The Oregon adventure was truly a unique experience
Oregon is one of the few states I had never visited, so I didn’t hesitate to make the long trip, accompanied by Gary Vogt and Linda Sasavicz, both members of the Massillon Football Museum group, and Linda’s husband Harold. What a great time we had, especially when we attended the Massillon vs. NFL Academy-London football game and interacted with the many well-known Tiger fans.
On Wednesday we flew from Cleveland to Chicago Midway (1 hour) and then two hours later (4 hours) to Portland, Oregon. On the way I snapped a photo of Mount Adams with the infamous Mount St. Helens looming in the background. The trip was uneventful, although it seemed long, especially when a 400 pound (no joke) person took the middle seat between Gary and me. It was a bit exhausting, of course. But we arrived safely.
The drive to the Beaverton Comfort Inn was 30 minutes but involved five different highways. We concluded that there are no straight roads in Oregon. Thanks to Gary for driving while I navigated.
Game day. Up pretty early because of the 3 hour time difference. Then a long wait until breakfast at the hotel at 6:00am. At 9:30am we gathered in the parking lot after getting dressed up in Tiger gear and all we heard was “TIG”. Of course we answered “ERS” only to meet Big Mike’s mom. What a cheerful woman she is. After a few photos we headed off to our morning destination, Raptor Ridge Winery, which is at the end of a very pleasant drive through the Oregon hills. We passed hundreds of hazelnut trees along the way on our way to a 10:00am reservation. 10:00am? Well it’s 1:00pm so it’s certainly an acceptable time to indulge at that time of day. The wine was good, we had the place to ourselves and the views of the countryside were fantastic. We were told that on sunny days you can see Mount Rainier in Seattle, which is about 150 miles away. Unfortunately, that day was cloudy.
Before leaving Massillon, I inquired about seating at Nike World Headquarters Stadium and was disappointed to learn that there were very few seats available for the game. So we were so anxious that we arrived at the event at 1:15 p.m. for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff and parked wherever we could find one. This meant that we first had to watch the girls’ flag football game between the Alaska and New Orleans teams. Surprisingly, it was quite entertaining.
But back to the seats. Our first choice was the top row on the 20-yard line. The top row meant row 2! You might as well have sat in the end zone, where there were three rows of seats. We got the impression that Nike really didn’t want spectators at the game, just media coverage. Later we discovered a section of about 60 folding chairs in an 8-row section in the middle of the field. However, half of them had a limited view because spotter towers on either side blocked the view of the field. This was not fan friendly either. Luckily I ended up in row 3 while the rest of the group sat in the row behind and the view was fine. You just had to see the players. Still, it was packed with Massillon supporters. The remaining twenty or so Tiger fans gathered where we had started. It was said that about 220 Tiger fans were going to the game. And that estimate rose to 600 later in the week. In reality, however, it was probably about 80-90 in total.
The event lasted about six hours from start to finish, so the fans were certainly hungry. However, the only food available was a table of sweets. Very poorly planned. Again, the spectators were not considered.
As for the game itself, Massillon looked good in their uniforms and played very well for an opening game, aside from the penalties that undoubtedly prevented a running clock. A runaway victory would have shortened the game and that is something the organizers certainly did not want.
Speaking of promoters, it was a Nike classic, but it was also partially funded by the NFL, with a specific end goal: to establish professional football in Europe. They began this endeavor by fielding a top-notch high school football team to generate interest in the sport on the continent. Essentially, they used these European players as a PR stunt, while also giving them the opportunity to land football scholarships at American universities. Some make it, most don’t. But it was imperative that the team presented itself well to the public.
And then there’s Massillon. While the coaching staff went to Oregon with the goal of showing the world how great and wonderful the Tigers are, the theme of the event was something else entirely. Namely, to promote soccer in Europe by showcasing the London team. In other words, Massillon was the nameless opponent, like the one the Harlem Globetrotters face in their basketball exhibition games, the so-called team called the “Washington Generals.” Only in this situation, the opponent was the better team. That’s why it seemed like every time the Tigers had a 2-point lead, the penalty flags were waved.
Nevertheless, it was a very nice experience for me personally to be part of the game, especially from the ground. From this vantage point you get a completely different impression. The speed and physicality of the game is clearly noticeable. The players definitely had a great time during their three days on the Nike campus, one that they will remember for the rest of their lives.
As we left the field, we passed several Academy players and wished some of them well, but they looked completely exhausted. And I immediately remember looking across the field after the third quarter and seeing the entire Academy defense sitting on the bench. One player mentioned after the game that he had never been hit so hard.
Eventually we returned to the parking lot to find that the exits to the public roads were closed to traffic. One after the other. It was only when we reached the main gate in this huge complex, some distance away, that we found a way out. I guess the football game was a small thing compared to the eleven thousand employees who work there. And for them, the day was over after the three-hour game. So now the night watchman took over.
We returned to Massillon early the next morning with a lasting memory of a flight attendant applauding in support of the Massillon Tigers on the Portland-Chicago flight. What will the next chapter of this football season bring?
Let’s go, Tiger!
