Woody Hayes Says "Happy V-Day. NOW!!!"

Woody Hayes was born 96 years ago today. He was a great Miami of Ohio head coach, and he also had success subsequently. Hayes was a high school football coach for a couple of years before he enlisted in the Navy in 1941. He rose to the rank of of Lieutenant Commander. After his service in the war, he returned to his alma mater, Denison, as the head coach. Hayes "drove his first squad at Denison so hard that school authorities warned him to ease up on the team or face the consequences," according to WOSU. He had a 19-game at Denison, which led to the Miami job. Sid Gillman had been the Miami coach, but moved down state route 27 to the University of Cincinnati--Miami's rival. So, before Woody's rivalry with Bo Schembechler and Michigan while the Buckeye coach, Woody was rivals with Gillman and UC. Gillman disliked Woody, as well. By 1950, Woody had the Redskins in the Salad Bowl, where they defeated Arizona State. He was hired by Ohio State in 1951. The story is that Paul Brown was interested in coming back to Ohio State, but the school hired Woody instead. (The image is from buckeyefansonly.)

Hank Aaron Hammerin' Away at Racism at 75

Hank Aaron is 75 today, and he is still hammering away at racism, according to this article on SportingNews. Here is what he had to say about those nutjobs who were upset that Hank was going to pass Babe Ruth on the all-time homer list:

"I thought, 'What in the world am I doing (to make) people despise me?'" he said during a lengthy interview in his Turner Field office for an upcoming feature in Sporting News Magazine. "But Babe Ruth was a hero. People just have their own heroes, and they don't want anything to come between them.

"A person who can't learn (to forget) is a miserable person, because you're not built to walk around all your life hating people. Everybody -- even me -- has got to walk a mile in another person's shoes before you condemn him."

At the bottom of the article I commented that I don't thing Hank Aaron is the
"real" home run king, as do several of the other commenters. Barry Bonds hit (or has hit, if he hasn't retired) the most home runs in a career. If you think he deserves an astericks or not may be one thing, but he is the homer king. Was Bonds jacked up on the juice? Maybe. Were there pitchers throwing to him jacked up? Probably. Also, though I don't really believe it, I have read that there are some who do.)

But back to Hank. Hank Aaron is what a hero looks like to me.

The picture of the dream 1960s NL outfield is from congressionalgoldmedal dot com ... left to right, Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays, and Hank.

thankyouverymuch,
OldCleat

Buddy Holly ... 50 Years Since The Day The Music Died

Buddy Holly died 50 years ago in a plane wreck shortly after takeoff after a concert in Clear Lake, Iowa. It is known as "The Day the Music Died." Holly was a rock 'n' roll pioneer. In the few short years that he recorded, he laid down some of the greatest tracks in rock 'n' roll history, like "That'll Be the Day," "It's So Easy," "Maybe Baby," Oh, Boy," "Not Fade Away," and "Peggy Sue."

Like Chuck Berry, Holly was a great songwriter, a great guitar player, and a really wonderful vocalist. Holly was also a great showman. He hit the scene just after Elvis, and was in some ways a "nice" version of Elvis. But Buddy was different than Elvis, and there were so many versions of so many folks who wanted to be like Elvis that it ain't that great of a comparison. I'm not so glad I brought it up.

Killed in the plane crash with Holly were Richie Valens, J.P. Richardson ("The Big Boppper"), and pilot Roger Peterson. Richie Valens released two great songs, "La Bamba" and "Donna." The Big Bopper did "Chantilly Lace," a nice song.

Waylon Jennings was the Crickets bass player at the time. He gave his seat up on the plane to The Big Bopper, who had the flu. Tommy Alsup, the Crickets guitar player at the time, lost a coin flip with Richie Valens for the last spot on the four-person plane. Jennings and Alup then had to take a bus to the next stop on the tour, which was Moorhead, Minnesota.

The plane was a Beechcraft Bonanza, model 35, serial # D-1019, and the wing number was N3794N. It was manufactured October 1947. The folks at www.buddyhollyonline.com are clear, very clear, to point out that the plane's name was NOT Miss American Pie.

One of my favorite parts of the entertainment business, and by "the business" I mean "the industry," is that the February 3 show WENT ON AS SCHEDULED. According to buddyhollyonline dot come, "Frankie Sardo and Dion & The Belmonts continued until the end of the tour. Bobby Vee & The Shadows performed on the Feb. 3rd date, Jimmy Clanton, Fabian & Frankie Avalon were substituted as headliners, The Crickets finished the tour with Ronnie Smith as lead vocalist."

The images are from buddyhollyonline.com. The first is Buddy playing at Rhinelander, Wisconsin, in 1958. The second is Buddy on a double-date with Phil Everly. How cool is that?

thankyouverymuch,
OldCleat

National Freedom Day, Feb. 1

National Freedom Day, celebrated in America on Feb. 1, is dedicated to remember that America is a nation dedicated to freedom. When Harry S Truman signed the bill to proclaim National Freedom Day in 1948, who would have thunk 60 years later that the President of the United States AND the leader of the opposition party would BOTH be African Americans?

Elvis Birthday Bash

Elvis Presley would have been 74 years old today. Wow. Elvis will be forever young. I see more Elvis in the media now than I did when he was alive. And I hear more Elvis on the radio. This is all good. I think American needs more Elvis. The hard thing to remember, since Elvis seems to still be with us, is that he was born into another America, the Depression-era America, in 1935. There was massive unemployment, investment in businesses collapsed, home building all but ended, and housing and land prices dropped. But that was the Great Depression. Hey. Wait. What's the difference? Anyway, that's Elvis age 2 on the top with his ma and pa, and the house in Tupelo where he was born on the top right.

James Harris Out for Jags; Bengals GM Postion Open!!

James Harris, who was a key member of the Baltimore Ravens personnel staff before their Super Bowl run, and who helped Jacksonville become one of the strongest teams in the NFL.

The Bengals need a GM. James Harris is the best available man for the job. I want Cincinnati to keep Marvin Lewis as its coach and to sign James Harris as its GM.

Harris was a scout at Tampa Bay from 1987 to '92. He was assistant GM for the Jets from 1993 to '96. He then moved on to the Ravens as director of pro personnel from 1997 till 2003, when he moved to the Jags as the vice president of player personnel.

Let's look at the record. TB never was good while he was there. And several of the draft choices were not that good. But, there were productive, outstanding, and long-lasting choices as well. Vinnie Testaverde, Paul Gruber, Broderick Thomas were the first-round picks in the first few years, and they provided a lot of years. But there were misses as well. Of course, as a scout, no one knows how much Harris was involved in the ultimate choices.

The Jets also weren't any good from 1993 to '96. But the drafts were, as with TB, productive. And they also started to show a trend: Bigger, stronger, tougher, from bigger schools.

In 1997, Baltimore picked up several contributors, Peter Boulware, Jamie Sharper, Kim Herring, Jeff Mitchell, and Cornell Brown. The next year they found Duane Starks at the top of the draft. They were able to find Priest Holmes as well. The next year, Chris McAlister, Brandon Stokley, and Edwin Mulitalo. And they picked up Rod Woodson. In 2000, they drafted Jamal Lewis, Travis Taylor (eh), and, in the sixth round, Adalius Thomas. At tight end, they picked up Shannon Sharpe and Ben Coates, and at defensive tackle, they took Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa. The Ravens won a Super Bowl. After that, there was Todd Heap, Ed Reed, Ed Hartwell, Anthony Weaver, and Chester Taylor.

With Jacksonville, he did a great job. Byron Leftwich, Rashean Mathis, Vince Manuwai, and George Wrighster drafted the first year. Reggie Williams (eh), Daryl Smith, Greg Jones, Ernest Wilford, Josh Scobee, and Bobby McCray the next. OK, Matt Jones the next year (but ... Kahlif Barnes). Marcedes Lewis, Maurice Jones-Drew, and Clint Ingram last year.

I'm ready. Let 'er rip.

thankyouverymuch,

OldCleat

Bill of Rights Day is Dec. 15

Bill of Rights Day is Dec. 15 ... today. It's a good time to sit back and reflect that the Bill of Rights is the document that protects our freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, our right to bear arms, freedom from unreasonable search and seizure, and freedom from cruel and unusual punishment -- among other things. The U.S. Constitution was in jeapordy of not being ratified because it didn't protect basic rights adequately. The Bill of Rights was introduced by James Madison and championed by Thomas Jefferson. So please, PLEASE, don't let lesser statesfolks mess with your fundamental rights ... the Bill of Rights ... without you taking a huge part in it. I am a big fan of that First Amendment. I know that there are many folks that are very very concerned with the Second Amendment. Whichever is the Amendment that you are concerned with, make sure that whoever is going to mess with it does so with the utmost care. I happen to think that the Bush Administration fell far short in this regard.

thankyouverymuch,

OldCleat

Greg Maddux Column, by Gene Wojciechowski

Greg Maddux retires, and Gene Wojciechowski of ESPN (formerly of the Chicago Tribune, but they let him get away ... huh, wonder why they are in trouble?) writes a great tribute column about the Mad Dog. My favorite Maddux saying has always been, and I paraphrase, "The only thing I worry about is making a good pitch." His entire career summed up in that sentence. He was always only concerned with the next pitch, and all he wanted to do with that pitch is make a good pitch. [[NOTE: Here are some quotes that are close to what I'm talking about that I could find on the Internet Machine. Maddux saying: "I just think about what I have to do to make good pitches. That's it." or “The key tonight?” [Maddux] says. “The key was making more good pitches than bad ones.”]] See ya around, Mad Doggie. The great old picture of Greg Maddux is from spring training 1987 from Woolis.com, a site that all you Cub fans should visit.

Joe Nuxhall Finalist for Ford Frick Award, Announced Dec. 9

Joe Nuxhall is one of the finalists to be named as the Ford Frick Award winner for 2009, which will be announced today. Again, not to say anything to the past several winners of this award, but it would have been nice if Nuxy won the danged thang before he died. Just like it would have been nice if the veterans on the veterans committee would give Ron Santo his due. Nuxy richly deserves the Ford Frick Award according to the criteria. Let's just hope that they give the thing to him.

George Foster, slugger of the Big Red Machine, Turns 60 Dec. 1

George Foster was an amazing slugger, and I was at an early age when I became a big fan of his. It is hard for folks to remember when hitting 50 homers was a landmark event. In 1977, Foster hit 52 homers. It was the first time that someone had broken the 50 mark since Willie Mays in 1965. The runner-up to Foster in 1977, Jeff Burroughs, had 41 homers. Mike Schmidt won the homer crown in 1976 with 38 dingers. In 1974, Schmidt led the league with 36. So when I was young, 52 seemed awesome. He was this skinny guy with a higher than average voice and a huge baseball bat colored jet black named "Black Beauty." He was awesome. Of course, you contrast those numbers with 2001, when Barry Bonds had 73 homers, Sammy Sosa had 64, Luis Gonzalez had 57, and in the A.L. shortstop Alex Rodriguez had 52 homers. Oh well. Foster's 52-homer season is tied for 25th all-time. There are only two guys in baseball history with a 50-homer season who don't really seem to belong ... for one reason or another. I would put Luis Gonzalez in that category, along with Brady Anderson and his 50 homers in 1996. But Foster belonged, and how.

Duck Dunn bass player birthday boy

Duck Dunn has been the bass player for Booker T and the MG's since 1965. Dunn was born in 1941 on Nov. 24. He was not the bass player for the band in 1962 when it recorded "Green Onions," but he made up for that by being THE soul bassist since 1965 on the Sam and Dave catalog, Otis Redding, Staple Singers, Wilson Pickett, and countess others. He is the bass player that defines soul bass players. Like Steve Cropper, Dunn never overplayed, and was a servant to the song.

The OldCleat All Did Not Get Drafted Team 10-Game Update

Here is the update on The OldCleat All Did Not Get Drafted Team ... not everyone, but the ones that I can find some updates on. The image is from ESPN.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis has started three games for the Patriots, who have been hit by the injury bug at running back. He has really stepped up and looks like a No. 1 or No. 2 back in the NFL. He was a tough running back at Indiana and Mississippi, and he had some quicks to go with his 225 pounds. A very good pickup for the Pats, but that's not surprising.

Dantrell Savage played pretty well in the one extended shot he got with the Chiefs, though he muffed a punt. But he has shown that he can be a situational back in the league.

Darrell Robertson was signed by the New England Pats. He after he was cut by the Cowboys in final cutdowns, he spent a couple of games with the Edmonton Eskimos. Just an aside, I don't understand why more of these guys don't do the CFL option. Maybe I am just not understanding the opportunity or process that Canada has. Also, again, I'm not surprised the Pats picked this guy up.

Simeon Castille played in four games for the Bengals, and he was the nickel back early in the season for the team. He is at least a dime back, and he could be a starter, maybe as a free safety.

Hank Ballard, R&B Legend

Hank Ballard, one of the greatest R&B performers in American music, was born 81 years ago on Nov. 18, 1927. He performed “Work With Me Annie” with the Midnighters, and he wrote (and performed) “The Twist,” that Chubby Checker made his own. He recorded for Cincinnati’s King Records, under the producer Ralph Bass. The lyrics of Annie were risque, and the song was banned from the airwaves, though it was a big hit. This image was found on Microwaves 101.

The War of the Worlds -- Orson Wells Broadcast 70 Years Ago

The War of the Worlds produced by Orson Wells and Mercury Theater on the Air was broadcast on radio 70 years ago, scaring the bejesus outta a nice chuck of the U.S., who thought that Martians were actually invading. There were several recreations around the country, including Ball State. Could something like this happen again? I think absolutely it could ... and will. The above image is from www.war-ofthe-worlds.co.uk.

Steve Cropper ... Play It, Steve

Steve Cropper has a birthday today. The guitar solos he plays in "Green Onions" with Booker T and the MGs literally brings tears to my eyes. Are there solos that are so in tune with the tune as those. Three notes. Four notes. Perfect. He is the ultimate in economic playing. Never never waste a note. Play it, Steve.

Jim Taylor, Fullback, 73

Jim Taylor, fullback for the Green Bay Packers in the Lombardi era, is 73 today. Jim Taylor was the epitome of the word "power sweep." Tough, strong, tough, compact, tough, quick, and tough, Taylor used to run through defenders. There is tape of him running to daylight, being able to run past a safety downfield down the sideline, but turning toward the center of the field just to run over the safety. Very cool. He was to the Pack offense what Ray Nitschke was to the defense.

thankyouverymuch,

OldCleat

Paul Brown, Greatest Football Coach in History, Born 100 Years Ago

Paul Brown was born 100 years ago today. Paul Brown was the greatest coach in football history, I think (as do others), and I think that I can make the case.

Brown might not have been the greatest coach in high school football history. But he did create the myth and legend of the Massillon Tigers High School program, which lays claim as the greatest high school program in football history. It is certainly among the top high school teams in football history. Brown was 80-8-2 in nine years at Massillon, with six state championships. Combined with his 16-1-1 mark at Severn, a Naval Academy prep school, before taking over the Massillon program, Brown was 96-9-3 record in 11 years as a high school coach. Maybe not the greatest … but maybe.

Brown was not the greatest coach in college football history. But he did win a National Championship in his second season as Ohio State's coach, in 1942. He lost most of his team to the war effort the next year, and his Baby Bucks went 3-6 in 1943, his final season as a college coach before going into the Navy. He was 18-8-1 in three years as the Buckeye's head coach. Good … not the greatest.

Brown might not have been the greatest coach in pro football history. But in his first 13 season in the NFL, as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Brown was 111-44-5. If I am calculating that correctly (I'm not sure how to calculate ties … I think you throw them out), he had a better-than 71 percent winning percentage. In those 13 seasons, he won three NFL titles, went to the Championship Game seven times, and went to the postseason eight times. Vince Lombardi was 89-29-4 in his nine years as the Packers head coach (.754 winning percentage), with five NFL titles (two Super Bowl wins) and an additional appearance in the Championship Game. Brown's first nine years in the NFL compare very favorably. Brown was 81-25-2 (.764 winning percentage?), three NFL titles (pre-Super Bowl), and an additional five appearances in the Championship Game. Maybe not the greatest … but maybe.

There are other things, of course, including the four AAFC Championships, the Great Lakes Naval Station teams, and the Cincinnati Bengals. Brown, a member of the Cradle of Coaches at Miami University, was innovative, using classrooms and inventing the facemask, etc. Taken all together, certainly a very good argument can be made that Paul Brown was the greatest football coach of all time.

The OldCleat All Did Not Get Drafted Team update

Here is the update on The OldCleat All Did Not Get Drafted Team. There were seven players that when given the chance impressed coaches enough to make the active squad. There were six players that were waived but then put on apractice squad (mostly their own teams, but Titus Brown was signed by the Browns after being cut by the Dolphins. One retired from football instead of trying the NFL. There are 13 players out of 39 on the list who will be with their teams when the season starts.

Xavier Lee - QB 6'4" 232 Florida State Baltimore Ravens
Lee was moved to TE from QB and dropped not far into training camp.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis - RB 5'11" 220 Mississippi New England Patriots
Green-Ellis was waived on final cutdown, but was re-signed to the Pats practice squad.

Dionte Johnson - FB 6'0" 238 Ohio State Arizona Cardinals
Johnson was waived on final cutdown.

Kalvin McRae - RB 5'9" 208 Ohio Kansas City Chiefs
McRae was waived during traning camp.

Kregg Lumpkin - RB 6'0" 226 Georgia Green Bay Packers
Lumpkin made the Packers' active roster, beating out Vernand Morency and Noah Herron for a roster spot.

Dantrell Savage - RB 5'8" 187 Oklahoma State Kansas City Chiefs
Dantrell Savage made the Chiefs' active roster.

Tony Temple - RB 5'9" 210 Missouri Cleveland Browns
Temple signed with the Browns and was waived during camp. He then tried out for Bills. Can't see that he was signed.

Dorien Bryant - WR 5'10" 169 Purdue Pittsburgh Steelers
Bryant failed the physical for Steelers ... And he didn't appear to be signed by anyone else.

D.J. Hall - WR 6'2" 190 Alabama New York Giants
Hall was cut by the Giants near final cutdown day.

Maurice Purify - WR 6'3" 224 Nebraska Cincinnati Bengals
Purify was waived by the Bengals near final cutdown day, then was re-signed to the Bengals practice squad.

Todd Blythe - WR 6'6" 209 Iowa State New Orleans Saints

Blythe was waived before final cutdown day.

Taj Smith - WR 6'1" 187 Syracuse Green Bay Packers
Taj Smith was cut by the Packers during training camp, and tried out for the Jaguars.

Digger Bujnoch - OT 6'5" 290 Cincinnati New York Giants
OK ... I have to admit that Digger was going to make OldCleat's All Did Not Get Drafted Team mostly because of his dad, Glenn Bujnoch, former Bengal guard. But Digger was a pretty good player in his own right. Bujnoch was placed on injured reserved instead of being cut by the Giants because of a sprained knee.

Robert Felton - OG 6'4" 313 Arkansas Buffalo Bills
Felton was waived by the Bills on final cutdown day.

Adam Kraus - OG 6'6" 305 Michigan Baltimore Ravens
Kraus was waived by the Ravens during final cutdown day.

Drew Miller - OT 6'5" 302 Florida Jacksonville Jaguars
Miller was waived by the Jaguars on final cutdown day, then was re-signed to the Jags' practice squad.

Martin O'Donnell - OG 6'5" 312 Illinois Retired
O'Donnell battled leg and foot injuries during his college career and decided to not pursue an NFL career.

Tyler Polumbus - OT 6'8" 312 Colorado Denver Broncos
Polumbus made the Broncos active roster.

Drew Radovich - OT 6'5" 305 Southern Cal Minnesota Vikings
Radovich made the Vikings active roster.

Matt Spanos - C 6'5" 305 Southern Cal Miami Dolphins
Spanos was waived during final roster cutdown.

Chris McDuffie - G 6'4" 330 Clemson Kansas City Chiefs

Originally incorrectly listed as a defensive tackle (sorry about that), McDuffie was waived during camp at some point.

Tommy Blake - DE 6'3" 272 TCU - tryout Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tommy Blake was a highly regarded prospect but had issues with clinical depression and social anxiety disorder that made him miss several games his senior year. He had a tryout, at least, with the Buccaneers, but it doesn't appear that he was signed. I can find no additional information on him.

Jeremy Geathers - DE 6'2" 256 UNLV New Orleans Saints
Geathers -- Jumpy Geathers's son -- was waived in final cutdown.

Wallace Gilberry - DE 6'3" 263 Alabama New York Giants
Gilberry was waived in final cutdown, then was re-signed by the Giants for the practice squad.

James McClinton - DT 6'0" 289 Kansas Kanas City Chiefs
Was given a tryout by Chiefs but was not signed, apparently. Can find no further info on him.

Darrell Robertson - DE 6'5" 245 Georgia Tech Dallas Cowboys
Robertson was waived in final roster cutdown.

Titus Brown - OLB 6'3" 239 Mississippi State Miami Dolphins
Brown was cut during final roster cutdown by the Dolphins, but the Browns signed Brown to their practice squad.

Vince Hall - ILB 6'0" 238 Virginia Tech St. Louis Rams
Hall was waived with an injury early in camp by the Rams. He had a hamstring injury.

Ali Highsmith - OLB 6'0" 226 LSU Arizona Cardinals
Highsmith made the Arizona active roster.

Jeremy Leman - LB 6'2" 240 Illinois Minnesota Vikings
Leman was cut on final cutdown.

Ben Moffitt - OLB 6'1" 234 South Florida Houston Texans
Moffitt was waived in final cutdown.

Wesley Woodyard - OLB 6'1" 227 Kentucky Denver Broncos
Woodyard made the Broncos active roster.

Simeon Castille - CB 6'0" 190 Alabama Cincinnati Bengals
Simeon Castille made the Bengals active roster.

D.J. Wolfe - CB 5'11" 207 Oklahoma Atlanta Falcons
Wolfe was cut during training camp by the Falcons.

Jamar Adams - S 6'2" 212 Michigan Seattle Seahawks
Adams was released by the Seahawks on final cutdown day but was re-signed by the Seahawks to the practice squad.

Cornelius Brown - S 5'11" 200 Missouri Kansas City Chiefs
Pig Brown was waived by the Chiefs sometime during training camp, but I can't find when.

Marcus Griffin - FS 5'10" 201 Texas Minnesota Vikings
Marcus Griffin was waived by the Vikings near the beginning of camp.

Tony Joiner - FS 6'0" 215 Florida Tennessee Titans
Tony Joiner was waived during final roster cutdown.

Nehemiah Warrick - SS 6'1" 210 Michigan State New York Giants
Warrick was waived near the beginning of Giant training camp with an injury.

Paul Dietzel, Cradle of Coaches Coach, Turns 84

Paul Dietzel, one of the four I believe Miami University Cradle of Coaches coaches who have won a National Championship, is 84 today.

Born September 5, 1924, Paul Dietzel served in World War II. After serving, he was an All-American center from Miami University. After he was graduated in 1948, Dietzel was an assistant under Red Blaik and Bear Bryant, two of the greatest coaches in history. Blaik was one of the four Miami coaches who went on to win a National Championship. The others were Paul Brown (in my opinion the greatest football coach of all time), Ara Parseghian, and Woody Hayes.

Dietzel became the head coach at LSU in 1955. He was credited with popularizing the platoon system when, in 1958, he won a National Championship with a starting team, the White Team, that was the starting offensive and defensive unit, the Gold Team, which was the second string offense, and the Chinese Bandits, the second string defense. The Chinese Bandits have gained fame for being smaller, quicker, less talented but more ferocious players. Dietzel went on to coach at Army and South Carolina.

There is a great article from Bud Johnson of the Advocate on the magical 1958 LSU Season. That is where the image is from.

thankyouverymuch,

OldCleat

Miami Redhawks football ... livin' the dream

Miami Redhawks play at the larger-than-average hizzy in Michigan Saturday. This is my dream upset ... The Redhawks beating the old blue and yellow giant weasels in their place making the fans of the old blue and yellow very very sad. But, there are several problems with this dream. 1) Appalacian State came in a year before and did a masterful job in destroying the weasels. Even if the Redhawks were to beat the weasels, it would be bad but not rank as the big upset. 2) Lloyd Carr either was forced out or just had it, and the new coach doesn't run the circa-1989 pro style offense that old Gary Moeller had devised. Thus, Utah beat the weasels at the larger-than-average hizzy. 3) Daniel Raudabaugh, the Miami QB, may not have the ability to do those things to take an underdog on the road and beat a bigger-school team. He has a pretty good arm, but he isn't that accurate. And he doesn't have great feet, which is problem when you are running the spread option. So he doesn't really move the chains. And, yes, as far as it goes, the blue and yellow giants weasels offense, which doesn't look all that great, will score against the Redhawks D. So keeping the ball and moving the chains will be important to the Redhawks. A dream deferred. (Photo is from Ohio.com ... Paul Tople/Akron Beacon Journal)