Thu, Nov 26 2009
|
A Don McCormack column: Meyer should have put 100 on Miami DON McCORMACKStar Beacon According to Holtz, Hayes was asked why he went for two.
“Because I couldn’t go for three!” Holtz said Hayes replied. Accurate or not, those words came back to haunt Hayes and his team in 1969. Entering the Michigan game undefeated and headed for another possi- ble national championship, the Wolverines stunned the Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium, 24-12. (For the record, there is no record — none — of Hayes ever uttering those words after the 1968 game). The second recollection comes from something one of the best teachers I ever had — the late Glenn Sutherin — said to me. Then the Jefferson football coach, Sutherin’s Falcons played the first game ever played at what is now known as Falcon Pride Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 1980. Jefferson was in its final season of playing its home games at Memorial Field — its home since 1946 — that fall. However, school officials wanted to play one game at the facility. Unfortunately for Sutherin and his players, Jefferson officials chose that game to be the Southington game. The Wildcats were loaded and sported future NFL running back Rick Badanjek at tailback. The 5-foot-9, 195-pound Badanjek finished his four-year high school career with 5,350 yards. One of the least classy coaches I’ve ever come across — Dave Wilson — chose to run it up that day, something he did as often as possible. Wilson had the Wildcats pile it on that day, winning, 56-14. Despite the fact his team led, 21-0, with 1:40 to play in the first quarter, Wilson pounded on the Falcons with Badanjek. Badanjek carried 20 times for 201 yards. He scored on touchdown runs of 32, 44 and 10 yards, threw a halfback pass for a 69-yard touchdown and ran a punt back 66 yards for another score. After the game, Jeffersonians were looking for Wilson like the villagers did with Frankenstein. I could have sworn I saw some of them carrying pitchforks and torches. I asked Sutherin, my American History teacher, about Wilson piling it on. He put his arm around me and said, “Son, don’t worry about him. Last time I checked, it’s our job to stop the other team... not their job to stop themselves.” 
More from the Sports section
Erb put spice in recipe for success Experience aplenty on all-county squad |
Print this story
Post to del.icio.us
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
© 2009, Ashtabula Star Beacon
P.O. Box 2100, Ashtabula OH 44005-2100 (440) 998-2323, Send news tips and feedback 
|
Popular Business directory links - Ashtabula Apartments | Ashtabula Attorneys | Ashtabula Auto Dealers | Ashtabula Auto Parts | Ashtabula Auto Repair | Ashtabula Beauty Salons | Ashtabula Car Rental | Ashtabula Dentists | Ashtabula Doctors | Ashtabula Flowers | Ashtabula Hotels | Ashtabula Insurance | Ashtabula Loans | Ashtabula Mortgages | Ashtabula Movers | Ashtabula Pizza | Ashtabula Realtors | Ashtabula Restaurants | Ashtabula Storage | Ashtabula Tax Preparation | Ashtabula Travel | Ashtabula Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |
