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Angle is still a fan of football in NEO
By Steve Ruman
Dick Angle may be out of coaching, but that hasn’t stopped him from keeping close tabs on the world of high school football.
The longtime successful area coach — who stepped down at Howland following the 2012 season — now resides in Florida. However, Angle spent the past two weekends in the Mahoning Valley. While here, he attended Howland’s first two games of the season. He also attended the LaBrae-Warren JFK game, and was on hand for Youngstown State’s home opener against Duquesne.
“It’s kind of bittersweet watching the Howland seniors, who I coached, and watching the guys I coached with do their thing,” Angle said. “It was strange being there but not being involved, but at the same time it was great to see how they’ve improved.”
Angle took in plenty of Florida high school games last fall. He said that while the Sunshine State produces an abundance of great athletes, he favors the style of football played in Northeast Ohio.
“Team play and overall team talent is much better here and in Florida it’s more about the focus on individual talent,” Angle said. “And the coaching in Northeast Ohio is visibly better. The players up here, I don’t know if they can appreciate just how lucky they are to have the coaches that make this area second to none when it comes to high school football.”
Angle will make a return visit to the Valley in October, when he is inducted into the Trumbull County Sports Hall of Fame.
As for a return to coaching?
“Oh yeah, absolutely,” Angle said. “I miss it tremendously. I miss game night, I miss summer conditioning, I miss the interaction with players and coaches.”
“Next spring I’ll look around, and if I don’t land a head job I have some connections (in Florida) where I could hook up with a program.”
Angle even didn’t rule out the possibility of returning home to coach.
“I’m always open to anything,” Angle said.
Overall, including stops at Kennedy Catholic and Ursuline, Angle’s career record is 263-168-3.
SOARING BLUEJAYS
A year ago, Jackson-Milton logged its first winning season since 1997. However, with seven key seniors graduating, many thought that the Bluejays’ winning ways would end as quickly as they started.
Instead, the Jays are off to their first 2-0 start since ‘97, and are looking to improve on last year’s 6-4 finish.
“A lot of fans saw the talent that we lost and figured there would be a step backwards, but a lot of fans don’t realize that we brought back the heart and soul of our team,” said coach Mark Assion. “This group, they have had the sense of unfinished business ever since last November.
“They weren’t really excited about the winning season. Instead, they’ve been motivated by the losses which kept us out of the playoffs.”
Jackson-Milton began last season with a 21-19 loss to Southington. The campaign ended with a 48-14 loss to McDonald.
“Against Southington, we felt like we let one slip away,” Assion said. “Against McDonald, we just never played to our potential. It seems like those two losses have really been a motivational push for this group ever since.”
SIDELINE CHATTER
Jackson-Milton and Sebring are the only two schools in the Mahoning Valley which have never made the playoffs. Both schools are off to a 2-0 start. ... Just 12 of the 44 area schools have managed to start of the season with two straight wins. ... Western Reserve owns the area’s longest regular-season winning streak (20 games), followed by Austintown Fitch (15) and Hubbard (14). United’s modest four-game winning streak is the longest in Columbiana County. ... Leetonia owns the area’s longest losing streak (nine games), followed by Champion (seven) and Boardman (six). ... Newton Falls, East and West Branch (1-1) have equaled their win totals of a year ago. ... East Palestine (1-1) has exceeded its win total of a year ago. ... McDonald’s 19-14 win over Springfield marked Dan Williams’ 100th victory as coach of the Blue Devils. Williams owns a 100-53 record at his alma mater.