Football returns to the corner of Ohio and Benita for first time since 1983

By John Bassetti

bassetti@vindy.com

Gone from the landscape on Youngstown’s North Side along Elm Street are Sturgeon’s Market, Benita Shoe Repair, Bob’s Super Market, Jarvis’ Gas Station, Isaly’s, Goodman’s Drugs, Thornton Dry Cleaners, Kravitz’s and Lucy’s Tropical Fish.

Throw in the rascal Bissell Boys for good measure.

Generally, they were of the same vintage as the old Rayen Stadium.

Now that there’s a new Rayen Stadium, will it act as a catalyst for growth?

That’s one way of looking at the renovated facility that will have its ribbon-cutting on Saturday, prior to the first high school football game on the grounds since 1983.

“I have no fears about the safety of the neighborhood as I’ve been watching the progress and I’m excited to see what the space is going to be like in a new era,” said Pat Fleming, who lives a few blocks away from the facility on the corner of Ohio Avenue and Benita.

After several decades, the old stadium fell into disrepair from lack of maintenance. The weed-ridden plot added to the blight in the vicinity.

“To see it being lovingly cared for again is certainly great for us who live a stone’s throw away,” Fleming said. “Cheering is not going to bother me on any Friday or Saturday.”

Fleming is also nostalgic because she watched many Ursuline games at the old Rayen Stadium, which was also Youngstown State’s home field for a while.

“I have great memories,” she said of the neighborhood and her church, St. Edward’s, which is directly across from the stadium.

As Ursuline’s principal, Fleming said that her school will continue using YSU as its home facility, but will consider Rayen in the future.

“We are supportive of this initiative of the Youngstown City Schools and, down the line, will consider greater usage if the school board is open to that,” she said. “But we’ll play it by ear.”

With Ursuline so close to Stambaugh Stadium — a block-and-a-half walk — switching to Rayen would require some expense.

“Even though Rayen is not that far, I don’t think that’s feasible today,” she said of transportation logistics.

Catalyst for change

A man who identified himself as “Myron” was upbeat about the stadium’s potential for rebirth for the area, but he had reservations about congestion.

“It’s an improvement to the neighborhood, but I’m concerned that it may be a traffic nightmare,” he said.

From his front yard on Ohio Avenue, Myron pointed to the iron fence across the street and wondered if spectators would stand along it to watch games.

“If they don’t cover it, then why pay when you could stand on the sidewalk and watch? Other than that, I like it,” he said.

Memorable Moments

Vince Julian’s personal experiences with the old stadium span many years at various stages.

The 61-year-old Julian grew up in Brier Hill, but went to Rayen Stadium on game nights as a youth.

A highlight would be playing the chin-strap lottery alongside the tunnel.

“We used to ride our bikes up there and sneak under the fence to get in,” he said. “Then we’d wait for them [players] to come out and try to snatch a chin strap. Sometimes we got one and sometimes we went home empty-handed.”

Julian was later an All-City running back for Ursuline. He recalls an 8-8 tie in the 1967 season finale against East on a muddy field.

“It was an ugly night,” he said of the conditions.

Julian also played at Rayen for YSU in 1968 against the Pensacola Naval Base team and Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach.

“I was on the kickoff receiving team, caught a pass and ran the ball a few times,” Julian said of the game when Denny Klembara was QB and Ed O’Neill a senior linebacker.

Julian, who is about to begin his 34th year as a football official, has also worked many games at the stadium.

Building matters

City director of athletics Ed Matey said that the scoreboard will be installed on Wednesday, but that artificial turf — at $600,000 — wasn’t part of the original $3.2 million cost.

“The [natural grass] field is in great shape, so we’ll go with that for a while,” Matey said. “We’ll consider turf in the future as a second phase.”

The last 60 feet of the original tunnel remain, but the first steps in the descent before the tunnel and onto the field start at locker room-level above and behind the bleachers.

Also part of the locker-room building are concessions and the press box.

Matey said that East will play four home games this year and five next year.

“Finally, they can build a fan base and support from the community and the student body can see games,” he said. “We were playing everywhere from Columbus to Cleveland because we didn’t have a stadium. After you’ve traveled to 10 away games each season, this is 100-percent better.”

Panthers pride

First-year East coach Jim Vivo said he watched YSU play at Rayen Stadium as a 7-year-old in the mid-1970s and he also played at Rayen as a freshman member of Chaney’s JV team in 1983.

No one is happier to have a field at the Panthers’ disposal than Vivo.

“Playing 10 away games a season is hard on a team,” he said. “I equate it to having a basketball team without having a gym. It’ll be great to have our own stadium.”

Vivo expects to dress 60 to 65 players.

However, he won’t get caught up in the fanfare.

“I’m worried about Ursuline, because I know how good they’re going to be and I’m sure their kids are excited as well,” Vivo said. “At kickoff that stuff goes away and you’ve got to play football.”

Larry Kempe, Ursuline’s first-year coach, feels honored to be part of the day.

“It’s great for our kids to be part of the restoration,” he said. “We’re a Youngstown city school and they have invited us to come be part of that celebration. Our kids are looking forward to it.”

Field HAnds

Although Niles is getting a new high school built, former East coach Brian Shaner was part of a community day to spruce up Bo Rein Stadium recently.

“Players, dads, coaching staff and school officials did minor repairs on everything that needed something done,” Shaner said, noting that 40 tons of gravel were spread under both bleachers to help with appearance and drainage. The practice field fence also was painted.

“My back still hurts,” Shaner said.