4 games senior year.
Not being cool enough to get into the Cemetery picture…the excuse was that it was only starting linemen…I don’t buy it.
The morning after a regular season loss…having to swim in the Community Center cesspool, win or lose…the junior year game against Boardman when their QB made me look a fool.
Nate Burress. Jimmy Keaton. Darius Alexander. RIP
The Fun:
In the film room, coaches hand out praise like $100 dollar bills to beggars. So Todd Anderson, sitting out of the coaches line of sight, watches himself make a good play and calls out with his best Coach Sac impersonation: “Nice play Todd!” Immediately the other coaches chime in, “Yeah Todd, great play.” “Good Effort” “Way to go.” If you want something done…
Watching Coach Sac, in Bike shorts and t-shirt, lining head up over hulking Paul Kokos during practice. And Kokos was the one intimidated.
Those little victories in between beatings on Scout Team, like when I caught Chucky Hython about to blindside me out of the corner of my eye. I sidestepped and threw him to the ground (easy, because he was airborne). The downside: Chucky saying “I’m going to get you Pease” and me shaking in my cleats the rest of the day.
Watching the WTOV broadcasts of our games and hearing Coach Bruney’s high-pitched rantings occasionally drowning out the game feed.
Coach Bruney spitting his coffee all over the Time Out room when, during the offseason, he finds out that Todd Anderson, his starting center and defensive jack of all trades, is wrestling at a puny 160 lbs.
Coach Bruney inspecting my oh-so sculpted upper body and telling me that I have a Pirate’s Treasure: a sunken chest.
Basically, everything Coach Bruney did or said. In retrospect, of course.
Never getting tired of the 1988 season montage by WTOV 9, “One Moment in Time.” Cheesy, but effective. Very effective. I still get shivers and chills and watery eyes, and I wasn’t even a part of Big Red then!
The mythology of the Big Red. The stories that are passed down. The standards to meet, and perhaps surpass. For each class, we enter our sophomore year thinking that the best days came just before. When I showed up, the days of the Yetts brothers were over. The stories of a team so tough that coaches and players went at it regularly fed into the myth. We could never hope to live up the standards they set. But we did. And we tried to improve on them. And we are always surprised when it happened. We felt like we didn’t deserve to be where we are. But the next generation is there, looking up to us, striving to reach our goals, and accomplish more. And they do. Roll Red Roll. "
Editor's Note: Mr. Pease is currently residing in Arlington Virginia, where he works as a writer.
Volume 6: Andrew Radakovich, 2005, 06, & 07.
"I have so many great memories, but I narrowed it down to three. My favorite game of all time has to be the regular season Canton Central Catholic of my senior year. It was the closest game I have ever been in, and I loved the fact that we had the ball and decided our own fate. I think it really exemplified that Big Red spirit, which is really the reason we're all so good. This spirit is just the attitude that no matter what size, what ability, or what athletisism, we will give every ounce of ourselves and fight till the bitter end. I also know that has to be one of my Dad's (Big Red Offensive Coordinator Bob Radakovich) most shining moments, because I know he was in the zone celebrating with us. I mean he was so pumped that he passed out after the game. My favorite practice has to be my sophomore year. We practiced on Thanksgiving, and it was a winter wonderland. Everyone was sliding and slipping, and it was freezing, but it was so much fun and everyone was enjoying themselves. Finally my favorite play has to be a couple actually, it is when Zach Collaros used to just grab onto my back when I would pull on our cross buck, and I would just level someone then go and get another block, and spring him for a big run, first down, or touchdown. I also have to add I loved the time I scored two points... thanks to Zach fumbling into the end zone on a two point conversion. That's my most fond memories as a player."
Editor's Note: Mr. Radakovich is currently a redshirt freshmen at Youngstown State University.
Volume 5: Lawrence David "Smitty" Smith Jr., 1978, 79, & 80
"Wow, when I think back to the Big Red 1980 Football Season, I will always remember how we started the tradition of dominating Wheeling Park. SHS was in a lower division, but we started the roll by beating Park 14 to 2!
I live with my wife, Sheila, and 7yr. old twin boys, Elijah and Isaiah, in Bridgeville PA. I am a therapist by profession, Sheila teaches middle school, and the boys will be entering 1st grade at South Fayette Elementary.
I very much enjoyed returning for the 1980 season reunion. It was awesome seeing past teammates and coaches. That experience helped me share with my friends and family the Big Red traditions so rich from past to present! I will always roll with the Red!"
Volume 4: Brock Budash, 1997, 98, & 99.
"When I think about Steubenville Big Red, I get chills. I cannot believe that I have been fortunate enough to be part of something like this. As I have gone through life, and met many people, I realize that there aren’t many kids out there that are fortunate enough to have what we from Steubenville have. From the time I can remember, all I thought about was being a Big Red football player. It’s like when you're born in Steubenville, it is ingrained in your mind. I feel an overwhelming sense of pride when I think about Big Red. I can remember idolizing Tubbo Yetts and Nate Johnson, hoping one day that my team would shine as bright as theirs. I hoped the younger kids would idolize us, as we idolized the ones before us. I think I cried when we won the State championship in 2005, and you can be guaranteed everyone that I work with in the Marine Corps new about it. We have a picture of Death Valley on the wall where I work, even though nobody I work with has ever been there but me. I have had friends come to my house to listen to the games on Friday afternoons during the fall (Mr. Ike used to refer to us as the Cali crew on his webcast). I have others who listen to Big Red on their own, and don’t even know who we are. I find it amazing how these young men create so much interest, and how the men that came before them are so proud.
There is not one specific moment in 1999 that sticks out in my mind the most. Probably wearing the black helmets was the biggest thing that year! We had a terrible season in 1998, and we knew we were better than that. We had a crazy backfield with Vinnie West, Brian Benton, and Todd Filtz. We had a great line and a great defense. Those men on that football team were tough. They worked hard and were determined. The coaches tried to break us, they pushed us to the limit. We did Tai Bo in the offseason with Mr. Littlejohn. Could have been Billy Blanks for all I cared, I just knew it wasn’t that fun. We ran the hallways, the track, wherever. I can remember running down route 7 with a 35 pound weight on my back. Marine Corps boot camp wasn’t that tough!!!! Seriously! I could not have been any more fortunate as a young man to have that kind of group around me. We had potential to be great. We had the potential to accomplish something big that year, and we almost did.
We ended up being ranked pretty high in the state polls initially that year. We faced off with Chillicothe early in the year. Everybody thought they were so tough. We left Thursday, practiced somewhere in the middle, and stayed at a hotel that night. Nobody I know can even believe that a High School football team can do that (stay the night anywhere). I remember pulling up to the field, and looking around the bus. At that moment I knew we were going to destroy this team. We dismantled them. We put Ben Hartsock (Ohio State tight end) into the dirt. He was big, but that’s it. There was so much hype about him. He was #45. I’ll never forget. I ended up rooting for him a lot when he was at Ohio State, and all I could think about when I saw him on TV was how we beat the crap out of him. We ended up losing at Boardman, and then got a game stolen from us at Niles by the officials. Maybe if I would have got a few less 15 yard penalties, we would have been better off. I think I have the record for most in a year. Not something to be proud of…
We entered the playoffs, ran through Beaver Local, and then played in the Regional Semi’s. It was at Canton Central Catholic, and I was excited because we were playing on turf. We didn’t have that luxury at Death Valley yet. We won, and that was big because it was our 600th win. I thought that we were going to be State Champions. How in the world could anybody stop us?? Matt Vein had a hot hand, we were running all over everybody, and our team was emotionally charged by an off field incident involving Ryan Doran’s grandfather passing. We were focused, and really had come together as a team for each other.
When we rolled into our next game, I never thought it would be my last football game ever. Poland was tough, but we are Big Red. I still to this day have an extreme dislike for that school and team. You would think after ten years I’d be over it. I’m not!!!! Thank goodness we got redemption this year. Thanks guys!!! Anyways, Pete Perry fumbles the ball 5 times, we can’t recover any of them because he is the luckiest man alive, and we lose! They came back on us to. We had them 14-3 at the half, and they end up beating us 23-21. They won the State Championship that year…..
Being a Steubenville Big Red football player is definitely one of my proudest accomplishments. Going to war 3 times pales in comparison to the fact that I am from Big Red. As a matter of fact, I could never have made it through Iraq 3 times if it wasn’t for being a Big Red football player… It made me tough. When I thought I had it hard there, I just thought about running the stadium steps, or Coach Cam yelling at me during lifting. Then I knew I would be OK. I carry a badge of honor with me being from Steubenville. I feel like we are the toughest, roughest, best people to walk this world. And I really mean that. I constantly brag about how great our football team is. I consistently let people know that Steubenville is great, and it’s more than just Dean Martin. It’s tradition, it’s people, it’s steel mills, it’s toughness, it’s football, it’s everything. I love Steubenville, I Love Big Red, and everything about it!!! ROLL RED ROLL…. You never know what you got until it’s gone………………………………."
Editor's note: Mr. Budash, a 2 year letterman, was a weakside Linebacker, and was captain of the Special Teams. After graduation he joined the United States Marines to serve our country. He currently resides in Murrieta California and is stationed at Camp Pendleton as a AH-1W and UH-1N (Cobra and Huey) Helicopter instructor. Brock is married to the former Maria Henry (Buckeye Local 1999), and has two dogs Martin, and Mindy.
Volume 3: Brandyn Frey, 2005, 06, & 07.
"There is nothing like an October Friday night in “Death Valley” when you walk up those steps and see the thousands of fans and you start your hundred yard sprint through the band. To this day I have never felt such adrenaline in my life.
I remember my junior year when Coach Sac asked all of us before our summer camp started in July “ how good do you want to be? How good are you going to be? “ and then he walked around a little bit and said “ How hard are you willing to work to be the best?” After that he blew his whistle and we went to ‘The Hill’ . Now only a select few know what the hill is and it is the most miserable thing I have ever gone through, but for some reason I just kept doing it. I looked around, and saw everyone sweating and throwing up, but we all continued to do it because we knew that the harder we worked the harder the coaching staff would work to make us the best.
Being a Big Red football player teaches you to never quit in any situation. The best memory I can remember is something that my class labeled “ Crazy in Canton”. For all who stayed with six minutes and thirty six seconds left in the Canton Central Catholic game, you know what I am talking about. Down by thirteen, I looked at the coaching staff drawing things up and doing everything they could to figure something out. We get a quick score, and our defense steps up and we get the ball back at our own ten yard line. Down by six we needed a touchdown. No timeouts and ninety yards, and a little over two minutes to go. We drive to right around the fifty. I remember Dwight Macon getting tackled and the C.C.C. players laying on him. I ran over and pulled him out from underneath the pile while the referee was yelling at me for doing so. Time kept ticking and eventually Stevie Davis catches a crossing pattern, turns up field and gets out of bounds with one second left. I turned around and I could not believe it. The play was called, and I got down in my stance and I could not feel my legs. They dropped eight people into coverage, and brought three, so I had no one to block, but I kept looking to give us more time. The next thing I see is Jeremy Banks across the middle and he catches the ball in the middle of the end zone! That was one of the best feelings I had as an athlete in general.
It went by fast and I miss it a lot. I will always be grateful to the Steubenville coaching staff for the person they have made me. To all the people who read this, imagine walking out onto a field in single digit temperatures in December, looking around at the stands and seeing ten thousand fans chanting “Lets go Red”. That is what football at Steubenville is all about and I loved every second of it. The heat, the cold, the fans , the coaches, and all my teammates. I thank all of you for everything."
Editor's note: Mr. Frye was a 2 year starter at right tackle, and during his varsity career the team finished 42-1. He is currently enrolled at Bethany College where he also is a member of the Bison Football team.
Volume 2: Jeff Grill, 1989, 90, & 91.
"The Eye Of The Past is a fraternity, a collection of individuals who have given a piece of themselves to Big Red. It includes coaches and players, but also administrators, faculty, boosters, support staff, and their respective families. The main commonality amongst this group is their passion and pride for the program.
Every year, a new Big Red team has a duty to not only uphold the tradition already in place, but also to add its own legacy. The 1991 team was no different, and prides itself on achieving this goal. Although, the 1991 team went 10-0, it is difficult to pin-point one game, one play, or one moment when this was realized. However, it is obvious why it occurred. The class of 1991 was blessed. Long before any of us stepped onto the field, we were the Eyes Of The Future.
During the mid 1980's, the Big Red players and coaches may not have realized the example they were setting for an assortment of junior high students, although we watched intently. We quickly learned the expectation levels were undeniably high. Even at that young age we perceived ourselves assuming the roles of these successful players.
Fortunately, a fine collection of coaches were in place when we officially became members of the program at Harding Middle School. The training and lessons learned were invaluable. Unfortunately, you're not able to control your physical dimensions, but you do determine your work-ethic. The mentality to not be outworked applied in our athletic training, and in the classroom.
This ideology was imbedded at the middle school level and implemented throughout our high school days. Coach Sac and his staff excel at maximizing the potential of its student-athletes. Each team is pushed beyond its imaginable limits. Since each member is working towards the common goal of becoming a team, and a family.
During our playing days, teammates supported and pushed one another. Coaches provided guidance, and motivation. After our playing days concluded, those same individuals are equally as important. Without question, a special connection is shared for life. We continue to be friends, teammates, and family.
It is a privilege to be a part of Big Red Football. With this honor comes a large responsibility. It is the obligation of each year's team to conduct themselves in the classroom, on the field, and in the community, in a manner that will make the Eye Of The Past proud, and set the example for the Eyes Of The Future.
Volume 1: Doug Charland, 1985, 86, & 87.
"In 1987, we thought we had a really good team going into the season. The 10-1 1986 team had far more juniors starting than seniors. The whole offensive backfield, Todd Christian at tight end, me at tackle, Jason Rinaldo split time at center, Niles Herring at reciever. On defense me, Hans Yetts, Jimmy Kelley, Dan Keenan, and one or two others. Then during the summer Chez Jennings transferred, and he was big and quick, plus John Lytle came back on the team. So we figured we were gonna be pretty good.
I think perhaps we thought a little too much about how good we might be, because we were somewhat lack-luster in the first game of the season against Cleveland South. In the second game we had to travel to Warren Harding. They were not supposed to be great that season, and we had beaten them the year before. I was not dressed for the game because of the knee surgery that kept me out of the first 6 games of the season, and I was always in the training room for half of practice, but I don't remember practice being overly sharp or intense that week. Well it showed on Friday night. We missed several tackles and did not run the ball nearly as well as we should have. We lost 12-21, and if Lytle hadnt run an interception back 90 yards for a TD it might have been worse.
Usually in the locker room after a loss you are kind of in a daze and you only hear half of what a coach says, especially if he's screaming. Having not been dressed for the game though, and standing there on crutches, I was paying more attention than I normally would have though. It was a few seconds before Reno said anything. He paced back and forth maybe three or four times, and it looked as if he was going to explode. Most of the guys in there probably just wanted to get showered and get the hell home, but I was worried about what was about to happen. I knew if he flew off the handle, as we all fully expected, and happen to do it in my direction, I wouldn't be able to get out of the way fast enough! LOL His pacing was not fully under contol, it was nervous and almost frantic. What came out kinda suprised me.
"WE NEEDED THAT!!! WE NEEDED THAT!!! He smacked himself on the forehead several times, hard enough that I thought he might hurt himself. Obviously he couldn't hurt himself. He reminds me of the Black Night in Monty Python's "Holy Grail", who gets his legs and arms chopped off but keeps on fighting and insists "Ok, we'll call it a draw!"
"WE'RE NOT AS GOOD AS WE THINK WE ARE!!!" He went off for a few more minutes, very colorfully, about our shortcomings as a team, and after a while I started to think "You know he's right. We're really not that good!" Now I don't know if the other guys were thinking the same thing, but looking back I realize that that's EXACTLY what he wanted us to believe. We (Big Red) were still somewhat new to being a state powerhouse. We had the '84 state championship, but then the '85 team underachieved, and the '86 team somehow went 10-0 before losing in the first round of the playoffs, despite not really being that good. But we didn't, at that point, have quite the confidence withing the program from top to bottom that is there now. We were still in the stages of building that. So were we really not that good???
Obviously we were better than he made us feel like we were that night because we won the rest of our games, including the final, and perhaps most memorable, game in the Wintersville rivalry, until losing to an awesome Akron Buchtel team in the state championship game. But to this day I think that he was right. We DID need that loss. And I also wonder if somewhere inside he was happy that we lost that game, because I'm not so sure that we would have made it as far as we did if we hadn't gotten that harsh dose of reality, and gotten it so early in the season when there was still time to recover.
He was right.........'WE NEEDED THAT!!!"
Editor's note: Mr. Charland was a two year starter at tackle and defensive tackle, as well as punter, for the Red, and was a 3 year letterman. He earned a scholarship to the University of Maryland where he played 4 years for the Terps. Mr. Charland currently is self-employed and resides in Laural Maryland.
