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Yappi.com writer CANTON—Take a look into the hallowed halls of Canton’s McKinley Senior High School and the chills came back to this writer of what it meant to be a part of the greatest high school rivalry in Ohio. Taking a tour of the halls inside this school, it was a sight to see places around this campus decorated with numerous bits of signage along with red and black balloons attached to various parts of the school. It’s a time when the entire student body comes together for this major week in the season and only one thing matters: beating the team down Lincoln Way East called the Massillon Tigers. It was six years ago that the person writing this was in the same shoes of the students inside this high school. And at the time, no one had a greater aversion of that team down Lincoln Way East than me. Call it what you want but the peers of this writer voted him as the “Most Spirited Bulldog” as a senior in high school before graduating from Mount Union College in 2006 with a concentration in media studies. But let’s take one step back for one second. While that is a nice honor, that privilege is something that I want to defer to one person who is not with us today and that person deserves that distinction even so more than I do. If anyone who defined the real definition of a Canton McKinley Bulldog and deserves to be called the “Most Spirited Bulldog”, those titles do not belong to me. People will say this writer deserved those titles for his devotion to the Bulldogs. Let’s all be honest here. In all fairness, that one person in all reverence who deserves those titles is the late Charles E. Bowersox. And this is not a case of me putting my foot in my mouth. I humbly apologize if this piece angers anyone from the class of 2001 or fans who know me in person let alone anyone else for that matter. It was earlier this year that the Canton McKinley historian succumbed to illness after a brave fight. He was a big reason as to why this has become a personal passion for this up-and-coming writer. For four years there was one person inside the halls of Canton McKinley High School and he was visible everywhere you saw him. No one person epitomized the rivalry like Bowersox. His knowledge of the Bulldogs program is second to none. He even mentored the writer of this story for most of the 1999 and 2000 seasons. Whenever he saw a mistake in a story, he was the first to bring it to my attention. Everyone who knew him in person will sorely miss his presence. This writer also felt Bowersox’s loss. But his works will always live on in the Canton McKinley regime and there are some excellent statisticians who will faithfully do their part to keep the facts coming for proud and devoted Canton McKinley fans. And Saturday, the team will do all they can to ensure that the Victory Bell does not return to Massillon. A sign inside the school said “Welcome To Canton…Home Of The Victory Bell.” And that is where the bell might stay for a third straight year should Canton McKinley win their 25th straight regular season game. And McKinley seniors Josh Niewiadomski and Whitney Brewer believe that can happen. “This rivalry is like the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry as this is the pinnacle of the year,” Niewiadomski said as he brought a student ticket for Saturday’s game. “We don’t like to lose and we won’t lose to Massillon.” “This is the rivalry that everyone growing up in the Canton City Schools district looks forward to. You love to be a part of this,” Brewer said. “Our school is very spirited, especially the seniors. We have to defend our school.” “We don’t like Massillon and I hope we smash them on Saturday.” Inside the hallowed halls of Canton McKinley Senior High School, it’s a special week. But this week is business for the football team as there is only one mission for them and simply put in two words based on a sign hanging outside of a hall on the second floor. “Beat Massillon.” Take a look down the hallowed halls of Canton’s McKinley Senior High School and you will get the message. |
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