Chocolatecity
It’s great to know you were an Aviator in the 1970’s. Although, Alliance did not become a member of the ACC until 1968, when they played the so-called “big wigs,” but were higly competitive. To say that Alliance could not compete against the “big wigs” starting in 1965, is a non-truism. As I last remember, the verb compete in “Merriam-Webster’s Ninth Edition” dictionary is defined as: to go, to-seek-to strive consciously or unconsciously for an ojective or to be in a state of rivalry. I don’t believe I said in order to compete you had to win them all, but there is one thing for sure, you will get better. If you played Aviator football in the 1970’s as you state, I don’t think coach Mel Knowlton, Gene Nara nor Julius Tonges would have agreed with your thinking. Starting with your selected year of 1965, I recall that the Aviators were only 18 points or three (3) touchdowns away from having an 8-2 football season vs. finishing 4-6. Here is the breakdown: Struthers 12, Alliance 8; Warren Harding 15- Alliance 6, Akron St. Vincent 13, Alliance 8 and Canton Mckinley 15, Alliance 14. This is nothing more than competitive football. When Alliance elected to later participate in the Federal League and now the Northeastern Buckeye Conference, they became less competitive and lost the school tradition.
The decline of jobs and the closing of steel mills is not only an Alliance epidemic, but a National one as well. People started leaving not only Alliance; but also Youngstown, Warren, Niles, Akron, Canton and other area cities. As indicated in my 9-9-11 report, school enrollment is not the problem with Alliance Football. You also stated, “AS far as fewer scholarships if you can play they will find you.” Chocolatecity, you are talking like an idealist. If you get no high visibility as a player you must not only find a college on your own, but once you do, you must show case extraordinary skills during winter workout sessions and spring practice. If you don’t get the eye, then you can forget it! In the 1950’s and 60’s which you wouldn’t remember, there were several great Aviators who were over looked by Class 1-A colleges such as: Homer Young, Bobby Brown, Bob Kennedy, Dave Trieff, Lee Wolf, Al Paone, Lamar Dunn, Henry “Skip” Waters, Marrion ‘Plunky” Young, Larry Grimes, Charles Babb, Dave Cade and Win Young just to name a few. If today's players don’t have the grades that is a double “Whammy” which means they can just move on.
I think Alliance needs to become an independent like the Massillon Tigers. This way they can select the difficulty of their opponent schedule and compete for a State Championship outside of League play! I will guarantee you that it will generate more interest, gate and scholarship opportunities. Alliance’s inability to compete against Willoughby South a few years ago was due to having not played at that level for some time.
Chocolatecity, this is not a personal thing. Mike Schott or any other Alliance coach will have to meet the challenge if the Aviators desire regain state and national attention. I know of a high school located in Flint Michigan called Powers Catholic. They are a class C school, but in the 1980’s they played a school named Detroit Brother Rice a class A power and took them to the wood shed. One of their star players Todd Light went on to Notre Dame and played for head coach Lou Holtz. He became a two (2) time All American and a high round draft choice in the NFL.
FA