By Joseph Beck

November 3, 2007 5:13 PM | Link to this

no THE Irish have not been tested, but that does not matter. I think that the Irish can match up and beat anybody right now! they have a terrific defence.they are playing like the true champions they are.

By C.Fisher

November 2, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this

No, the Irish have not been tested (except mildly by WLS) ,but after watching them win #10 I must say ,they do what great teams do and therefore they will test any team in Ohio except maybe the very largest D-I’s. A final comment on the ‘63 Tornados ; 44 years, Wow. By the way, the Wildcats were in the top two or three that year until the last game. And ,not to take away anything from the current Central team,who play with more speed and general athleticism than we ever dreamed of in 1963, but Mickey Hannon’s undefeated Tornados (and BTW they were also known as the Fighting Irish) were a formidable team, not unlike a number of others at Central in the 50’s. The ‘63 team had talent enough to play with any team in the state. With no playoffs or divisional separation there was but one ranking poll,and at season’s end Springfield Catholic was ranked in the AP top 15 of all Ohio high schools, having beaten some very good teams from across the state,including two highly regarded teams from Columbus, five regional Catholic teams from Lima,Dayton, Middletown , Hamilton and Newport,and three Clark county teams ( all much larger schools than today). That Tornado team was comprised of a very experienced ,and in those days sizeable 200 lb + offensive line. The defensive core of nose guard and all LB’s were Juniors, including the MVP. In fact ,at least 9 underclassmen were starters, including a freshman ,and a junior RB who set the then single game rushing record of 216 yds. No less than ten of those teammates went on to play some college ball, and only inhibiting circumstances prevented a half dozen of the “most” talented from attending college. But the heart of this very bold and self confident group was without question its seniors and its coach. Most prominent were : Copeland (captain), Hill, Armentrout, Erter, Moon, Hayden,Metzger, Wysong,and others. These were all leaders, who set aside unbridled personal pride to allow a cohesive,effective and potent team to evolve. And there was no doubt that the principle source of this teams energy and impassioned confidence was coach Mickey Hannon. In only his second year as head coach ( third overall) ,and not yet 25 years old Mickey attempted to perform all his duties as coach in a class book fashion,taking from all his experiences through college and even the Vikings first NFL year. Beyond all the X’s and O’s ,however was a much more powerful message that Mickey Hannon projected. Like a towering beacon,he transmitted an idea to his young recruits about personal pride and having your actions speak for you. I’ve read and heard of Mickey saying that his ‘63 Central team was successful in spite of his youth and inexperience. And ,in retrospect ,there may have been some unexploited means of utilizing the talent of that team. But I can say with certainty ,that no amount of experience or technical proficiency could have produced the competitive edge that Mickey Hannon imbedded in his youthful proteges of ‘63. As for being undefeated in a ten game season, it has been a fond memory. Lest we are often reminded of a great ‘57 or ‘58 team, undefeated in a nine game season, but including some teammates who won some 17 consecutive games season to season. And there is certainly accomplishment in attaining a “championship game” under divisional playoffs in the 90’s. And so , now that the Fighting Irish of 2007 have won all ten regular season games , let it stand as one of the greatest accomplishments in school football history, and one to celebrate now and enjoy as a lifetime memory. The ‘63 team’s long tenure as the last undefeated team has been a source of much fond recall and sometimes more merit than deserved, but only after a seemingly unfair twist of fate stole away our thunder, within two weeks, on an ominous November 22nd in 1963 (the day our president was killed). And while letter sweaters aren’t the source of pride they once were, I’m sure that all former CCHS Tornados and Irishmen alike would wish for the 2007 team a new varsity letter “C” that “raises the bar” with an inscription “Undefeated and State Champs” Thanks for the forum, Carl Fisher CCHS ‘65 Cincinnati 513-659-4602