I went to school this morning. Students at Jackson High School have an opportunity to take an officiating class as an elective. The class taught by Dan Rodriguez is so popular, there's a waiting list.
BREAKING: Minerva has won. The Lions stop their 44-game losing streak tonight at West Branch. I can't imagine how emotional this must be for an entire team of players who have never won a varsity football game. I'm happy for you guys.
#FNOhio
While Kevin Stefanski was in his basement, Super Bowl-winning coach Mike Tomlin punted on fourth-and-1 when his team had all the momentum. That's when I knew the
#Browns
were going to win.
This was an emotionally-draining week for the
@Minerva_XC
boys and girls. With heavy hearts today, both teams ran for their late teammate Owen Grubb and clinched state berths. The entire Minerva community should be so proud of this strong group of kids.
I'm not going to dignify the worst take on what happened in Cincinnati with a retweet. Many of you probably saw it. I would rather salute Bengals head coach Zac Taylor and Bills head coach Sean McDermott for being adults and leaders.
In memory of Minerva's Owen Grubb, the Stark County cross country coaches are naming him their only runner of the week this week. A classy move by a classy group of people. 👏
Just answered an email from a terminally-ill man wondering where he could watch high school football games online during the time he has left. The next time you feel like complaining about being inconvenienced, think about him for a second. Your life could be a lot worse.
NCAA Division III athletes who are getting tested and busting their asses to have seasons probably don't give a flying fadoo about participation thresholds for national championships. If only 16 teams make it to nationals, I'm sure they will still enjoy the experience.
#PAPASTRONG
. Dan Fuline, the father of
@CoachFuline
, climbs the ladder for his piece of the net. Saturday was the first Mount Union game he attended since he began battling cancer.
Eddie George's Tennessee State football staff includes two former NFL head coaches — offensive coordinator Hue Jackson and advisor Jeff Fisher. I'll get out of the way and let some of you chime in since you can't help yourselves.
Was stunned and gutted when I heard this news last night. If you do anything today, say a prayer for the Minerva cross country team and Minerva community. They're hurting now. My heart goes out to Owen's family, friends and everyone who knew him.
Received this Saturday at the Stark County High School Track and Field Championships. Thank you so much to Perry's Mike Laubacher and other coaches who had a hand in this. The cooperation I receive from these great coaches and their great athletes is much appreciated.
Mount Union 83, Wisconsin-Whitewater 79, Final
The best men's basketball season in school history will end Saturday with the Purple Raiders playing Christopher Newport for a national championship.
Josh McDaniels was in middle school the last time the Browns were a consistent winner. He has head coaching experience and has been a coordinator for a dynasty. He was in your building on Friday. And you let a guy in La Jolla, California talk you out of it? Interesting.
Since I was in the neighborhood, I thought I would raise a symbolic glass to the
@MountUnionFB
team on what would have been the day of the season opener.
Mount Union 23, Baldwin Wallace 21, Final
OH. MY. GOODNESS.
Braxton Plunk throws a 48-yard touchdown pass to Wayne Ruby Jr. on the final play of the game to save another 10-0 season. Wow!
Mount Union's
@CoachFuline
and his father Dan pose for a picture after the
@purpleraiders
clinched the Ohio Athletic Conference regular season championship on Saturday.
Here's one way Baker Mayfield can win over these skeptical Browns fans if he's selected. Go to Heinz Field, beat the Steelers and plant the freakin' flag at midfield. They'll suddenly want to build a statue for you overnight, kid.
They're celebrating on the field in Mason.
@WalshUBaseball
, the lowest seed in the field, has won the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament. The Cavaliers are heading to the NCAA Division II Tournament. Congratulations to head coach
@TimMead7
and his players.
Australia is on fire
Jakarta is flooding
Puerto Rico just had an earthquake
We are at war
Buckeyes lost
Cavs lost
Lindor will be leaving
Browns are a mess
I’m going to bed
When you consider what happened this afternoon and what's happening tonight, Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals have to feel really good about where they stand in the AFC North.
Another assignment forced me to miss Mount Union's
@Digby_AJ
at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Club today. Based on the times I've talked to this kid, I'm not surprised he won over the crowd.
Mount Union 107, Cairn 76, Final
A school-record 11 3s and a career-high 40 points from
@CollenGurley2
powers the
@purpleraiders
into tomorrow night's second round game against York.
@dfriga98
finishes with 17 points.
@slack_tanner
adds 14.
BREAKING: Team versus team competition for Ohio high school contact sports has been approved by
@GovMikeDeWine
. Football, soccer and field hockey will have a season.
Mount Union 51, Muskingum 15, Final
Braxton Plunk throws for 314 yards and six touchdowns.
@JoshPetr01
rushes for 108 yards. Most of their damage was administered in the first half. The first of many wins for
@CoachGeoffDartt
.
@MountUnionFB
@purpleraiders
Qualifying for the high school football playoffs felt like a BIG accomplishment back in the day. With 448 teams in now, you're going to feel embarrassed if you don't make it. Really don't see the need to increase the field beyond what it was before 2020.
#FNOhio
I'm not the smartest man in the world. However, I do know this isn't a good idea if the height of tree is greater than the distance between the tree and the house. Amateurs
@LouSantini
.
I have no personal tie to any of this. All I'll say is if the eighth-ranked NCAA Division III football team in the nation can't get in a 32-team playoff, you might as well just get rid of the rankings.
Caleb Porter will coach
#Crew96
in the MLS Cup final on the 10th anniversary of his
@ZipsMSoc
team's national championship win over Louisville. Destiny, man.
As Mount Union head coach
@vkehres
said after Friday's Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl loss to Mary Hardin-Baylor, "One game is not going to define this team. It’s not going to define our season.”
BREAKING: Canton South will be withdrawing from the Eastern Buckeye Conference and joining the Principals Athletic Conference in 2022. The Canton Local Board of Education unanimously approved the move Thursday morning.
East Canton athletic director and baseball coach Doug Miller waves to the crowd before superintendent Kevin Finefrock presents him with a plaque Tuesday night. Miller is retiring as AD at the end of the school year, but still plans to coach baseball at East Canton.
One thing I have noticed at golf the past few days. Kids wore masks while they were being interviewed. They really didn't have to be reminded to wear them by their coaches. They also handled it a lot better than some adults do.
This was the toughest week many of the Mount Union women's soccer players ever had in their lives. The support they received along with their strength, bravery and love for a teammate helped get them through it. My story from Alliance.
History! The East Canton boys become the first small school to win a Stark County track and field title. The Hornets finish it in style with a win in the 1,600 relay.
In the real world, kids, you're not going to be able to cry, bitch and moan your way to a better situation. Don't look at what happens in the NFL, or pro sports in general, as a normal everyday way of life.
.
@Jonny_Todd12
is another in a long line of what Mount Union head football coach Vince Kehres calls “the kind of players we want.” Here is
@TimRogersCLE
's story on the
@purpleraiders
junior offensive guard.
I saw Michael Jordan play basketball during my lifetime. I saw LeBron James play basketball during my lifetime. I'm not going to waste time debating who's better. I'm just thankful I saw greatness displayed by both of them.
Well done to all the schools who gave their cross country state qualifiers the sendoff they deserved today. Some people have no clue how many miles these kids rack up to get to this point. I wish I had that much dedication when I was their age.
Perry's Christopher Marx just did such a cool thing. After winning the mixed 800 wheelchair race, he caught up to Massillon's Savannah Kennedy and encouraged her to the finish. As I say, kids today DO make a difference.
Today is
@JoeScalzo01
's final day with us. It has been so hard for me to come to grips with this. All I know is that he's one of the most talented people I've worked with. He made us a better team. I just hope I can always call him a friend for many years to come. Thank you Joe.
Mount Union 34, Wartburg 31, Final
The 1,487-day drought is finally over. The Purple Raiders are going back to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl for the first time since 2018.
Save your "Nobody goes to MAC football games in November anyway" jokes for another time. Be happy for the players who get to have a fall season. If one of them was your son, you wouldn't be joking.
A national semifinal game wasn't the same without you
@LennyinOhio
. Looking down, I'm sure
@mountunion
's athletic communications department and football team made you beam with pride today.
No. 23
@WalshCavsWBB
83, No. 2 Ashland 76, Final in OT
Wow. They've done it. The Cavaliers take down the No. 2-ranked Eagles and end their 19-game winning streak. Walsh wins its 14th in a row. Just a great win for
@CoachKateBruce
's team.
There was a moment of silence for
@Minerva_XC
's Owen Grubb before the start of the Division III boys race. Officials and administrators are wearing red ribbons in his honor.
Welcome home
@Logan_Hill41
. You and I can have a discussion about your love for great rock bands like Metallica and Def Leppard again next season. This is a pretty big addition for
@CoachFuline
and the
@purpleraiders
.
If they awarded NCAA tournament berths to coaches and players who are great dudes and who would allow a beat writer inside the program to do a fun project,
@MountUnion_MBB
would be a shoe in. No matter what happens, thanks to this close-knit family for some great stories.
A socially-distanced fist bump goes out to Sandy Valley quarterback
@camblair01
, who became Stark County's career passing yards leader in tonight's 55-13 win over Tusky Valley. Blair threw for 352 yards in the first half alone to break the record. He is up to 8,387 yards.
#FNOhio
If you're scoring at home, and I know some of you are, Canton will host seven high school football state championship games and the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in December.
I would say the athletes' parents and family members are their biggest supporters. That said, I'm blessed to still have an opportunity to work with so many great high school and college teams in my own backyard. Thank you all.
To all Stark County athletes. Please thank and wish
@mpopovichREP
a Merry Christmas. He’s your biggest fan and supporter. HS & College coaches should count their blessings. No one cares more & does a better job! Thanks Mike, in case I didn’t tell you, when I was at Walsh.