The All-American Conference 1963-1978 The All-American Conference was the premier Ohio league during its existence. Massillon, Niles McKinley, Canton McKinley, and Warren Harding joined in 1963, with Steubenville in 1966, and Alliance in 1969. In 1979 the conference disbanded, primarily because of the dominance of Massillon. In the 16 years the league existed, Massillon won or tied for Champions 10 times, second 3 times, third 1 time, and fourth 2 times. 1963 – Massillon 2-0-0 1st 1971 – Massillon 3-2-0 3rd 1964 – Massillon 3-0-0 1st 1972 – Massillon 5-0-0 1st 1965 – Massillon 3-0-0 1st 1973 – Massillon 4-1-0 T 1st 1966 – Massillon 1-3-0 T-4th 1974 – Massillon 3-2-0 2nd 1967 – Massillon 4-0-0 1st 1975 – Massillon 3-2-0 2nd 1968 – Massillon 3-2-0 2nd 1976 – Massillon 5-0-0 1st 1969 – Massillon 2-2-1 4th 1977 – Massillon 4-1-0 T 1st 1970 – Massillon 5-0-0 1st 1978 – Massillon 4-0-1 1st The following is a Master’s Thesis by James Rubin (owner of Howards Tiger Rags) written in 1973. This is a partial history of the Conference. THE HISTORY OF THE OHIO HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE 1963 - 1972 A Problem Presented to The College of Education of The University of Akron In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts James Rubin June, 1973 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. THE PROBLEM AND DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED ..............................................1 The Problem .........................................................................................................................4 Statement of the Problem .........................................................................................4 Importance of the Study ...........................................................................................4 Methods and Procedures ......................................................................................................5 Definitions of Terms Used ...................................................................................................5 AAC .........................................................................................................................5 All-Ohio ...................................................................................................................5 All-American ...........................................................................................................6 Organization of the Research Study ....................................................................................6 II. REASONS FOR MEMBERSHIP AND PRE-CONFERENCE PLAY ..............................7 Alliance High School.-.1907.-.1962 ....................................................................................9 Canton McKinley High School - 1894.-.1962 ...................................................................14 Massillon Washington High School - 1963.-.1962 ............................................................19 Niles McKinley High School 1963.-.1962 ....................................................................... 27 Steubenville High School 1901.-.1962 ..............................................................................30 Warren G Harding High School - 1894.-.1962 ..................................................................35 III. ALL AMERICAN CONFERENCE PLAY.-.1963 · 1972 ................................................40 Alliance High School - 1968 - 1972 ..................................................................................42 Canton McKinley High School - 1963 - 1972 .................................................................. 48 Massillon Washington High School - 1963 -1972 .............................................................56 Niles McKinley High School - 1963 -1972 ...................................................................... 64 Steubenville High School - 1966 -1972 .............................................................................72 Warren G, Harding High School - 1963.-.1972 .................................................................79 IV. OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES OF MEMBER SCHOOL AND AAC ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS ................................................................95 Alliance High School .........................................................................................................96 Canton McKinley High School ..........................................................................................98 Massillon Washington High School ................................................................................101 Niles McKinley High School ...........................................................................................102 Steubenville High School ................................................................................................103 Warren G Harding High School ......................................................................................105 1963 AAC - All Conference Team ..................................................................................107 1964 AAC - All Conference Team ..................................................................................108 1965 AAC - All Conference Team ..................................................................................109 1966 AAC - All Conference Team ..................................................................................110 1967 AAC - All Conference Team ..................................................................................111 iii CHAPTER PAGE 1968 AAC.-.All-Conference Team ..................................................................................112 1969 AAC.-.All-Conference Team ..................................................................................113 1970 AAC - Al1-Conference Team .................................................................................114 1971 AAC.-.All-Conference Team ..................................................................................115 1972 AAC.-.All-Conference Team ..................................................................................116 V. SUMMARY OF ALL-AMERICAN CONFERENCE YEARS 1963.-.1972 ................................................................................................................117 BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................................122 APPENDIX ..................................................................................................................................123 Directory ..........................................................................................................................124 Member Schools’ Head Coaches and Records ................................................................126 All-American Conference Team Records ........................................................................132 All-American Conference Top-Ten Offensive & Defensive Teams .............................................................................135 All-American Conference Overall Scoring Averages Offensive & Defensive ........................................................................135 Most Points Scored in a League by One Team.-.Two Teams .................................................................................137 All-American Conference Top-Ten Scorers & Ground Gainers ................................................................................................138 iv CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Ohio High School Football has been studied by football coaches on every level as a story in itself. Many of the former collegiate and professional greats began their careers on scholastic gridirons in Ohio. When conversation is focused on Ohio High School Football, several school's rise above the others because of their success and notoriety at the state level. The nationally known rivalry between Canton McKinley and Massillon Washington High Schools is classified with the finest athletic contests yearly as is evidenced by capacity crowds in excess of 20.000 people with intense feelings of the schools’ following. “A football game in the All-American Conference is something more than a game, more than a 'big game' or a championship game or a game of any kind!” begins Charles Powell, sports writer for The Canton Repository in his yearly All-American Conference Preview brochurel. Powell says, “Each and every game in the prestigious AAC is a phenomenon; a phenomenon in the sense of being something crucial, an enduring and singular achievement that serves as a robust and ------------------------------ 1 All·-American Conference Football Brochure, August, 1970. p. 1. 1 2 colorful vehicle for the paying public.”2 In order for a league of this caliber to be formed, rules and regulations had to be adopted. The committee headed by Paul A. Schott, principal of Canton McKinley High School, as well as officials from Ohio High School football powers; Massillon Washington, Niles McKinley and Warren Harding met November 18, 1962, at the Mergus Restaurant in Canton to establish the league.3 The various coaches of these schools detected a need to organize a league consisting of the perennial "football powers" of state high school play to "insure a true state champion. Ben Wilson, coach at Warren Harding. pushed real hard.4 The purpose of the organization was "to promote clean, wholesome competition in the sport of football and to create a spirit of friendly rivalry and good will among the members. It shall