MANSFIELD — About seven years ago an idea for an Ohio high school football show discussing some of the state’s greatest players was winding through the grapevine.
While the show never materialized, the concept grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. I fired off a column about the state’s long and rich history with the game and named an all-time All-Ohio team. The story went out on Gannett’s national wire service and earned plenty of feedback, good and bad, names that were omitted, personalities I’d insulted, etc.
It was a blast.
But that response, and it came in from all over the country, proved the passion Ohioans feel for football. It also launched a project that has consumed me ever since.
This fall my first book was published, Ohio’s Autumn Legends, Greats from the State’s Football Fields. It’s on sale in Kindle, paperback and hardback (and I would recommend hardback for a gift idea) at Amazon.com and here in downtown Mansfield at Main Street Books and at the Richland Source offices.
Keith Publications of Arizona was so excited by the project, its first sports publication, it agreed to publish Volume II, which will come out next fall.
What struck me while flipping through the pages is north central Ohio’s contribution to this topic. Sure, you can read about Roger Staubach, Paul Warfield, Chris Spielman and Archie Griffin in these pages. They are the well-known foundations of the sport here.
But Pete Henry is an incredible story, too, and one almost completely lost to history. He is without question the greatest lineman in NFL history. The Mansfield Senior graduate anchored NFL title teams with the Canton Bulldogs, was the key player in a 25-game unbeaten streak, and had the award existed one author insisted he would’ve won the 1923 NFL MVP award — as a lineman and kicker.
Pete is the lone Ohioan and one of only eight individuals to be a charter member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame. The others in this iconic circle include Jim Thorpe, Red Grange, Don Hutson, Bronko Nagurski, Sammy Baugh, Ernie Nevers and Dutch Clark.
Henry was their peer and few in his hometown know his story. This book aims to fix that.
Another chapter that took place right here and has received recent attention is the story of Charles Follis. The Wooster product became the first black professional football player with the Shelby Blues in 1904. A play has been produced on his life and he’s also been recognized in various stories over the last few years.
His chapter resides in these pages, too.
Between Henry, Follis and just a little to the north with Vic Janowicz from Elyria, this slice of Ohio has created a treasure trove of important football memories.
Although our high school season ended over the weekend, and congratulations to Lexington and Shelby for their superb playoff runs, football consumes much of this area’s attention year-round.
With the deep and incredible history we’ve seen here, is there any wonder?
