Golden Anniversary of "The Clock Game"....

[warren1st]

what is Massillon going to do to commemorate the event? Play only two extra minutes instead of four in the Warren Harding game?

Wow! 50 years and we're still hurting about it over here! At least those of us still alive!! Lol!!:sad2:

[massillon catholic]

what is Massillon going to do to commemorate the event? Play only two extra minutes instead of four in the Warren Harding game?

Wow! 50 years and we're still hurting about it over here! At least those of us still alive!! Lol!!:sad2:

I thought that the lights went out.

[warren1st]

I thought that the lights went out.

No, that was the 1967 Steubenville game.

[massillon catholic]

No, that was the 1967 Steubenville game.

Oh, thanks

[TigerCarl]

Doggone you, Warren 1st, you beat me to it! I went into the season thinking about this being the half-century mark since the 1957 Massillon-Warren "clock game" that fans such as you and I so dearly recall; it's as though it happened just a few years ago. Gee, and I wanted to be first to mention it!

Anyhoo, we shall have much more to say about this infamous contest come later in the season.

Meanwhile, my dear old friend, I have the cheese, you still have the "whine--" and between the two of us we shall once again resurrect a great rival game from the dead, bringing back the spirit of Halloween from a time when Sputnik and Hula-Hoops were new, and when Elvis and Ike were so dear to our hearts.

You hang in there, old champ.

TigerCarl


PS -- Me thinks your Michigan team will have it's way with my N.D. team this weekend. Too many horses on your squad, just one horse on mine.

[mmauthor]

I think you were recalling the 1966 Steubenville game, Bob. The clock game is an all-time classic. Definitely in the top 5 all time. Right, Carl? The '66 Steubenville game was certainly the highlight of an otherwise dreadful season! Steub. was number one in the state and we shut them out. We were 3-5 at the time.

[TigerCarl]

MMAUTHOR -- Pay no attention to Warren1st's memory--me poor ol' buddy Bob is getting mentally feeble in his elder years, you know. If you doubt me, just watch how warped his memory gets when he recalls his biased "details" of that '57 clock game. (Wink.)

Here are the facts about that Massillon vs Warren game in 1957, won by the Tigers, 20-14, in a fantasic finish:

Aging Warren Panther fans (now called Raiders), tend to forget what REALLY came down that night:

You see, unbeaten Warren had an outside chance to win the state championship that year if they could defeat the Massillon Tigers. Massillon was pretty much out of it because they'd already lost to undefeated Cleveland Benedictine, 13-7. Warren would have to do BETTER than that if they were to be champs of '57. As a result, Warren would have to dump Massillon by at least 7 points to have a legitimate shot at being top bannana. Now, seeing as how Benedictine was a new kid on the block, and seeing as how Warren was an old rival of ours, we Tigers preferred that WARREN win the state title.

HOWEVER, with the Massillon-Warren score tied at 14-14 late in the 4th quarter, Warren was obviously not going to win that championship. The old "Panther" fans were really sweating it. So-o-o-o-o, Massillon, trying to be reasonable about the situation, decided to sneak an extra four minutes onto the scoreboard timeclock to give Warren a sporting chance at beating us.

When the Warren fans suddenly spotted that extra time on the clock, they loudly cheered, praising us for our good sportsmanship, grateful that their team still had a chance to win the game and lay claim to that long overdue state title.

But the goofs couldn't pull it off! Instead, they choked. I mean they really blew hash all over the field, running around out there like the Keystone Kops. It's called gut-check time for the championship, and WARREN PANICKED! Thus, the Massillon players shrugged and said, what the heck, if those bums can't score, we'll show them how it's done. As a result, Massillon threw a winning 37-yard TD bomb on the final play of the game.

Now you know the truth.

[warren1st]

I think you were recalling the 1966 Steubenville game, Bob. The clock game is an all-time classic. Definitely in the top 5 all time. Right, Carl? The '66 Steubenville game was certainly the highlight of an otherwise dreadful season! Steub. was number one in the state and we shut them out. We were 3-5 at the time.

Scott - Maybe you're right. I had just gotten out of the Army in the fall of 1967 and I had a Big Red buddy come up to the Steubenville-Warren game. Darn the memory is starting to slip a wee bit!! lol!!

[warren1st]

MMAUTHOR -- Pay no attention to Warren1st's memory--me poor ol' buddy Bob is getting mentally feeble in his elder years, you know. If you doubt me, just watch how warped his memory gets when he recalls his biased "details" of that '57 clock game. (Wink.)

Here are the facts about that Massillon vs Warren game in 1957: We won, 20-14, in a fantastic finish. But aging Warren Panther fans tend to forget what REALLY came down that night:

You see, Warren had an outside chance to win the state championship that year if they could beat the Massillon Tigers. Massillon was pretty much of of it because they'd already lost to Cleveland Benedictine, 13-7. Warren would have to do BETTER than that if they were to be champs of '57. As a result, Warren would have to defeat Massillon by at least 7 points to have a legitimate shot at being top bannana. Now, seeing as how Benedictine was a new kid on the block, and seeing as how Warren was an old rival of ours, we Tigers preferred that WARREN win the state title.

HOWEVER, with the Massillon-Warren score tied at 14-14 late in the 4th quarter, Warren was obviously not going to win that championship. The old "Panther" fans were really sweating it. So-o-o-o-o, Massillon, trying to be reasonable about the situation, decided to sneak an extra four minutes onto the scoreboard timeclock to give Warren a sporting chance at beating us.

When the Warren fans suddenly spotted that extra time on the clock, they loudly cheered, praising us for our good sportsmanship, grateful that their team still had a chance to win the game and lay claim to that long overdue state title.

But the goofs couldn't pull it off! Instead, they choked. I mean they really blew hash all over the field, running around out there like the Keystone Kops. It's called gut-check time for the championship, and WARREN PANICKED! Thus, the Massillon players shrugged and said, what the heck, if those bums can't score, we'll show them how it's done. As a result, Massillon threw a winning 37-yard TD bomb on the final play of the game.

Now you know the truth.

Darn, Carl, you have twisted the facts around like a politician. Are you sure you're not writing for one of the Democrat candidates??

WGH was #1 and EVEN if it had ended in a tie, it is the belief of us Panther folk that the AP would have kept us #1 since we went down to Tiger Town and had to play in front of 22,000 crazies. Yes, we were shook and Massillon went up 14-0. Warren then calmed down and methodically scored two touchdowns to tie it up and then the clock went "kerfluey."

If you don't think Warren would have remained #1, I must remind you that in 1958 we were #1 after beating Collinwood and then Canton McK. Our next game was against a TOUGH Cathederal Latin. It ended in a 16-16 tie. We all felt Warren would drop to 3rd or 4th but, lo and behold, we retained our #1 ranking!!

Folks, if you want the REAL TRUTH, ask ole Warren1st!!

Carl - It is GOOD to see you posting again, dear friend!

[Kamd50]

TigerCarl, you are absolutely hilarious:thanx:

[jeroe]

I only have 1 question. In these 4 minutes did Warren have the Football?

[warren1st]

I only have 1 question. In these 4 minutes did Warren have the Football?

No.

[daringone]

PS -- Me thinks your Michigan team will have it's way with my N.D. team this weekend. Too many horses on your squad, just one horse on mine.

:lol:

If by "have it's way with" you mean, win in a 3-0 triple overtime game... those two offenses are *terrible* right now.

[TigerCarl]

Warren1st -- say what? 1958? 1958? There he goes again. Poor old guy.

To jog your memory, Warren1st, a team called ALLIANCE won the State Championship in 1958, not Warren. Remember?

In 1958 Warren lost to mediocre teams such as Lorain and Canton Central Catholic. (In all fairness, the latter stuck me as a shocking upset.) Remember?

Alliance was 9-0-1 that year, and, unh, oh yeah, the tie was an 8-8 contest with Massillon, AT Alliance.

True, your Warren team beat McKinley that year. Whooptee-doo, McKinley lost 5 games that year. Remember?

You guys were good that year, and you even managed to upset the Tigers AT Warren, 6-0. But you were not really in the running for a state championship, as you seem to imply. Granted, you had people fooled early in the season, but not for long.

Just like in 1957, you guys started out overrated in 1958. In both cases, the AP voters looked at the super talent, and they looked at your great Head Coach Gene Slaughter with his fine staff of assistants, and they said, "Wow, what a team! But why do these Panthers keep playing like morons?"

And the answer is: They could not correctly execute their plays in games.

Why? Because, they had bad memories. Just like their present day fans.


Okay, all kidding aside, folks, Warren WAS a great team back in 1957 and 1958. The Panthers featured none other than the superstar Paul Warfield, whom I still regard as the best football great ever to play against the Tigers.

The problem was (Please, Bob, allow me the grace to toot your team's horn for a rare moment), Warren of that era had too many quality opponents bunched together, and it's very hard far any team to bring on its A-game every week, week after week. And back then, there was no playoff, so teams that wanted to consistently vie for the state title found themselves playing suicide schedules to prove their case.

Also, just for the record, the 1958 upset loss to Canton Central came the week BEFORE Warren had to play Massillon, and the loss to Lorain came the week AFTER playing Massillon, when the Panthers were still whirl-headed in glory for having beaten their greatest rival. These were the only two games Warren lost all year. And it was clear that Warren had Massillon on their minds far too much back then.

It was similar in the 1957 "clock game." The Massillon "name" that year was far greater than the Massillon team. Warren allowed themselves to get psyched out over a game that was theirs for the taking. Warren had all the superior talent that year, not us.

However, instead of facing the truth, old Panther fans would rather blame a malfunctioning clock. In truth, Warren never even led in that game, not once, and they trailed 14-0 at the half. Why the blazes was WARREN trailing some MASSILLON team wot had inferior talent anyway? Because, like I told you, they choked in the big one. And it was all in their minds. Don't blame us because youse guys played goofy football that night.

Warren1st--admit it: in 1957, your team showed up fearing the Massillon legend, and they failed to win that game because of it. A truly great team with a gut-wrenching will to prevail would've won that O.T. game. (And, of course, we did.)

Think about what I just said.

Gee, Bob, you and I, we're really off to a great start this year. LOL. Then again, it's good that we old-timers give this 50th anniversary game its rightful place in history. It's one of the greatest, most memorable games in Ohio H.S, football lore. I can't think of a better one.

[warren1st]

Good post, ole boy!

However, the years are taking their tolls on all of us.

I didn't say we won the state championship in 1958! I said we were #1 after a tie in Week 3!! I was part of that team and yes we kinda fell apart.

The Canton CC game was played when we all had the day off as the teachers had NEOTA Day in Cleveland. Remember those? Wow! To get a Friday off in October was really a big deal. My mom and my aunt were both teachers so I remember them very well. Anyway, I will simply state that some of our meanest Panthers were not ready to play that night. Canton CC had, I believe, John (?) McVay as HC and Michigan's great OL coach for Bo was an assistant (He never lets me forget that game).

Massillon people today probably don't realize the unbelievable mystique the name "Massillon" had in high school football in Ohio and around the USA. Warren Harding did just that and got totally psyched out. It took them awhile to start playing football but then..............I honestly believe we would have remained #1 with the 14-14 tie. Sport writers knew how hard it was to come into Tiger Stadium and beat Massillon.

Carl, do you know after the season ended a few weeks later and Lee Tressel had resigned, Massillon offered the job to our coach Gene Slaughter. He was very tempted but Warren met Massillon's offer plus we had Paul Warfield and Willie Jones for two more years!

Yes, Massillon was a mighty name and you really can't blame 16-17 year old kids for choking a little.

I remember my senior year (1959) and Massillon came out in WHITE shoes. They turned all the lights out in the stadium and used one ultra powerful spotlight as they had EVERY Massillon player run under the north goal post with the spotlight on him. There must have been at least 150 Tigers dressed for that game as they completely filled all 4 sides of the playing field. Leo Strang was the first coach to put decals on a helmet and wear the white shoes AT ANY LEVEL OF FOOTBALL - HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, OR PROS!! That's a pretty amazing fact when you think about it!!

[longtimefirsttime]

I'm just amazed that there are two guys here who were alive and can remember that game. Wow. Good stuff.