Thank You

Back in April, it was announced that our 22 time State Champion Massillon Tigers filled out their 2010 schedule by adding their second Canadian opponent, the National Arts of College of Canada. The National Arts College of Canada had never played organized football before. Their coach, who had yet to meet his players, and conduct his first ever practice, seemed excited about coming to Tiger Town. The National Arts College of Canada had put together an ambitious five game schedule for their first ever season of football. Besides playing the 2009 State Semi-Finalist Tigers, they were playing a second Ohio team. Lakewood St. Edward. No, not the varsity squad, the junior varsity squad.

The kids at the National Arts College of Canada had to first learn the rules of Canadian football, which are different from the American Rules. Those rules include a 12 man side, 3 downs (not 4), a 110 yard field, a 25 yard end zone, rouge points (a single point awarded when the receiving team cannot return a kick out of the 25 yard end zone), and all the backfield players could be in motion at the snap of the ball. Then they get to come to Massillon in their first ever season, forget the Canadian rules, and play by the American rules, which are quite a bit different.

The mere fact that this debacle, masquerading as a legitimate athletic contest, was even scheduled, was shameful. It was embarrassing to the proud tradition that is Massillon Tiger Football. Many Tiger supporters argue that Massillon should not join a league, such as the Federal League, because it cheapens the tradition. This sham of a game doesn't? Is the plan that our Tigers should compete to be champions of Ontario, Canada? Two Canadian teams in the same year? The National Arts College of Canada? Was the Massillon Museum football team already scheduled to play someone else that weekend?

Fortunately, someone in the Athletic Department got a clue. National Arts College of Canada was dumped from the schedule, and replaced by Avon Grove, a big school division team from Philadelphia, Pa. Avon Grove went 11-2 last year, and reached their district semi-finals. Thank you Coach Hall and Washington High Athletic Department for not cheapening the Tiger tradition and making our team and our fans suffer through what would have been a shameful exercise which would have embarrassed all involved. One Canadian team on the schedule is more than enough.