Moeller Football the Enquirer/Ed Reinke NOVEMBER 28, 1976: Everything Glistened at Moeller...Both Coach Faust's Speech, Trophy, Were Well-Polished

Connections

This year, Moeller makes its 12th Division I state championship appearance. Moeller has won seven previous titles, the most recent in 1985. Will this matchup against Toledo Whitmore make it eight?

Between 1975-1985, Moeller went 128-5.

Gerry Faust, during his time as head coach, won 90.7 percent of his games.

During this time period, Moeller was thought to be the premier high school football program in the country.

Moeller won 71 consecutive regular-season games from 1978-1985.

SLIDESHOW

Moeller Football The Enquirer/Ed Reinke NOVEMBER 28, 1976: Everything Glistened At Moeller...Both Coach Faust's speech, trophy, were well-polished. FROM A SUNDAY NOVEMBER 28, 1976 ARTICLE BY JOHN ERARDI, ENQUIRER REPORTER: Even for Catholic school, the stranger thought to himself, it's awfully subdued for a victory celebration. "Is this the Moeller victory party?" he whispered to a gray-suited, elderly fellow, keeping on eye on him and the other on the organist next to the altar. "Next door," whispered back the gentleman reaching for a collection basket. "It's the second year they've won it, but it ain't this quiet over there!" Indeed it wasn't. The Moeller marching band, which had filled the Akron Rubber Bowl with music Friday, 11/26/76, night, was raising the gymnasium rafters. Big, offensive tackle Jim Brown had the 1200 Moeller fans laughing. Coach Gerry Faust, about half Brown's size, had them crying.

Moeller Football The Enquirer/Mark Treitel NOVEMBER 19, 1977: Celebrating crusaders flash the "We're No. 1" sign, and few would dispute them after a 42-14 victory advanced Moeller to next week's state championship game. FROM A SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 1978 ARTICLE BY JOE QUINN: Some of its adherents call it the best balanced prep athletic conference in the United States. Now, that takes in a lot of territory and a lot of schools and might be difficult to prove - although there is evidence to support the position, too. But most who are familiar with the greater Cincinnati League - an interscholastic athletic alliance of the six Catholic boys' high schools in Greater Cincinnati - would agree it's one of the best balanced anywhere. During the 1977-78 school year, for example, as the GCL completed its first 50 years, Moeller High School won the Ohio Class AAA football championship for the third straight season; St. Xavier won the state swimming title for the ninth year in a row; Elder High captured its ninth AAA baseball crown.

Moeller Football AP Photo NOVEMBER 25, 1977: For Safety's Sake: Moeller quarterback Mark Schweitzer is caught in his team's end zone by opponent Lee Benjamin during championship game. Schweitzer threw the ball away and a safety was called during AAA championship action at the Akron Rubber Bowl. Moeller went on to win in the snow, 14-2.

Moeller Football The Enquirer/Natalie Fobes NOVEMBER 27, 1977: Riffling through letters received from college athletic departments, Moeller seniors, Mark Schwitzer, left, Vince Sylvester and Tim Schire begin preparing for the post-season football recruiting rush. As members of the Class AAA state football championship crusaders, the three players have been getting inquiries from across the country.

Moeller Football The Enquirer/Alex Burrows SEPTEMBER 23, 1978: Preparation worked well for Moeller as the Crusaders crushed Dallas Jesuit. Jeff Wiebell readies himself for the game.

Moeller Football Enquirer Archives NOVEMBER 5, 1978: Moeller High School.

Moeller Football AP Photo NOVEMBER 17, 1979: Toledo Whitmer Panther defensive back Brad Coldiron is stopped by Moeller linebacker Mike Lane in Saturday's, 11/17/79, 1979 OHSAA boys Football Championships in Welcome Stadium in Dayton, Ohio. The Moeller Crusaders, who trounced Toledo, 31-7, now face Parma Padua next weekend for the championship

Moeller Football AP Photo NOVEMBER 24, 1979: Mark Brooks, Moeller's burly fullback, breaks into the open for a gain as Crusaders cruise to Ohio AAA scholastic football championship with a 41-7 victory over Parma Padua at Akron Saturday, 11/24/79. That's Moeller back Eric Ellington at right, and Moeller tackle Joe Parchman has wiped out a would-be Parma defender at left.

Moeller football AP Photo NOVEMBER 25, 1979: A victory hug goes to Moeller coach Gerry Faust from his wife Marlene after the Crusaders won the Class AAA state football championship Saturday, 11/24/79, in Akron.

Moeller Football The Enquirer/Alex Burrows NOVEMBER 26, 1979: Champs Celebrate: Moeller coach Gerry Faust is all smiles Sunday, 11/25/79, at Moeller High where team and school celebrated the Crusaders' fourth Ohio Class AAA football championship in five years. Pictured: shiny trophy came for 41-7 victory in final Saturday, 11/24/79, over Parma Padua at Akron.

Moeller football The Enquirer/Alex Burrows NOVEMBER 26, 1979: Champs Celebrate: Moeller coach Gerry Faust is all smiles Sunday, 11/25/79, at Moeller High where team and school celebrated the Crusaders' fourth Ohio Class AAA football championship in five years. Pictured: shiny trophy came for 41-7 victory in final Saturday, 11/24/79, over Parma Padua at Akron.

Moeller Football The Enquirer/Dick Swaim AUGUST 30, 1980: To The Victors...: Moeller High School received its national championship football trophy Friday, 8/29/80, at a school assembly. Mike Hartman (15) and Mike Lane (32) sit beside the trophy that was presented by the National Sports News Service.

Moeller Football The Enquirer/Dick Swaim AUGUST 30, 1980: No. 1 Parade: Moeller football players parade through a gauntlet of Moeller students during school-ending pep rally Friday, 8/29/80. At the pep rally, the National Sports News Service presented Moeller with its mythical national championship trophy.

Moeller football The Enquirer/Fred Straub OCTOBER 31, 1980: A banner in the Moeller locker room represents the wishes of the school, its players and its coaches concerning tonight's, 10/31/80, showdown at Princeton. Moeller would go on to win the state championship.

Moeller Football AP Photo/Jeff Hinckley NOVEMBER 23, 1980: Gerry Faust, center, head coach of Cincinnati Moeller, cheers with the rest of the team on the sidelines as Mark Brooks scored his second touchdown in the first half of the Ohio high school championship game with Massillon in Cincinnati Sunday, 11/26/80. Moeller won the game 30-7 to take their fifth state title in six years.

Moeller Football Cincinnati Enquirer/ Gerry Wolter NOVEMBER 23, 1980: Heads bowed in prayer, Gerry Faust leads his Moeller High School Crusaders in prayer prior to the 30-7 crushing of upstate rival Massillon High School. The next day Faust left Moeller for a college head coaching job at Notre Dame.

Moeller football AP Photo NOVEMBER 24, 1980: Gerry Faust, head football coach of Moeller High School in Cincinnati, talks with his team before taking the field Sunday for the Division I state championship game against Massillon High School. Faust's Crusaders went on to win the contest 30-7.

Moeller Football The Enquirer/Michael E. Keating NOVEMBER 24, 1980: It was a 50-yard field goal, and it was good, putting jubilant Tony Melink in the Moeller record book with the longest placekick in school history and sending Massillon's Paul Spinden (96) and teammates to the sideline trailing, 24-0.

Gerry Faust The Enquirer/Gerry Wolter 1980: Moeller football coach Gerry Faust talking to a crowd of Moeller fans. Moeller won the Ohio state football championship that year.

Moeller Football The Enquirer/Gerry Wolter DECEMBER 6, 1980: The Enquirer names its first-ever AAA and AA-A all-city football teams. Pictured is the Moeller High School Crusaders.

Moeller Football Larry Sydnor for The Enquirer 1982: Moeller High School football team - the Crusaders, practicing indoors. Moeller would win the state championship that year.

Moeller Football AP Photo/Gary Gardiner NOVEMBER 27, 1982: Masillon's Gary Conley (18) is tackled by Moeller's Shane Bullough (56) on a short pass in the first quarter of play Saturday in the OHSAA Division I championship game played in Columbus.

Moeller Football The Enquirer/Annalisa Kraft DECEMBER 2, 1985: Moeller Players exult after winning the Ohio Division I football championship Sunday, 12/1/85 at Columbus. http://retro.cincinnati.com/Topics/Gallery/Moeller-football