Saturday, March 31, 2007
Former coach Al Boggia said team owner Jim Erskine paid for everything.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
LOWELLVILLE -- Al Boggia likes to repeat the remark one of his former Youngstown Hardhats players made to describe the team's collective desire to persist despite financial hardships during their semi-pro football existence.
While attending a local Curbstone Coaches Association luncheon back in the 1970s, Boggia, as head coach, and some of players were guests.
One player was asked why the men practiced and played for peanuts once the team was no longer properly funded.
"We don't care," Boggia said, recalling the comment made by the player. "We'd play on asphalt if we had to."
It was verbal affirmation of the reason the twenty- and thirty-something players trudged onward during an existence from 1972 until the team's disbanding in 1981.
Now that the Mahoning Valley Thunder is on the scene, it should end a 27-year hiatus of area semi-pro or minor league teams destined for some longevity.
The Hardhats were successful on the field and gained some measure of credibility during its heyday, thanks to ownership under Jim Erskine and his construction/excavation business.
"He was a diehard sportsman," Boggia said of the team owner in the Hardats' formative years.
Boggia, who will be 83 in July, estimated that the team won three or four Midwest Football League and Mid-Atlantic Football League championships during his eight years as coach.
Before Boggia joined the Hardhats as an assistant in 1972, Bill Shunkwiler of Warren was the team's first head coach. Shunkwiler got a position with a pro scouting organization and Boggia took over in 1974.
Inherit team from Erskine
A few years later, Erskine gave up control of the team, but turned the equipment over to the players and permitted continued use of the Hardhats name.
The Hardhats were a mix of former college and high school players who still had a yen and strong body to contribute to the game. As is the case with the Thunder, Hardhats players from out of town were offered jobs during the season.
At first, the Hardhats roster included some players from outside the area, but, eventually, the team's makeup was mostly home-grown talent.
At first, a starter's pay was 50 a game, while reserves got 25.
"That wasn't great money," Boggia said, "but we had some good athletes and our guys held their own."
Youngstown's games were against teams throughout a five-state region and Canada. Tickets cost 3.
The coach remembers the Hardhats traveling to play Tonawanda, N.Y., a team that was the strongest defensive minor league team on the East Coast, according to Pro Football Weekly magazine.
Tonawanda had beaten the Pittsburgh Ironmen, 3-0, and the magazine was anxious to have it followed by a Tonawanda-Youngstown matchup.
"They wanted us to rearrange our schedule," Boggia said of accommodating the publication.
& quot;We had a pretty good crowd up there," Boggia said of the game, which he believes was in 1975. The Hardhats won, 42-25.
Tonawanda wanted revenge, but in a rematch, Youngstown won by 25 points at Struthers High's stadium.
Campbell, Lowellville, too
Struthers was the Hardhats' home field, but the team also used Campbell Memorial's stadium and Lowellville High, too.
In 1978, the Hardhats were invited to play in Canada.
"We were asked by the owner of a Canadian Football League franchise to play that team's farm club, the Etobioke Argonauts," Boggia said. "He said he'd take care of the costs."
However, one half had to be played under CFL rules and the other under U.S. rules.
"We said we'd play the Canadian rules first," Boggia said of differences that allow 12 men and liberal movement on offense.
In preparation for the game, Boggia didn't want to confuse his players, so he didn't install any special plays.
During the game, when Youngstown was on offense, Boggia used a receiver as his 12th player.
& quot;I told him to just run a route, but stay out of the way of our other guys."
Defensively, the Hardhats were distracted by several players in motion at one time.
"It was highly deceptive," Boggia said of the Canadian team's offensive look before the snap of the ball.
Although Youngstown was accustomed to man-to-man coverage, Boggia instructed his secondary to play zone.
"We played zone to start, but our guys were getting caught out of position because they were used to man-to-man."
The Hardhats were also zapped by penalties on punt and kick returns because they were tackling without regard to the Canadian rule that allows a return man his 5-yard cushion before a catch.
Youngstown trailed at halftime, 25-6, but rebounded under U.S. rules to win, 42-25.
"They didn't score again after the half," Boggia said.
Erskine moved to Florida and later passed away.
Paid for everything
"Everything came out of his pocket," Boggia said of game pay, food and transportation. "He was a good owner."
Boggia believes that Erskine made money at first, but then saw it dwindle away as game attendance slipped, while expenses remained constant.
There was no team in 1975. Once the players lost their financial backbone, they were practically on their own.
"We had to bite the bullet after that," Boggia said.
"We had to scrape. But it was pure love of the game that kept the guys going."
When the team reorganized, several community groups and individuals helped monetarily.
When NFL players struck training camp in the summer of 1974, Youngstown lost 11 players to various teams.
"They were getting 300 a week to try out," Boggia said.
Two Hardhats -- Lou Piccone (Buffalo Bills) and Quentin Lowry (Redskins) -- played in the NFL. Lowry was in a Super Bowl.
Boggia believes the Thunder has a good chance at survival beyond this season.
"I think it can work out because this area is football-minded. As long as it doesn't get in the way of high school football and gets publicity. It's a microcosm of the bigger game, but the athleticism and hitting is there. I think people enjoy that. I think it'll work."
bassetti@vindy.com