RAY SWANSON | Keystoner Sebastian was best back at Sharon High

They called him "The Rose of Sharon."
That's because he hailed from Sharon, Pa. and was one of the finest running backs you'll ever see lugging a football.
Mike Sebastian had to be one of the finest running backs ever at Sharon High and that's saying a mouthful, as the Tigers have had many outstanding backs.
Mike was a scoring sensation at Sharon. He was fast, durable and was almost impossible to bring down once he saw daylight. I believe he scored 10 or more touchdowns in one contest. That still may stand as a record in Tiger Town.
Starred at Pitt
Sebastian took his football show to the University of Pittsburgh where he continued his scoring tirade. He was a member of the 1932 Panther team, one still felt by many as one of the finest in the storied history of Pitt football.
It was this Pitt team that not only had a devastating offense but a defense that shut out seven of its 10 opponents. Some of the shutout victims were West Virginia, Duquesne, Carnegie Tech, and Notre Dame, while scoreless ties were staged with Ohio State and Nebraska. They finished the season with an 8-0-2 record but were swamped by Southern Cal, 35-0, in the Rose Bowl.
Only a junior, Sebastian split the running chores with New Castle's Paul "Bulldog" Reider.
It was due to Mike's tremendous performance against Notre Dame that his teammates hung the nickname "Rose of Sharon" on him.
Turned to coaching
Following his career at Pitt, Sebastian turned to coaching and took the head coaching spot at Rochester where he coached future AFL standout Babe Parilli from 1946-50.
He then coached at Ambridge where he helped develop former NFL performer Mike Lucci.
I was chatting with former Hickory High basketball coach Steve Garay the other day and he knew Sebastian well. Garay, an outstanding young pitcher a number of years back, said, "Mike was at Ambridge when I started coaching at the school. He was a top-notch coach and a great guy."
Lucci was a tremendous linebacker who went on to play at Pitt and Tennessee and as a pro with the Detroit Lions.
From 1963-67, Mike served as an assistant to another Pitt football standout, Lindy Lauro, who was piloting the Red Hurricanes of New Castle High.
Some of Sebastian's teammates on that 1932 team included Reider, Warren Heller, Frank "Tiger" Walton, Izzy Weinstock, Miller Munjas, Art Sekay, Ted Dailey, Joe Skladany, Mike Nixon, Tarciscio Onder, Charles Hartwig, Rocco Curti, Ken Ormistron and George Shotwell.
Those guys whipped West Virginia, 40-0, Duquesne, 33-0, and Notre Dame, 12-0. The Fighting Irish came in with a 3-0 record and had not been scored upon. The Rose of Sharon was on the loose.
Buhl Club scramble
Want to have some fun?
Check out the F.H. Buhl Club's seventh Nite Lite Golf Scramble July 9 at the Buhland Golf Course.
This unique event gets under way at dusk (about 9:15 p.m.) Entry fee is $200 per team (four person) and includes a huge list of prizes and equipment for playing golf and a cart. The cost also includes a midnight buffet and beverages.
For more information contact Jeff Valentino at (724) 981-3700.