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Valley’s contributions to NFL are recognized
By Greg Gulas
YOUNGSTOWN
As part of the 50th Super Bowl celebration, the National Football League has sent commemorative Wilson golden footballs to the high schools of every player or head coach who graduated from the school and was part of an active Super Bowl roster.
As part of its “Super Bowl High School Honor Roll Initiative,” the NFL is recognizing schools and communities that have contributed to Super Bowl history and positively impacted the game of football.
Approximately 3,000 players and head coaches have taken part during the previous 49 championship contests. It’s estimated that more than 2,000 schools are being recognized.
Seventeen players representing 13 area high schools have been a part of Super Bowl lore.
Warren Harding High School has received three footballs in honor of Paul Warfield, Ross Browner and Mario Manningham. Boardman received two for Bernie Kosar and Steve Vallos.
“The process for obtaining the gold footballs was that the NFL notified all players who have played in the Super Bowl, via letter, that they were going to receive a football to give to the high school they played for,” Bill Nicholson, Warren Harding athletic director said.
“Paul Warfield called our principal, Dante Capers, and informed him that he would be giving the NFL our address to send his ball to the school,” Nicholson said. “Mr. Capers did not hear from Ross Browner and Mario Manningham, so he was able to contact them and they notified the NFL that they wanted their footballs to go to WGH.
“Warren G. Harding High School meant a great deal to me while I was growing up,” said Warfield who played for the Miami Dolphins in three Super Bowls. “I saw my first high school football game with my father in the mid-1950s and we played the Canton McKinley Bulldogs.
“Having never seen a high school football game, the excitement, lights, band and several thousand people made my first exposure a game of great significance.”
Warfield was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of fame in 1983.
“The teachers, administrators and coaches brought out the best in all of us, both academically and athletically,” Warfield said. “Any success that I have had has been a direct result of my time spent at Warren G, Harding High School.”
Steve Arnold, Harding’s current head coach, and the administration decided to accept the balls during the football banquet that had Browner and Manningham in attendance.
“Having these footballs presented to our school and listening to testimonials from two hometown players discussing the impact that Warren City Schools had on preparing them for the academics and athletics of college football will be a lifetime memory for our players,” Nicholson said.
“As for the community, being able to see these footballs in a trophy case will continue the legacy of the quality of football played at our school and knowing our town had a positive impact in the success these Warren graduates have experienced in their lives.”
Vallos, the regional director of development for the Wake Forest University Demon Deacon Club, played for the Broncos in the Super Bowl two seasons ago.
“Looking back, there was a lot of good football that was being played in the Mahoning Valley and I was so happy to be a part of that experience,” Vallos said. “I have nothing but great memories and it is still fun to reminisce about those times. “Looking back on my time and playing in the Super Bowl, it was an unbelievable season and just an unbelievable week for me.”
Denise Gorski, Boardman athletic director, said Vallos and Kosar have always represented their alma maters in a first-class manner.
“Boardman High School is extremely proud of the professional careers that Bernie and Steve have had in the NFL,” Gorski said. “We will display these beautiful gold footballs with their names embossed on them with great pride.”
Austintown Fitch recently received a ball for Jeff Wilkins, a kicker for the St. Louis Rams in two Super Bowls.
Chris Berni, Austintown Fitch principal, said school officials were excited.
“Jeff was equally excited for us,” Berni said. “Having a hometown guy win a Super Bowl as a St. Louis Ram is pretty special.
“Jeff is a very humble person and keeps his roots close to his heart,” Berni said. “We are thankful that he lives in the Mahoning Valley with his family so that he can continue to have an impact on communities through his service to others. Austintown Fitch High School is very proud of Jeff Wilkins and is honored to have had an impact on his path to the NFL.”
Some schools have not yet received their footballs. Hubbard will receive two for Dan Benish (Washington Redskins) and Anthony Smith (Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers).
“We are very proud of both Anthony’s and Dan’s career accomplishments and how they’ve represented their hometown and alma mater over the years,” Eagles athletic director Chuck Montgomery said.
The other schools with Super Bowl players are Beaver Local (Derek Wolfe, Broncos), Champion (Randy Gradishar), Chaney (Matt Cavanaugh, 49ers and Giants; Jerry Olsavsky (Steelers), Salem (Rich Karlis, Broncos), Farrell (Lorenzo Styles, Rams), Hickory (Andre Coleman, Chargers), New Castle (Rick Razzano, Bengals) and Sharon (Marlin Jackson, Colts).