The Oregon adventure was truly a unique experience
Oregon is one of the few states I have never visited, so I didn't hesitate to make the long trip, accompanied by Gary Vogt and Linda Sasavicz, both members of the Massillon Football Museum group, and Linda's husband, Harold. We had a great time, especially at the Massillon vs. NFL Academy-London football game and interacting with the many recognizable Tigers fans.
We left on Wednesday and took a one-hour flight from Cleveland to Chicago Midway, then a two-hour four-hour flight to Portland, Oregon. On the way, I took a photo of Mount Adams, with the famous Mount St. Helens in the background. The trip was uneventful, though it did seem long, especially when a 400-pound person (I kid you not) took the middle seat between Gary and me. It was a bit of a challenge, sure. But we arrived safely.
The drive to the Comfort Inn in Beaverton took thirty minutes, but there were five different highways. We concluded that there was no straight road in Oregon. Thanks to Gary for driving while I navigated.
Game day. Up early, due to the 3 hour time difference. Then a long wait until breakfast at the hotel at 6am. At 9:30am we gathered in the parking lot, having donned lots of Tiger gear, to hear the sound of “TIG”. Of course we answered “ERS”, and Big Mike’s mother greeted us. What a joyful woman. After a few photos we headed to our morning destination, Raptor Ridge Winery, which is at the end of a very pleasant drive through the Oregon hills. Along the way we passed hundreds of hazelnut trees en route to a 10am reservation. 10am? Well, it’s 1pm home time, so it’s certainly acceptable to indulge at that time of day. The wine was good, we had the place to ourselves, and the views of the landscape were fantastic. We were told that on a sunny day you can see Mount Rainier in Seattle, about 150 miles away. Unfortunately, this day was cloudy.
Before leaving Massillon, I inquired about available seats at the Nike World Headquarters stadium and was disappointed to learn that very few seats had been reserved for the game. So we were anxious enough to arrive at the event at 1:15pm for a 3:30pm kickoff, with parking where we could find it. This meant first attending the women's soccer game between Alaska and New Orleans. Surprisingly, it was quite entertaining.
But back to the seats. Our first choice was the 20 yard line, in the front row. The front row meant row 2! Might as well be sitting in the end zone, where there were at least three rows of seats. We got the impression that Nike didn't really want spectators at the game, just media coverage. Later, we discovered a section of about 60 folding chairs in an 8-row section in the middle of the field. However, half of them had restricted sight lines, as there were observation towers blocking the view of the field on either side. Again, not very fan-friendly. Luckily, I ended up in row 3, with the rest of the group in the back row, and the view was okay. Just the players to see. Still, there were plenty of Massillon fans. The remaining 20 or so Tigers fans gathered where we started. Rumor had it that about 220 Tigers fans were going to the game. And that estimate ballooned to 600 later in the week. However, in reality, there were probably between 80 and 90 in total.
The event lasted about six hours from start to finish, so fans must have been hungry. However, the only food available was a candy table. Very poorly planned. Again, little attention was paid to the spectators.
As for the game itself, Massillon looked great in their uniforms and played very well for an opening game, except for the penalties, which probably kept the clock from running. An elimination would have shortened the game and that is something the promoters surely did not want.
Speaking of promoters, this was a Nike classic, but it was also funded in part by the NFL with a specific end goal: to establish professional football in Europe. They began this endeavor by fielding a quality high school football team in order to generate interest in the sport on the continent. In essence, they were using these European players as part of a public relations campaign, while at the same time giving them the opportunity to earn football scholarships to American universities. Some succeeded, most did not. But it was imperative that the team be well presented to viewers.
Then there was Massillon. While the coaching staff went to Oregon with the goal of showing the world how great and wonderful the Tigers are, the theme of the event was something else entirely. It was about promoting soccer in Europe by showcasing the team from London. In other words, Massillon was that nameless opponent like the one the Harlem Globetrotters play in their basketball exhibitions, the team nicknamed the “Washington Generals.” Except in this situation, the opponent was the better team. That’s why it seemed like every time the Tigers were up by two points, the penalty flags started flying.
Nevertheless, it was a very enjoyable experience to watch the game, especially from the ground. It has a completely different feel from that vantage point. The speed and physicality of the game is really evident. The players certainly had a great time during their three days on the Nike campus, a moment they will remember for the rest of their lives.
As we were leaving the field, we passed several Academy players and wished them luck. But they looked completely exhausted. And I immediately remembered looking across the field after the third quarter to find the entire Academy defense sitting on the bench. One player mentioned after the game that he had never been hit so hard.
Eventually we returned to the parking lot to find that the exits to the public roads were closed to traffic. One after the other. It was only when we reached the main gate, some distance away from this huge complex of several buildings, that we found an exit. I suppose the football game was a small affair compared to the eleven thousand employees working there. And their day was over for them by the end of the three-hour game. So night security was now in charge.
The next morning, we returned to Massillon, with memories of one of the Portland-Chicago flight attendants shouting out support for the Massillon Tigers. What does the next chapter of this football season hold?
Go Tigers!
