By John Bassetti

As master of the Ursuline rivalry, Don Bucci coached Cardinal Mooney’s football team in 37 of the games.

YOUNGSTOWN — Despite a decline in attendance at Mooney-Ursuline games, one thing remains the same: the cliche that you could throw records away still holds true.

“There weren’t very many blowouts and I don’t care who was undefeated,” said Mooney’s Don Bucci, who was the Cardinals’ coach in 37 of the games. “The game could have gone either way because it was that type of rivalry. Other than Rayen-South, it’s the best rivalry series ever.”

The teams renew their rivalry Friday night at Stambaugh Stadium. It will mark the 50th anniversary of the first meeting but the 54th game in the series.

Mooney leads the series, 36-14-3, but one Ursuline win, in 2000, was overturned and awarded to Mooney by forfeit.

Included in Mooney’s wins are two playoff games: 1990 (13-7) and 1995 (9-7).

Bucci remembers 1968, when Ursuline and Mooney were in transition between the City Series and Steel Valley Conference.

“We played twice. The first game we won big and the second game Ursuline won. We really didn’t settle anything that year.”

Since 1958, Mooney has had only four coaches: John Hudzik, Denny Barrett, Bucci and P.J. Fecko, while the Irish have had nine: Tom Carey, Jerry Hanlon, Jim Maughan, Ed Klein, Dick Angle, Scott Niedzwiecki, Jim Vivo, Dan Murphy and Dan Reardon.

“They’ve had some outstanding coaches over the years and we’ve kind of stayed pretty stable,” the 75-year-old Bucci said.

Because of the turnover, Ursuline’s identity fluctuates more than Mooney’s.

“It was perceived that Mooney was going to be a predominately running team that would throw the ball fewer than five times a game, whereas, it would depend on who was coaching at Ursuline. Some coaches, like Niedzwiecki, really liked to throw the ball more than others, but he had a quarterback who could throw.”

One game was televised live on a Sunday afternoon from Rayen Stadium.

Diminished attendance is a reality, Bucci says.

“Back when we had 2,000 students at each school going to the game, that’s also 2,000 [sets of] parents. Now, we each have 600 students. Of 600, 100 are on the football team. So the number of students attending is less.

“But I don’t think the enthusiasm of the game [has] diminished at all. The kids still go crazy over this game — decorate and paint faces, etc. Now, a nice crowd for Mooney-Ursuline would be maybe 7,000-7,500.”

The drop has been throughout the state.

“As athletic director over the years, I’ve talked to coaches all over the state and they’re seeing the same thing.”

Bucci recalled a play that may have irked the Irish coaching staff in the ‘95 playoff game.

“We were at Fitch and the field was muddy. I know the Ursuline staff thought we had a trick play with Dave Vecchione coming to the sideline [during a timeout] and then lining up as a wideout without going into the huddle. To this day, I think they think it was a trick play or planned play, but it never was,” Bucci insisted. “We were over on the sideline talking and the team had already broken the huddle, so he [Vecchione] went and lined up. Ursuline didn’t cover him and we threw the pass to him and he scored.”

Mooney won by two points.

“I think they thought we purposely did it. We really didn’t, but they don’t believe us,” Bucci said chuckling. “We just talked too long and it got too late, so he just ran over and lined up and Ursuline never saw him.”

Is consolidation a possibility?

“They still feel that parochial schools of our size (500-600) are commonplace around the country. We don’t hear any rumors like we did 10-12 years ago.”

Bucci said he thinks there will always be a place for parochial schools.

“Parents need a choice, so I think you’re always going to have a parochial. They may not be as large because of costs to operate, but parents want and deserve a choice where they want them to be educated.”

bassetti@vindy.com