The Repository | CantonRep.

com | Sunday, March 27, 2016H7

MASSILLON
EVOLVE
From Page H6

Howards used to carry

ATHLETIC SUCCESS, SUPPORT
IS WHAT CITY IS ALL ABOUT
lots of formal menswear
suits, sport coats,
dress clothes but in
the last few decades, the
culture of mens cloth-
ing changed. People just
By Joe Mitchin part and everyone tries to
stopped dressing up,
GateHouse Ohio Media find their own little niche

I
Rubin said. for the program. Thats how
t isnt called the City of everything kind of grows.
Its not the same as
Champions for nothing. As the landscape of high
it used to be. They dont
Massillon has always school football was changing
dress that way anymore,
been a football town and and the state playoff system
he said.
central to the creation of was implemented, the Tigers
Howards still carries
professional football. One adjusted and continued on-
mens clothing it offers
of the most recognizable field success. Massillon is tied
tuxedo rentals and suit
and successful high school for the Stark County lead in
sales and it still special-
programs in the country overall playoff appearances
izes in big and tall sizes,
calls Massillon home, as the (22) and has played for a state
including pants up to size
Tigers can boast tradition championship on three occa-
80. But its also a trea-
and history of more than sions (1980, 1982, 2005).
sure trove of Massillon
100 football seasons. Massillon football has
Tiger merchandise.
Massillon is football. It produced 30 professional
The store is packed to
always has been. It always players the most recent,
the brim with black and
will be. Devin Smith, was drafted
orange apparel. Obie
Its the unity and the out of Ohio State in the
graces everything from
underlying spirit of our second round of last Aprils
T-shirts and hoodies to GATEHOUSE OHIO MEDIA KEVIN WHITLOCK NFL Draft. He was the high-
football tradition that
scrubs and beer steins. n A statue of the late Paul Brown stands outside the stadium named after him in Massillon. Paul Brown Tiger
makes us strong in other est selected Massillon alum
At any time, the shop has Stadium was built in 1937.
areas, whether that be in since legendary linebacker
300 hoodies, at least 800
business or cultural activi- after big wins, gathering for incorporates all of those to fill Ohio States coaching Chris Spielman in 1988. The
T-shirts and more than a
ties, local historian Margy the annual Beat McKinley symbols and traditions. Its vacancy in 1941, several other highest drafted player in any
couple hundred hats on
Vogt said. That sounds parade and bonfire, ringing just a nice synopsis of over successful coaches filled the major professional sport
hand, Rubin said.
funny that it leads to those and taking ownership of the 100 years of football. void and continued to uphold from Stark County was All-
Howards always
things, but I think thats Victory Bell after each win Brown became the head the standard that the Tigers Ohio offensive lineman Bob
carried Massillon mer-
what makes Massillon such over the rival Bulldogs, join- coach of the Tigers foot- built throughout the 30s. Vogel, a Massillon graduate.
chandise, but as time
a true community. ing together as a community ball team in 1932 and was Chuck Mather, who He was Hall of Fame coach
went on, the demand just
The city honors and in the preseason kickoff rally, greeted by a 5-4-1 season. coached the Tigers from Don Shulas first draft pick
grew, he said.
celebrates its football tradi- or enjoying the sights and Ironically, over the next 1948-53, lost only three and went on to a 10-year
The stores biggest
tions in a variety of ways. sounds of the Tiger Swing eight seasons under Brown, career games. Other career protecting Johnny
sellers are miniature
The craze first began when Band, Massillonians always Massillon would lose only coaches such as Tom Harp Unitas blind side.
footballs orange foot-
another group of Massillon show up for their school. Its four more games. In all, (17-2-1), Lee Tressel (16- The Tigers also featured
balls just the right size for
Tigers, a professional team, that loyalty that has set Mas- Brown led the Tigers to 3), Leo Strang (54-8-1), 19 players who would go on
tiny hands and cloth-
played in town until the sillon apart from others. six state and four national Earle Bruce (20-0) and Bob to become collegiate All-
ing for infants including
early 1920s. Local residents Many of these unique championships and left the Commings (43-6-2) all led Americans, nearly a dozen
onesies and skull caps.
were behind that team, efforts, as well as the overall school after the 1940 season Massillon to dominance that have been inducted into
As soon as someone has
which led to an eventual growth of the football pro- with a record of 80-8-2. on the gridiron before the the College Football Hall
a baby, they come in and
unconditional love with the gram, can be credited to one states playoff era began. of Fame and more than 100
buy Tiger gear, he said.
Unlike other cities,
high school program. man that arrived in town at Football legacy The football program All-Ohio first-teamers.
Attending a game at age 9. His name was Paul It was Brown who placed has accumulated 25 state I think its because
Massillon fans stick by
legendary Paul Brown Tiger Brown. his program onto the poll champions and nine football is important, Gary
their team in good and
Stadium (which opened in Paul Brown had a lot to national scene, a place the national titles. The sup- Vogt explained on how so
bad times, he said. Here,
1939) each Friday night is do with many of our tradi- Tigers have stayed since. port for those teams never many great players have
year in and year out,
one thing, but Tiger fans tions, Vogt said. The Football was important wavered. passed through Massillon.
theyre pretty loyal fans.
have been known to go even parade and bonfire (during and popular before, but Paul If youre successful, If you grow up wanting to
Though the store draws
further to show their sup- McKinley week) are the was the one that turned us people want to be aligned be a football player at Mas-
customers year-round,
port for the team. epitome of Massillon spirit. into the City of Champi- with you, Massillon foot- sillon, thats the tradition
its busiest times are
Whether its packing I love the football mural in ons, Vogt said. ball historian Gary Vogt and expectation that you
when people pack the
downtown on Lincoln Way downtown Massillon that After Browns departure said. They want to do their have to have.
stadium.

PIONEER
Basement Solutions

WET BASEMENT?
Call
PIONEER BASEMENT SOLUTIONS
today!
Mention this Ad or Code 8526 for a FREE*
Battery Back-Up Sump System
Value over $600

330-454-8066
*Requires a minimum installation of 100 ft. waterproofing system

www.pioneerbasementsolutions.com 6234730327