371:, drew a crowd of 7,000 fans. As Frolund notes, player-manager Thorpe, "who very seldom played a full game, played every minute of this one." He adds that the Bulldogs won a narrow victory in a contest where "the lineups read like a who's-who of post-graduate football, circa 1917." As sports historian Keith McClellan writes: "Although the Canton Bulldogs gained 168 yards with their rushing attack and passed for an additional 82 yards, they could not cross Youngstown's goal for a touchdown. The Youngstown defense was outstanding whenever Canton threatened to score. Howard 'Cub' Buck's drop kick from the 15-yard line in the first period produced the only points of the game. Three times, Bart Macomber tried to tie the score with a field goal but failed each attempt. Canton won 3–0." McClellan adds that the game was characterized by "head-to-head competition" between the teams' two centers,
581:, and Father Charles A. Martin, original Pastor and founder of the football team. The event received extensive press coverage including the Youngstown Vindicator, Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Catholic Exponent and local TV stations. Many family members of both the 1914 and 1915 teams were in attendance. Mayor John A. McNally, Mahoning County Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti, and Mahoning County Historical Society Executive William Lawson were also present.. Items celebrating the team were available for sale including posters of the painting and t-shirts. A
219:, the Patricians increased their squad to 25 men and began to actively recruit well-established players. As Frolund writes: "Contracts were practically unheard of in the early days of the pro game. Consequently, a player could be with a different team every Sunday. His services were open to the highest bidder each week." In this competitive environment, the Patricians managed to secure seasoned players including Ray Miller (
503:
147:
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season. With such a grand organization; one that so admirably combines weight speed, courage, and sheer ability, it is even to their discredit that do not go in quest of the titular honors of several states or the country at large." The article added:"The maroon and gray need fear no professional football team."
576:
in
Downtown Youngstown, a group of enthusiasts, local leaders, media, and the curious, gathered for a celebration to honor the 1915 Youngstown Patricians and an unveiling of a painting by noted local artist Ray Simon. Accompanied by current Pastor of Saint Patrick, Father Ed Noga, together, Simon and
390:
Tigers, with a score of 14–6. In another contest with the world-champion
Bulldogs later that season, however, the Patricians suffered a devastating loss of 13–0. Canton achieved this victory without the help of Thorpe, who was sidelined by a leg injury. Worse yet, the Youngstown team lost several of
310:
The following season, however, the
Patricians faced predictably tough competition as other semi-professional teams sought to challenge their unofficial but widely acknowledged championship. While the Patricians won a slim victory over the Washington Vigilants, they closed the season with a crippling
306:
In a
Youngstown Vindicator article from November 29, 1915, the Manager of the Vigilants, Joe Oliveri said "The Patricians defeated us fairly and squarely and we held the eastern title clearly beyond dispute. Youngstown has a remarkable gridiron machine and one that could go down through the east and
251:
football team), the
Patricians entered the 1915 season with a confidence that was soon reflected in the local media. In October, when the "Pats" faced off with a rival club from Barberton, Ohio, one newspaper account stated: "It is no wonder the Patricians have aimed at the state titular emblem this
403:
that led to restrictions on travel and large gatherings, temporarily slashed the ranks of the nation's professional and semi-professional teams. On June 24, 1922, the
Youngstown Patricians were granted an NFL franchise in the new league but were unable to raise the funds and never fielded a team.
186:
parish, on the city's south side. The
Patricians were organized to provide recreational enjoyment for the Parish boys and fielded both a basketball team and the more famous football team. The church was founded in 1911 by Father Charles A. Martin who was an earnest supporter of outdoor sports. As
420:) headed up a semi-professional team in Youngstown that fared well in regional contests. As Frolund notes, a team that was to be managed by another Patricians alumnus, Elgie Tobin, received a National Football League franchise, which had a schedule laid out for the
490:
radius of both cities, though neither team typically has a home game blacked out due to rabid fanbases for both teams. The most recent blackout from either team was the Browns having their last two home games blacked out at the end of the
187:
sports historian Vic
Frolund observes, the Catholic lay organization was designed "to advance the moral, social, and physical welfare of its members." Nevertheless, by 1914, the team associated with the Patricians Club had become a highly
307:
make trouble for any eleven they met." Also from the article: "He declared football is no better supported in any city in the United States while in very few places are the fans as manifestly fair as they are right here in our own burg."
259:. As Frolund writes: "Over a span of nine years, the Vigilants had won 90 games, lost but three, and had one tie. The Vigilants had claimed the World's Championship of professional football since 1907, defeating such teams as the famous
451:, where he played from 1918 to 1924. During his time in Buffalo he won two state titles, and nearly won two NFL titles (1920 and 1921) as the team's coach and quarterback. Much of the rest of the team ended up with the brand-new
395:. Sports historian McClellan observes that "a season that began with such high hopes ended with an unseasonable snowstorm and a modest 4–3 record." Meanwhile, the wave of recruitment that came with America's entry into
191:
enterprise that aggressively recruited some of the top athletic talent in the region. Shortly after the team's founding, its 18 players faced an eight-game schedule among other semi-professional and sandlot teams in
443:
Over the years, the nearby Pro
Football Hall of Fame has had several displays honoring the Youngstown Patricians including highlighting their championship 1915 team as well as one titled "A Parish Turns Pro."
323:
The
Patricians entered the 1917 season determined to win back the championship title and assembled a powerhouse team that appeared equal to the task. The team featured five All-Americans. Standouts included
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account have been created allowing for family members and the general public to share and learn more about this important historical pro football team. An article in the Youngstown Vindicator titled
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The Patricians' effort to regroup under coach-manager Thomas unraveled in the wake of a 27–0 defeat at the hands of the Massillon Tigers on October 5, 1919. Yet, Patrician alumnus
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424:. The project collapsed without explanation, and the team never played. While the area saw a brief revival of semi-professional football in the 1970s (just before the city's
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1098:
440:, the Patricians club—at least during its peak years—was the closest that Youngstown would come to producing a nationally competitive professional football team.
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239:), and George Vedernack (Carlisle). This power-house team was led by player-coach Ray L. Thomas, a former star athlete at Youngstown's Rayen School.
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The news report proved prophetic. That season, the Patricians won eight games and tied one. The most unexpected victory was a 13–7 win over the
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championship and established itself as a fierce rival of more experienced clubs around the country, some of which later formed the core of the
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Saint Patrick Church is still an important part of the Youngstown community and according to an article in the Youngstown Vindicator,
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Father Noga revealed a painting honoring the team titled "Gridiron Greatness", the painting features the Youngstown area,
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instead of making two East Coast trips in back-to-back weeks; both games resulted in victories for the 49ers.
462:
The Youngstown area retains a strong NFL presence today. The NFL considers Youngstown–located halfway between
200:. After scoring seven wins and one loss, the Patricians embraced a longer and tougher schedule of nine games.
499:. The Steelers haven't had any home games blacked out since the current blackout rules were applied in 1973.
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logo on the building, signifying the team's ownership by the locally based DeBartolo-York family.
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The football team was organized in 1911 by the Patrician Club, a men's organization connected to
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in 1919; thanks in large part to their connections to Hughitt, the Panthers played primarily
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A Facebook page dedicated to the history and remembering the Patricians has been created
170:. The Patricians football team motto was "With Malice to None and a Square Deal to all."
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416:(football coach of Youngstown's South High School and father of Notre Dame standout
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In the wake of this narrow defeat, the Patricians secured a victory over the
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595:"100 years ago, were Youngstown Patricians pro football's world champs?"
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the two teams have had since the Browns joined the NFL in 1950 from the
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listed Peck "as the best center for the first quarter of this century."
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and his Canton Bulldogs. The game, which took place at Canton's
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Led by manager Joseph Omlor and coach Thomas (fresh from the
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There are additional photos and stories of the team there.
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348:), Gil Ward (Notre Dame), Jim Barron (Georgetown), and
162:. In the 1910s, the team briefly held the professional
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The Sunday Game: At the Dawn of Professional Football
379:. According to McClellan, legendary Notre Dame coach
764:"Youngstown News, On road, 49ers to practice at YSU"
593:
by Greg Gulas and the Cleveland Plain Dealer titled
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1004:
898:
709:"Patrician Grids Wallop Barberton Champs 52 To 0".
478:, making it fertile battleground territory for the
363:The opening contest of the 1917 season was against
315:. Their season record was a less-than-stellar 7–4.
133:
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114:
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98:
90:
75:
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54:
40:
32:
24:
1114:Early professional American football teams in Ohio
597:by Tim Warsinskey provide additional information.
1073:Canton Bulldogs–Massillon Tigers betting scandal
563:"remains an anchor in a neighborhood of change."
158:were a semi-professional football team based in
679:. Professional Football Researchers Association
1139:American football teams disestablished in 1919
704:
702:
391:its brightest stars, including Cofall, to the
356:, who later earned fame playing for a team in
876:
8:
150:Patricians player-coach Ray L. Thomas (1915)
19:
1129:American football teams established in 1911
203:Faced with more experienced teams like the
883:
869:
861:
812:
591:"Patricians 100th Anniversary Celebrated"
432:and more recently the fully professional
486:. Youngstown is also within the 75-mile
1109:Defunct American football teams in Ohio
612:
497:Cleveland Browns relocation controversy
1099:Defunct National Football League teams
583:Youngstown Patricians Facebook account
18:
791:. Akron, OH: Akron University Press.
568:Youngstown Patricians Relaunched 2015
360:, played quarterback for Youngstown.
7:
961:Franklin Athletic Club of Cleveland
534:reside in the Youngstown suburb of
550:in between road games against the
449:Buffalo professional football club
14:
807:The Coffin Corner: Vol. 1, No. 4
484:All-America Football Conference
428:) with the organization of the
1134:1919 disestablishments in Ohio
574:M Gallery, Erie Terminal Place
1:
674:"The Story of the Patricians"
229:Pennsylvania State University
804:The Story of the Patricians.
470:–to be "shared" between the
1124:1911 establishments in Ohio
548:Youngstown State University
257:Washington, D.C., Vigilants
1155:
1119:Sports in Youngstown, Ohio
847:
830:
820:
815:
787:McClellan, Keith (1998).
753:McClellan (1998), p. 116.
741:McClellan (1998), p. 115.
732:McClellan (1998), p. 111.
711:The Youngstown Vindicator
540:Pro Football Hall of Fame
508:The DeBartolo Corporation
495:, a direct result of the
342:Franklin "Bart" MacComber
267:Pros, Harrisburg Giants,
243:Professional championship
235:(All-American mention at
832:Ohio League Co-Champions
723:McClellan (1998), p. 113
626:McClellan (1998), p. 98.
572:On November 5, 2015, at
414:Russell "Busty" Ashbaugh
330:University of Notre Dame
249:West Virginia University
233:Russell "Busty" Ashbaugh
221:University of Notre Dame
168:National Football League
124:Ohio League Championship
696:McClellan (1998), p. 98
447:Hughitt went on to the
434:Mahoning Valley Thunder
418:Russell "Pete" Ashbaugh
834:Youngstown Patricians
519:
377:Ralph "Fats" Waldsmith
354:Ernest "Tommy" Hughitt
151:
996:Zanesville Mark Grays
991:Youngstown Patricians
936:Coleman Athletic Club
802:Frolund, Vic (1979).
542:is located in nearby
532:Denise DeBartolo York
505:
338:Georgetown University
156:Youngstown Patricians
149:
69:Youngstown Patricians
20:Youngstown Patricians
579:Saint Patrick Church
506:The headquarters of
457:New York-based teams
217:Washington Vigilants
941:Columbus Panhandles
713:. October 18, 1915.
556:Philadelphia Eagles
524:San Francisco 49ers
516:San Francisco 49ers
476:Pittsburgh Steelers
430:Youngstown Hardhats
313:Columbus Panhandles
209:McKeesport Olympics
21:
16:Defunct sports team
926:Cleveland Panthers
587:YTown Pats Twitter
552:Cincinnati Bengals
522:The owners of the
520:
453:Cleveland Panthers
426:industrial decline
350:Freeman Fitzgerald
152:
137:Wright Field near
1104:Ohio League teams
1086:
1085:
859:
858:
848:Succeeded by
375:(Youngstown) and
311:0–13 loss to the
144:
143:
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971:Massillon Tigers
956:Elyria Athletics
946:Dayton Triangles
931:Cleveland Tigers
921:Cincinnati Celts
885:
878:
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862:
837:Massillon Tigers
821:Preceded by
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770:. Archived from
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472:Cleveland Browns
393:Massillon Tigers
319:Peak and decline
237:Brown University
213:Pitcairn Quakers
160:Youngstown, Ohio
107:General managers
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45:Youngstown, Ohio
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1078:Nesser brothers
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951:Detroit Heralds
916:Canton Bulldogs
906:Akron East Ends
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851:Canton Bulldogs
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205:Canton Bulldogs
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1066:Related topics
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1022:Indianola Park
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774:on 2012-04-03.
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352:(Notre Dame).
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824:Akron Indians
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816:Achievements
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797:1-884836-35-6
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79:Maroon, gray
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49:United States
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1052:Tank Stadium
1047:Swayne Field
1027:League Field
990:
976:Shelby Blues
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772:the original
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681:. Retrieved
599:
571:
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544:Canton, Ohio
521:
461:
446:
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411:
401:flu pandemic
385:
381:Knute Rockne
369:Wright Field
362:
322:
309:
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297:Pennsylvania
261:Philadelphia
254:
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202:
198:Pennsylvania
177:
155:
153:
99:Head coaches
68:
65:Team history
1037:League Park
1032:League Park
1012:Armory Park
892:Ohio League
493:1995 season
397:World War I
373:Robert Peck
334:Tom Gormley
326:Stan Cofall
271:All-Stars,
265:Jersey City
225:Elgie Tobin
189:competitive
180:St. Patrick
91:Nickname(s)
76:Team colors
71:(1911–1919)
59:Ohio League
1093:Categories
1017:Idora Park
782:References
683:2007-03-05
538:, and the
468:Pittsburgh
365:Jim Thorpe
285:New Jersey
215:, and the
139:Idora Park
110:J.P. Omlor
94:"The Pats"
1042:Luna Bowl
528:John York
514:with the
464:Cleveland
488:blackout
474:and the
346:Illinois
281:New York
273:Maryland
164:football
129:1 (1915)
115:Owner(s)
41:Based in
480:rivalry
436:of the
358:Buffalo
301:Georgia
293:Reading
269:Altoona
263:Blues,
174:Origins
25:Founded
1005:Stadia
839:&
809:(1979)
795:
408:Legacy
299:, and
289:Boston
279:Pros,
211:, the
207:, the
85:
82:
55:League
33:Folded
899:Teams
845:1915
677:(PDF)
608:Notes
602:here.
854:1916
827:1914
793:ISBN
585:and
554:and
530:and
466:and
388:Ohio
275:and
196:and
194:Ohio
154:The
126:wins
36:1919
28:1911
510:in
438:AF2
340:),
332:),
231:),
223:),
182:'s
1095::
766:.
746:^
701:^
631:^
615:^
526:,
459:.
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