The Insider

In last week’s column, while shooting down the possibility of a Vindicator jinx, I casually mentioned how coaches are among the most paranoid groups of people on the planet.

To test my theory — and believe me, this is like testing gravity — last weekend I sent congratulatory e-mails to Boardman High football coach D.J. Ogilvie (who is maybe a 2 on the paranoia scale) and Canfield coach Mike Pavlansky (who is an 11, and who actively encourages us to pick against his team on a weekly basis even if he’s playing the Little Sisters of the Poor’s 8th grade team).

Anyway, let’s start with Ogilivie. Following last week’s 26-0 Federal League win over previously-unbeaten GlenOak — as impressive a victory as any area team has had this season — I sent him an e-mail saying, “OK, OK. I give up. I’m done doubting you guys.”

His response: PLEASE keep doubting!!!

Pavlansky, meanwhile, is leading the quietest 7-1 team in the Valley.

“Let’s keep it like that!” he wrote. “No snooping around Canfield for at least two more weeks!! We have our destiny in our control, so we like that.”

When I told him no deal, he wrote, “If I had known I would have made the column by answering a sports reporter’s e-mail, I would have deleted it before answering. You should concentrate on the Lakeview/Salem game. What will it take to keep us out of the press for two weeks?”

The irony is Pavlansky’s three brothers are all coaches, and all three like getting coverage. (And his youngest brother, Tom, coaches Lakeview, so does that count as throwing him under the bus? Hmmm.)

Boardman is in position to win its first Federal League title since joining the league in 2004. (Actually, 2003. But Fitch and Boardman weren’t eligible to win a football title until 2004.) The Spartans will likely have to win their final two games — on the road against Canton McKinley and at home against Fitch — to win the league and make the postseason, and I think they will.

Like I said, I’m a believer.

Canfield is in the same position. Two more wins — at home against Niles and on the road against Poland — and it wins the AAC Red and makes the playoffs. One more loss and it doesn’t. Pretty simple.

After winning their first three games by a combined seven points, then losing to Howland by 10 (no shame there), the Cardinals have won four straight by a combined score of 143-27. I like their team.

But not enough to pick them against Poland. Mike Pavlansky, I officially grant you “Nobody believes in us” status for Week 10.

Power poll

Big schools (Division I-III): 1. Mooney, 2. Boardman, 3. Poland, 4. Hubbard, 5. Howland. Honorable mention: Warren Harding, Canfield.

Small schools (Division IV-VI): 1. Ursuline, 2. Girard, 3. Crestview, 4. McDonald, 5. Lakeview. Honorable mention: East Palestine, Warren JFK, Columbiana.

Talkin’ bands

As devoted readers of this column (my mom and my editor) know, one of my pet peeves is the ridiculous number of classic rock songs played by marching bands.

I realize there was a time when Kansas was a hip, happening band. I also realize high school football games draw a wide audience of people with varied musical tastes.

But I also feel if a band plays three songs at halftime, one of them should be from the last decade.

Since Boardman’s band is one of the few that does — you can hear both “Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones (1965) and “Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes (2003) — I asked Spartans band director Tom Ruggieri why more schools don’t do this.

He gave three reasons:

UThere are more arrangements available for older music.

UMost of the area band directors are “old farts like me.”

“We grew up with classic rock when it was just ‘rock,’ ” wrote the 44-year-old Ruggieri via e-mail. “Therefore, we are much more in tune with it than with modern stuff.”

UMost recent marching band arrangements (which range from $40 to $65 at music scores) have been either classic rock or stuff from the movies.

Fortunately, Ruggieri has the ability (and the desire) to do his own arrangements, which is why Boardman fans are often blessed with Dave Matthews Band’s “Ants Marching” (1994) instead of “Mr. Roboto” (1983).

“Whether it’s old or new,” he wrote, “I like the fact that we are going to play tunes that other directors are not going to find at the music stores.”

More thoughts

UThis is the least-interesting year for conference races in recent memory.

With two weeks left, Hubbard (AAC White), Girard (AAC Blue) have already clinched titles with Crestview (ITCL Tier One) and McDonald (Tier Two) in clear control. Only the Federal League (with Boardman, GlenOak and Hoover tied at 4-1, although Boardman beat both teams) has no clear favorite. (Stretching farther, Louisville is the overwhelming favorite in the Northeastern Buckeye Conference, while Field and Ravenna will decide the Portage Trail Conference this Friday.)

Poland, of course, controls its own destiny in the AAC Red tier.

UAfter seeing Steubenville beat Poland last week, I’m even more convinced that Cardinal Mooney and Big Red are the class of Division III.

I’d still take the Cardinals in that game, but I think both teams could challenge for a state title in any division in Ohio. Steubenville’s offense may be as complex as any high school team I’ve seen.

Big Red runs every formation imaginable, from the stacked-I to the spread, and with QB Dwight Macon (a three-year starter) back there, it all works.

UTwo years ago, I left a message for Steubenville coach Reno Saccoccia (not the world’s most media-friendly coach) to get his thoughts about playing Mooney in the playoffs.

The athletic secretary warned me not to get my hopes up.

He called me back later that day and said, “The only reason I called you back is your last name ended in a vowel.”

UHow about Lowellville winning four straight?

The Rockets took their lumps early but they’ve been impressive since getting to the softer part of their schedule.

I’ve said this before, but reporters are allowed to cheer for Lowellville on the grounds that it has the area’s best concession stand.

(And, alas, possibly the area’s worst press box.)

X Joe Scalzo covers high school football for The Vindicator. Write to him at scalzo@vindy.com.