Friday, November 13, 2015
Fortunately, Warren John F. Kennedy football coach Jeff Bayuk isn’t totally sold on superstition. Otherwise today’s Blitz feature story on Warren football might have never happened.
“Honest to God, I was warned by three coaches this week not to be a part of any Youngstown Vindicator feature story, that it would be the kiss of death,” Bayuk said.
Bayuk’s concern has to do with the fact the subjects of Blitz centerpiece stories this year haven’t exactly had the best of luck on the day they were featured.
It started with a Sept. 4 feature on Boardman’s new Spartan Stadium. That night, the Spartans suffered a 31-6 home loss to Cardinal Mooney.
Ursuline was the focal point of an Oct. 3 story. The Irish proceeded to lose their next two games by a combined score of 97-30.
The past three weeks have been especially noteworthy. Salem’s historic 8-0 start was the basis for an Oct. 23 spread — the same day the Quakers (10-1) suffered their only loss of the season.
A week later, Poland was saluted for its 9-0 start. The Bulldogs promptly lost to Canfield, ending a streak of 16 years in which at least one team from the Mahoning Valley logged an undefeated regular season.
Last Friday, Mike and Tom Pavlansky earned front-page status for taking their respective teams to the playoffs. Both Canfield and Lakeview suffered opening-round setbacks.
Even game officials weren’t immune to the tough luck. An Oct. 9 story highlighted area referees and the fine job they do in maintaining order on the gridiron. Later that evening the Harding-Boardman game ended in crazy fashion as the Spartans recovered their own blocked field goal and returned it to the end zone on the game’s final play to win 18-14.
To this day, some of the Harding faithful insist that a referee blew his whistle prior to the touchdown.
Knowing all this, Bayuk grudgingly agreed to be part of this week’s Blitz feature. However, he’ll counter the risk by wearing a specific set of clothes tonight when JFK plays Toronto in a Division VII playoff game.
Call it a game-day routine, call it superstition, but Bayuk isn’t taking any chances with his wardrobe.
“I’ve worn the same shirt and shoes all year long, and we’ve had good fortune, so I’m not going to test fate,” Bayuk said. “I do want people to know that I’ve washed the shirt after each game.”
Bayuk isn’t alone when it comes to playing it safe. Other area coaches whose teams are still alive in the playoff also aren’t about to break “routines” which have become a part of their game day preparation.
Like Bayuk, Salem coach Ron Johnson will be wearing familiar clothing Saturday when his Quakers battle Steubenville. Unlike Bayuk, Johnson hasn’t thought about sending his lucky jacket to the cleaners.
“I won’t wash it until the season is finished,” Johnson said. “Don’t want to wash out the luck and the wins.
“I think nearly all coaches develop a specific habit on game day. They are so regimented in their preparation, it becomes habit-forming more than it is superstitious.”
Regardless of the weather, Ursuline coach Larry Kempe will be dressed in shorts Saturday when the Irish play Woodridge. Kempe hasn’t worn long pants to a game since 2002 when he was an assistant at Niles.
Fortunately, Kempe won’t have to dine on liver and onions tonight. That meal is reserved for whenever Ursuline experiences a multiple-game losing streak.
“The last two times we lost back-to-back games, I ate liver and onions the night before our next game and the streak was snapped,” Kempe said. “My cholesterol level can’t handle too many losses.”
Kempe will also eat lunch by himself on Saturday, and the usually talkative coach will keep to himself until his Irish take the field.
By now, Warren G. Harding coach Steve Arnold has already likely consumed his order of pancakes for the day. Arnold won’t go without pancakes on any game day. It’s a 14-year ritual that dates back to his days as a basketball coach.
“For ten years coaching basketball, I made the pancakes at home,” Arnold explains. “This year, I alternated between a couple of restaurants.”
Being that this is the second round of the playoffs, Arnold planned on taking his routine to new heights.
“I will probably go to my mom’s house for breakfast, you can never go wrong with mom,” Arnold said.
Brookfield coach Randy Clark has by now printed up his call sheets for Saturday’s game against Kirtland. Always printed on Thursdays, and always using the same four color-coded combinations.
“I have a few more habits that I can’t explain and that I’m not going to reveal,” Clark says with a chuckle.
Imagine that, a coach superstitious about discussing his own superstitions.
Oh, by the way, Happy Friday the 13th!
Contact Steve Ruman at sports@vindy.com.