Monday, September 22, 2014
By Steve Ruman
If you have ever attended a Cardinal Mooney home football game, you are familiar with the work of Al Williamson.
Sure, you might not recognize the name or the face, but once you hear Williamson’s voice you will realize he is as much a fixture at Mooney football games as Don Bucci.
Williamson serves as the Cardinals’ public address announcer. This season marks Williamson’s 40th year behind the mic.
“It’s a labor of love — it’s something I look forward to doing every year,” Williamson said. “The coaches, the players, the fans, they are like family. I view it as a privilege to be part of this family.”
Williamson, a 1965 Mooney graduate, began his career in the press box in 1975 when he returned to the area following a stint in the Air Force. Over the course of four decades, his attendance rate has been exceptional.
“I missed a game for the birth of my daughter, and I remember missing a Saturday afternoon game because I had tickets for Ohio State-Notre Dame,” Williamson said. “Those are pretty good excuses. In all, I can count the games I’ve missed on one hand.”
Over the years, Williamson’s duties evolved into a family affair. His wife and six children have all served as spotters. He suspects that at least some of his 14 grandchildren may help at some point in the future.
Williamson said his duties are simple — inform fans while maintaining a low profile. One of his lasting memories is the time he left his mic on in front of a packed Stambaugh Stadium crowd.
“Rick Shepas catches a pass and is running toward the end zone,” Williamson said. “I am screaming, ‘Go, Shep, go!’ and 15,000 fans are turning around looking my way. One of my replacements once announced that the ball was spotted at the 52-yard line. He will never live that down.
“A good PA announcer doesn’t get in the way of the game. If we do things right, we’re only remembered for our mistakes.”
Williamson, who was inducted into the Cardinal Mooney Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010, has no plans of turning off his microphone any time soon.
“It’s still as enjoyable today as it was in 1975,” Williamson said. “As long as I’m healthy and as long as they want me to do it, I’ll be part of Mooney football.”
THROWBACK RAIDERS
Warren will celebrate its football past with a pair of throwback games recognizing the Harding Panthers and the Western Reserve Raiders.
On Friday, Harding will wear Panther uniforms which will honor the school’s football program prior to the 1990 consolidation of Warren G. Harding and Warren Western Reserve. The night will also celebrate the 1974 Harding team, which won a state title.
On Oct. 3, Harding will sport Warren Western Reserve Raiders uniforms, recognizing the former west-side school.
“It’s always nice to recognize the past, but at the same time our focus is to move on and focus on the future,” said Harding coach Steve Arnold. “We’ll talk a little bit about the Panthers and about Western Reserve. We’ll let our guys know what those jerseys represent, because it is a big part of Warren’s history. But at the same time, we have to move forward.”
Arnold, a 1982 Harding graduate, wore the Panthers uniform during his high school career.
“It’s funny because some people are still so passionate about the Panthers and Raiders and the colors and such,” Arnold said. “The kids playing today, they weren’t even thought of when we had two football programs. They have only ever known the Warren G. Harding Raiders.
“It’s nice to embrace the past, but we also have to keep things in perspective.”
STRIVING FOR PERFECTION
The Mahoning Valley has had at least one team log an undefeated season in each of the past 15 years. If the trend is going to continue in 2014, it will have to be accomplished by one of four schools — Hubbard, Poland, McDonald or Western Reserve. The four are the only area schools which have managed to start the season 4-0.
The number of undefeated teams will shrink by at least one this week when Hubbard travels to Poland. Another unbeaten is guaranteed to fall by Oct. 3, when McDonald visits Western Reserve.
Hubbard and Western Reserve both went 10-0 last year. McDonald last posted an undefeated season in 2009, while Poland accomplished the feat in 1999. That year, the Bulldogs went 15-0 en route to a state championship.
Last year, seven area teams were 4-0 at this point in the season. Austintown Fitch and South Range joined Hubbard and Western Reserve in going 10-0.