Saturday, December 21, 2002
The 80-pound team won all eight of its games in 1932 while claiming the Volney Rogers crown.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- The West Side Bulldogs are celebrating 70 years since going undefeated and winning the Volney Rogers 80-pound football league championship in 1932, and they want to hold a reunion to relive those childhood memories playing with that big, almost-round ball.
"When you threw the ball, you had to hold it with two hands; and when bringing the arm forward, you would release with one arm," recalled Frank Vitikas, 82, of Austintown, one of only three known survivors remaining from the 1932 team, which is trying to organize the reunion. The other two are Ray Popovich and Nick Wibly.
"But we would throw only three or four passes a game because it was so awkward throwing the ball. You couldn't throw the ball very far because you are small and weighing only 80 pounds, so you had to throw short passes. If it was more than 15 yards, it was a long pass."
Running with ball
Vitikas, a 1939 graduate of Chaney High who is retired from General Electric, also said it was a challenge just running with the ball.
"So whenever you run the ball, it was better to hold the ball with two hands because it was so big, so you wouldn't fumble. You couldn't tuck it in under the arm. It was almost like a basketball around," he added.
But Vitikas said kicking the ball was much easier.
"We used to kick a drop kick for the point after. And [kickers] could kick 40-50 yard field goals because it was almost like kicking a volleyball or basketball."
And, "We punted, but we had someone holding the ball on kickoffs."
No equipment
Vitikas said the players wore only street clothes during the games without any protective gear, padding or helmets.
But, "I don't remember anybody getting a broken bone," he recalled.
Vitikas said the players were 10 years old on the average, and that they had to adhere strictly to the maximum 80-pound weight rule.
He said players used to diet beforehand just to make the limit. Then, "Eight weeks later, some of kids gained 20 or 30 pounds," he pointed out.
Vitikas is hoping to find other players alive. Others on the roster were Gerald Sopko, Andy Mihalik, Steve Lesko, Maurice Kennedy, Sam Stanovich, Jimmy Pitysher, Jack Mailey, Willie Kalentis, Frank Vitikas, Nick Belick and John Tumbri. The coach was Bernard Stickle.
"When we had our last reunion 20 years, I think that there were nine guys that showed up. They sure did enjoy themselves, so that's why I am doing it now," said Vitikas.
Recalls former stars
Frank Vitikas didn't play football for Chaney because he weighed only 110 pounds, but he recalled some of the Cowboys' stars of those times -- Frank Sinkwich, George Poschner, Harold Dason and Albert Brusko -- who led outstanding teams.
Sinkwich and Poschner went on to star at the University of Georgia, and Sinkwich won the Heisman Award in 1942. Poschner lost both legs and an arm in the Battle of the Bulge.
Vitikas said he once heard Paul Brown make a comment about Sinkwich during a banquet in Columbus, when Brown was coach at Ohio State.
Vitikas said Brown was asked: Who is the best player you ever saw, and he answered: "This one kid from Youngstown Chaney [Sinkwich]. The first 5 yards he is the fastest guy I knew in all the football I seen."
kovach@vindy.com