I can still remember, as a little boy, the smell of Fall in the air, hearing the marching band practice from my back yard. And I knew . . . it was football season in Shadyside.
My Dad and his buddies would already be talking about the coming Friday night's game. He would take me, on what seemed like long trips at the time, up to Mingo or down to Powhattan to see the Tigers play. I was only 8-years-old, but for some reason I specifically remember the names of the 9-1 1968 Tigers. I vividly remember my dad and his friends talking about the Bobek twins, Eric Slack, Joe Wizba, Allietta, Apicella, Berger, McMurray, Burkhart, Stewart, Martin, Emery, Bonar and others. As I got a little older, other players that I watched left their mark on my memory. I specifically remember admiring players such as Doug Carpenter, Joe Munjas, Jim Kovolo and Hi Paknik. The history and tradition of Tiger football, and the pride this town had in their football team, was slowly being forged in my heart and soul. I remember the magical feeling of Fleming field on a Friday night. It seemed like everyone in the whole town was crowded around that 100-yard-long patch of grass. The crowd buzzing, the cheerleaders cheering and the band . . . ah, the band. I remember all that music to this day. It still gives me goose bumps when I remember them playing High Chaparral and Hang On Sloopy. Ray Ponzo, you brought magic to Fleming Field for years. It is the soundtrack to our football memories.
In 1975, as a sophomore, I became a varsity Shadyside Tiger football player. I just couldn't imagine what could be any greater than that. And I know my father, as
so many fathers have been, was awfully proud and excited about it. I'd have to say that I
truly believe that the 1975 Tigers may have been one of the more talented teams in Shadyside history. The seniors on that team had a 23-2-2 record coming into that season, but we lost 3 of our first 4 games. That's when many teams would fall apart. But that Tiger team banded together and won their last 6 games. I was witness to the speed and power of fullback Joe Vucelich. And there was nothing more exhilarating than watching Rudy Jovicic get around the end. I remember how thrilled I was to be a part of, no matter how small, (my contribution was limited to mostly special teams) that tremendously talented Tiger team.
My junior season, 1976, was a little tougher. We had lost so many talented seniors. We went 4-6. But there were some very good senior football players on that team. Craig Griffiths was one of the most ferocious I ever saw. Mike Kernick, Bob Heidelbach, John Vichich, Mike Borsch, Tim Merryman, Tim Wizba, Jim Bittengle, Tim Jones, Bud Davis, Dan Duncan, Keith Feaster, Jay Sweatnich, Mike Price, Bob Ciszewski,Tom DeCola, Phil Sabatina and others put it all out there every game. And throughout that season a certain group of juniors were preparing themselves to step up and make their own mark the following year.
I really don't know what else to say about the '77 season other than it is one of the best and proudest moments of my life. It's certainly true that there have been much more talented Tiger teams. But we have all learned over the years that talent does not always translate into success. It takes tremendous dedication, sacrifice, teamwork and other intangibles to be successful.
But to go through an entire season without losing or tying a game is a
very rare accomplishment. It requires all of those things and, no doubt, a little luck as well.
The '77 Tigers had some very talented underclassmen that contributed mightily. Pat Miller played middle linebacker, right behind me. He was our leading rusher and handled the punting duties. Ironically, his father played linebacker right behind my father on the undefeated '54 team as well. Sam Vucelich and Paul Hoskinson were studs in the secondary. Sophomore Todd Snedeker brought speed to our backfield. We had one of the best kickers in school history in sophomore Manny Matsakis. Mark Liberati, Eric Griffiths, Jeff Wallace, Jim Fankhauser and Andy Destifanes were all key contributers. And, as I used to always say, the best center I faced all year was the one I played against in practice everyday, Bob Trembly.
Over the years, I've often thought about why we were able to accomplish something so improbable. Was there something special about that group of boys? I mean, we were 0-7 as 8th graders and like, 2-5 as freshmen. So yes, I think we all had a chip on our shoulders and felt we had something to prove. But I really think what made this group special was our uncanny ability to overcome overwhelming adversity. We did it in the first game of the year and we did it in the last. You just can't imagine the kind of progressively mounting pressure we felt that season as each passing week brought us closer to our ultimate historic accomplishment. To bear that kind of pressure and to rise up and overcome in moments of desperation, is surely is the legacy of the 1977 Shadyside Tigers.