Filleted and Fried!

Neither rain nor wind kept us TailCatters from our appointed duty - that of hosting our St Xavier guests at the fish fry. And if you add "nor bubonic plague" to the wind and rain it would apply to the game played by our Cats.



What an incredible victory for our guys - as always when these 2 play each other, the St Ignatius - St Xavier winner truly earns the win. To do it when so many were battling the flu may explain why the coaches looked so genuinely happy after the game. So many highlights: Scott McVey had a monster game on both sides of the ball; George Newrones' pick 6; Jesse Franklin's 3 field goals in a tough wind; KJ's pick; "Mule" Myers lining up at WR (I know for a fact that hasn't happened since 3rd gr flag football); Jesse Franklin's continuing streak of 3 games with at least one tackle on kick coverage (no offense, Jesse - but we may have to move that to the lowlights; ya generally don't like to hear about kickers once foot contacts ball); David Joseph's TD catch as he provided the "meat" in that St X sandwich; Mule's throw to make it happen. And how about that offense that - when everyone in NE Ohio knew they'd run it - ran it effectively till they popped the 56-yd TD! Kudos to the Oline!!


So we filleted and fried the perch and the Bombers all in one afternoon!


I can't say enough about the efforts by all us TailCatters. It's so great to have an opportunity like that to "show our stuff" and put in all the time and effort as a group with no more promise than the chance to hang together for a few hours, pulled together by our kids' common interest in playing football. Let's all pat ourselves on the back for a job well done! (Momentary pause in typing as he waits for all to pat selves. Waiting...waiting...) The St X attendees once again showed their genuine appreciation - and admiration - for our hospitality.


Special thanks to the Ambroses - Terri, specifically - for putting up with us Friday night (Your garage will stop smelling like fish about, oh - say, April. April, 2011). The proverbial bar has been raised to Olympic heights for future breading parties!


Now I don't think of myself as a superstitious person - though I'll admit to wearing the same St Ignatius golf shirt and St Ignatius Football cap to every game since 2003 - but I thought it was tremendous that Judy Martin stopped at Byers Field on the way to JCU and clipped some sprigs from the berry bushes at Byers. To bring "a little bit of home" to our "home" stadium for the day! Don't you love it?!? (She had one helluva time cutting through the turf at midfield to bury a branch prior to the game, though).












"As soon as she gets distracted, I'm going right for the brownies"


















"I wonder when is a good time to tell Ken I dropped the car keys in there again?"Our Co-"Mr Fish Fry 2009" winner"Ocho - The Next Generation"



I think this is an opportunity for a "caption contest". Early entries are:

"Patty Dowd enjoying a meal with all of her friends"

or

"Honey, the scary Halloween look is for next week"

or

"Tom Dowd is toast when she sees this!"

Week Ten: The Holy War

This is a slight breach of TailCat etiquette - we usually send out the recap before moving on (proper protocol, don't you know) - but under the circumstances I felt the need to get this out to TailCat Nation sooner rather than later.

St Ed TailCat theme: Eagle Wings

This week's TailCat will be graciously hosted by Frank and Joann Ross at his dentist office (14213 Detroit Avenue Lakewood). We'll have a large tent over the parking lot and, of course, the Mobile ManCave. It's a great setup - ample parking, 2 blocks from the stadium, a covered party area, access to toilets.

Here's the twist: given the 2 PM start time, we're going to have an informal "coffee and bagels" pregame and then the actual TailCat AFTER THE GAME till whenever. That would make it a TailPost; no, an AfterCat; no, a CatAfter; no, that's not right - an AfterPostCat?! aw, heck - it's the "First-Ever-Post-Game-TailCat"!

And we'll be ordering wings and things from the Lizard for delivery to the Ross' for after the game. Players included. Postgame showers are not optional. For the players, that is; we adults will just have to put up with each other.

It would help, therefore, to have a reasonable idea of the numbers for after the game.Given that it's Halloween many may have to or want to leave to defend their homes. Understood. The game will be over by 4:30ish; stay as long as you care, let the traffic thin out. We'll need a rough number either way -so please respond with an informal RSVP and we'll start a tally.

GO CATS!!!

Some football talk

(My apologies for the delay in posting this timely message!)

We've spent the whole week preparing for hosting the St X fans. We're ready. Now I have to vent with some football talk!!

Bring on the Bombers! Year in and year out the second-best program in the state! They've had our number in the regular season - but we started a streak of one last year that we'll continue tomorrow.

I asked my son Pat what he thought after seeing them on film; his response was something like "I think the first one to 3 points may win this thing." His comment tells us a few things:
1) they once again have a tremendous defense;
2) so do we!;
3) it reminds us of the respect these 2 teams have for one another - the winner truly earns it.

I really like what our offensive line brings to this one. This group has been intact and healthy since August - their play shows it with each passing week. St X will be VERY difficult to run on; their MO is to get you in passing situations and then blitz from everywhere and anywhere. So the battle up front will be critical.

I like our QB in this one, too (woop! woop! ManCrush alert!) I've coached or coached against Mark since 4th grade - he's a nasty, stubborn-like-mule gamer. (Heeey, I think I just came up with a new nickname for him - hmmm...) So I predict this offense will be fun to watch the next 7 weeks: "Mule" Myers; Bobby G; an expanding receiver corps with experience and depth; a tough Oline.

We'll make nice-nice to the St X fans till about 1:45. Then it's on, people!!!

GO CATS!!!!!

Week 9: Xavier & THE fish fry

It's aaallllll coming together as we count down the final days - hours - to the fish fry. And kick off!!

Bob Ambrose and Ed Martin, in particular, are doing a heckuva job coordinating this. Here are some details for the rest of us:

1) turkey fryers - I have Ambrose, Martin, Finnegan, Gatian, Ross, Paoletta as having committed to providing fryers on Saturday. We're assuming you will supply your own propane .


2) canopies/tents - it's going to rain. If you can provide a canopy, bring it. JCU is providing a 20' x 40' tent and a 12 x 25' tent so we will have cover - but can't have too much.


3) tables - if you have them, bring them. JCU offered us theirs but they're the wooden ones that weigh 3,000 lbs and we'd have to haul them to and from storage.


4) if you arrive early enough with stuff to unload, we are permitted to drive up the walk and to the site to unload. Worst case: unload your stuff on Belvoir at the walkway -we'll carry it in and you can park (see the map below)


5) if you have food warmers and/or chafing dishes, we can use them. We have access to plenty of electrical service, so that's not a problem.


6) Remember:
OFFENSE = SIDE DISH
DEFENSE = DESSERT

Bring enough to feed 7-10 people minimum.


7) We will need some volunteers to dish out the perch and the burgers. I'd expect the biggest crush of people will be between 11:45 and 1:15. (We currently anticipate 435 people, not counting walkups. Oops, I forgot the "!" Here they are: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, and the "Holy shnikey!", too)


8) Location: In the image below, Belvoir Blvd is the street that runs north-south through the middle of the picture. All of the "on campus" parking - including the lot in the image - is accessible off of Belvoir. It will fill up quickly. JCU suggested entering the campus parking from the main entrance off of Fairmount Circle to ease potential congestion on Belvoir (the lot in the picture is accessible from that main entrance as well as from Belvoir) JCU provided no other suggestions for parking once the lot fills up - parking is permitted on side streets in the area. Pay attention to the signs. The fish fry location is marked in the image - we're just outside of the main entrance to the stadium. Follow the large walkway off of Belvoir, go through the causeway connecting the 2 dorms -we're right on the other side. Signs will be out on Belvoir Blvd marking the entrance.

The Ethnic Tailcat

Wow! I think we may have to go to "All Ethnic All The Time" for TailCat themes! I'm not so sure I'm kidding - that was fantastic! As for the game, it wasn't anything like I expected but - hey, back to the TailCat! Where to begin - we had one highlight after another.

It started with the dueling heaters - Frank Ross' new-fangled version vs the hardy metal propane version brought by the Martins. Heat - good. Cold - bad.Fraaaank! Fraaaa - aaaank! Mr. Ross also brought his new fryer full of some awesome home-made soup.

"Are you SURE you dropped the car keys in here?!?"

The early-arriving girls - JoAnn Ross and Judy Martin - were a bit miffed that we guys were monopolizing the heaters. So they emptied the ManCave by changing channels to male beach volleyball. We don't need to see guys rolling around in the sand in their trunks - we gave 'em the heaters.

I'm not sure if there's a connection there but - Doc Myers showed up later with a purse over his shoulder. It sure wasn't a medical bag; he doesn't do house calls.

"I'm a licensed medical professional; I should probably have vegetables with this"

The Godfather and Consigliere of our TailCat tradition - Mike Eynon and Axel Hoyer - showed us all what top-shelf schnitzel tastes like!

"OK - tell me again: How did that wedding reception get into our TailCat?!?"

Jim Anter was there and - oh wait, no - no he wasn't.

Fraaank! Fraaaa - aaaank!

The Ramoses have been at every TailCat - yet this is Fred's first mention. For a guy that's run for public office, he sure doesn't call much attention to himself. How IS that?!

Sue Ryan - come back!

Wendy is seen here texting all her friends that she's standing next to George Clooney

I started to make note of every dish that arrived - and that I sampled - and wanted to mention them all. But I know I'll slight someone if I leave them out! Gillissie's pierogies, Wendy Myers' Lazy man's stuffed cabbage, JoAnn Ross' soup, Gina McVey's svingies(?), Chris Carozzoni's meatballs. Here's a blog twist - let's open it up for "shoutouts": if you tasted a great dish, "reply all" and mention the dish and who made it. (This is NOT an invitation to tease ME! I'm very sensitive. Seriously.)

Fraaaaaaaaa-aaaaaaank! Frank!

Junior and Sophomore parents: Heed the call! Heed the warning!! Judy Martin pointed out Saturday night that - without the promise of a playoff appearance - that could have been the seniors' last game at Byers!! My god - it goes fast! 4 years. 8 weeks. Does it not seem like yesterday we were preparing to face Glenville?!? Or watching our Kittens in their first game at St Ignatius?! Make the effort to add an hour or two to your gameday schedule and come early -or earlier - to the TailCat; it's the only way we parents can make these days last a tad bit longer. You won't regret it!


As for our 'Cats, they have nothing but one tough matchup after another the rest of the way - playing playoff-caliber teams in playoff environments. Some of the best high school football in the nation - such a treat. Could we be any more proud of a group of kids that started the season with so much promise -but with just as many question marks? But now stand undefeated after 8 weeks?! Bring on the Boatmen!!


GO CATS!!!!

Fish Fry Business

The St X Fish Fry is just around the corner.

It's time to tighten up some of the details: we're holding an organizational meeting at the ABC Lounge tonight to coordinate a few things. Here are some other general facts for those that have not helped host one of these before:

This is an all-volunteer effort. We football families host and support the entire affair.
Set up on game day will start on Saturday 10/24 at 9 AM at JCU. Our site is perfect - JCU has offered us the use of their fenced-off VIP area right next to the main entrance to the stadium.

We anticipate being ready to serve by 11:00-11:15. We expect those that attend the JV game at Wasmer will arrive by 11:30-11:45.

The Friday night Breading Party will be at Bob Ambrose's house. Start time and his address to follow. It's a lot of fun - an opportunity for the guys to bread fish, talk football, smoke cigars - basically, act childish for a few hours. As with the Saturday morning event, many hands make light work. The sooner we are done, the sooner we can cuss and scratch.

In addition to providing Lake Erie perch, chowder, hamburgers and hot drinks we are asking our families to provide a side dish to fill out the menu. We're going with the "offense-defense" suggestion: if your guy plays offense, bring a side dish; if he plays defense, bring a dessert. Portion: bring enough to serve 5-7 people minimum.

If you have further questions or suggestions, feel free to call or email me. I'll confirm other lingering details later this week.

JoAnn and Judy provided the following list of those who have paid so far. We'll be collecting again this week at the TailCat. We will accept money the day of as well but obviously would prefer to know what money we have to work with and a minimum head count prior to Saturday.

LAST NAME
Carrizoni, Joe
Dowd, Tom
Gatian
Halter
Hopkins, Jim
Lavelle, Tim
Layton, Rob
Lyons
Marquard, Jim
Martin, Ed
Myers, Tim
Ramos
Ross, Frank
Ryan, Pat
Ryan, Tim
Smith, Tim
Sodd, Vince
Thomas, Kevin

All Ethnic ~ Grandparents Day!

Back by popular demand, it's ethnic week - bring your family's favorite recipe! Celebrate your heritage! And bring along the generation that passed on the recipe to you!I, for one, am looking forward to it - I've heard great things about this theme; we missed it last year.

Side note: The St Ignatius Father's Club is hosting a tailgate alongside us this week.I mention it for a few reasons: there will be a few more people on Saturday (they expect ~170); it will be a great recruiting opportunity for our TailCat!; they are charging admission to defray their costs, so we'll have to be mindful of their setup and make sure we freeloaders don't unintentionally crash their event.I suspect we'll keep our set up along the bushes and they can set up along the fence/on the paved lot.

Dig through that recipe book and start pulling together the ingredients for your favorite dish! Make healthy portions - I'm going to start fasting Thursday afternoon...

Gritty

I'd have to say our Wildcats are gritty. Despite alot of offensive fireworks from both teams - and from the scoreboard(!) (pretty cool at a HS game, by the way) - neither team could finish the deal down close. No one would've guessed that 38-yd field goal would be the difference when we hit it. We can certainly say that this team doesn't give in to the situation - slow starts have taught this team how to engineer comebacks and keep their composure with a short clock. To be able to win with a running attack and a resilient defense when points are tough to come by is huge!

With each year that I've been a dad watching the seasons unfold - they're all unique - I continue to marvel at Coach Kyle's system that gradually works contributions in from more and more players - and more underclassmen. It was great to see some of the younger guys called on and to see them respond. We know how much work all these kids put in - it eventually is rewarded! No team goes deep into the playoffs without depth and experience - it's what these tough regular season games prepare us for.

On to the TailCat:

Ed Martin and Pat Ryan were VERY anxious to let everyone know that THEY were the first ones to the Harding TailCat. Which breaks their string of embarrassingly tardy arrivals but -hey, it's a start. What they DIDN'T relay to everyone was their confusion and complete panic upon arrival. The conversation went something like: "Hooo boy! We're first! Take THAT, TailCatters!! Uuuh, OK - where the heck do we set up? HOW do we set up? How does a TailCat actually start, anyway? Does someone blow a whistle?! Fire a gun?! Recite a chant?!"

So despite the outdated satellite shot on GoogleEarth and the early arrival of Ryan & Martin's Laugh In things got off the ground.

"Tubular Meat" seemed to work quite well - lots of varieties of sausages and dogs were had by all. Joe Carozzoni struggled - there's an understatement - with the theme, however: he brought rice krispie squares. Oookaay - other than being non-tubular and meatless it worked. He was seen trying to grill a few and stick 'em in baggies...

Please send a note of sympathy to JoAnn Ross. She'll be listening to games on the radio from here on out. With each week's declining temperatures she's adding layers to her cold weather gear that would already outift a run to the North Pole. And it's only in the 50's - the forecast is for the 40's this week; I don't think Frank fits her into the family car anymore...

Sue "I-don't-want-any-attention-in-the-TailCat-recaps-but-secretly-I-do-cuz-I-keep-providing-such-good-material-each-week" Ryan was caught - on film - upgrading from sipping wine to chugging Johnnie Walker from a paper bag. Man, I'll bet she's a lot of fun at the Christmas party, huh?

Inkster. St X. St Ed. Playoffs. No rest from here on out. We TailCatters have to do our part in what promises to be slowly deteriorating conditions the rest of the way. And since tailgating is an outdoor activity the challenges will be many - but not insurmountable! It's only another 8 weeks...

GO CATS!!!

Week 7: Warren Harding

I did a double-take when I typed "Week 7"! Hard to believe we're this far into the season; we remind ourselves each year that it goes quickly but it still seems so fast!

Week 7 brings another tough matchup; another team looking to avenge a thumping on our way to #10 last year. Harding is a team with serious playoff aspirations -add them to this growing list in the last half of our schedule. Mollenkopf Stadium is a really unique place to play - not just the stadium (which I hear has been refurbished) but the sometimes "inexplicable" things that happen during games! Our Cats have to stay focused on taking care of business and improving with each week to be ready for Week 11.

This week's TailCat theme: Tubular Meat!!

As in - sausage, brats, dogs, kielbasa. If it can be stuffed in a sleeve and cooked, it counts! (Got it from a website compliments of Wendy Myers)

Our location:

As you enter the lot off of Elm, we'll park along the edge of the grass field next to the baseball diamond.

The address: 860 Elm Rd NE Warren, OH 44483

Massillon Recap

Well, I'd say we got a split for the weekend. Our Cats once again found a way to win in a game in which neither team played well enough to win but neither team deserved to lose (if that makes any sense). Both teams made critical mistakes and played sloppy at times. But what a battle. Give Massillon credit - they've clearly turned things around from the last several years. I look forward to the opportunity to see them again - in the State Semis!

Oh, and - you can call me fickle but - my new ManCrush is Bobby Grebenc.

As for the split - we TailCatters got SMOKED, absolutely SMOKED by the Tiger Faithful. My reference to Custer's Last Stand earlier this season was WAY more appropriate this past weekend - we were a small island of BlueNGold in a sea of orange and black! We have lost our way, TailCatters! Can't tell you how many times I heard "Gee, kinduva thin crowd this week". Understandable at 2:00-2:30 - but NOT 5:30-6:00!! C'mon 'Catters - time to buckle up and get in "playoff march" mode now!

Thin crowd or not, there are always highlights - and lowlights:

Frank Ross wowed the crowd with his "walking tacos". He carried all his supplies from the car in what sure looked like oversized purses. The combination inspired Tim Myers to say - I was there; I heard it - "Boy, under different circumstances, I'd marry Frank Ross".
Wendy was sulking in the Mobile ManCave till Tim promised not to marry Frank.

Jim Hopkins prepared his famous Mexican Meatballs. Agreed, there's no such thing - but you tell that to a guy who shows up in a sombrero he stole from a 6-year-old.

After we found Chris Carozzoni a corkscrew, we were going to offer her a glass but as we turned to give her one she spit out the cork and drank right from the bottle. She has moved waaaay up the list in the "All Time Top 100 TailCatters - Hard Core Mom" category.

A couple of TailCatters going over their tardy slip alibi: "OK, was it you that had the flat and I stopped to help? Or did I have the flat and you helped me?!"

Tim and Sue Ryan were heard to say "Hey, we NEVER arrive before 5:30 - what's the big deal?" (Insert multiple frownie faces here)

However, Sue "I want more attention in the TailCat blogs" Ryan DID participate in the new Mom Tunnel tradition right before kickoff. Moms Ryan, Halter, Hopkins, Dowd, Myers, Carozzoni were there at the south end cheering the boys as they took the field.

The Massillon series is, for now, over. 12-1, in favor of our Wildcats. They will be missed - Massillon fans apparently triggered some uncomfortable conversations after the game. Some sweet old bluehaired ladies in orange hoodies were giving Ignatius fans - young and old - the, ah, international peace sign. "Dad, why is that old lady holding up her finger like that?" I can offer a couple of helpful responses: 1) "I think she's hailing a cab"; 2) "Well, dear, despite the loss she still feels her team is #1"; 3) "I'm not sure, but I think she's reminding us how many times they've beaten us"; 4) "Well, dear, it's a rather inflammatory gesture that, ummm, uh - go ask your mother".

Next up - road trip to truly unique Mollenkopf Stadium. Start focusing now, people - TailCat directions and instructions to follow later this week, once we get our game faces on!

GO CATS!!!!

The 4th St Ignatius-St Xavier Perch Fish Fry

Saturday, October 24th

immediately following the JV game
(approximately 11:30 am - 1:00 pm)

at

Don Shula Stadium ~ John Carroll University

2574 Milford Road – University Heights, OH 44118

All St Xavier families, fans, alums, etc are cordially invited to the now-traditional fish fry hosted, prepared and funded by the St Ignatius football families!

Our menu will include:

Fried Lake Erie perch
Clam chowder
Hamburgers
Sides
Desserts
Hot coffee, Hot chocolate, other beverages

PM.

Cost: $10/adult ~ $5/ Child

Please make your reservation & payment at the next Tailcat (Warren G. Harding / Inkster)

This is fishy

Yo TailCatters,

As I'd mentioned, the fish fry that we football families traditionally host for the St Xavier families will be held the morning of the game on 10/24 at John Carroll. Just like a normal TailCat, we families prepare the food and host it. In this case, we also bear the expense of hosting the St. Xavier families who can attend for free.

A few of us have waded through the early stages of organizing and planning and placing orders for the fish, etc. There will be an informal invitation to answer some of your questions about the details, too, if you haven't been involved before. We will be accepting money and reservations from the St Ignatius families. We are asking for $10 per adult and $5 for children 12 or less.

It is no small undertaking in terms of effort and preparation and cost - we expect the total will come in around $1,600-1,700, about what it has in years past. Yet it's alot of fun and the St. X families have been VERY impressed each year with the operation we put on for them. So in true St Ignatius fashion, we need to rally 'round and make it another smashing success!

So keep an eye out for the signup sheet at the next few TailCats. Note that we will not turn down donations - or offers to help, or ideas for sides, etc, etc.

Stay tuned for more info.

T-I-G

E! - R! - S!

It's Massillon this week, TailCatters, and we're going to hear that chant till we're sick of it - about 2 hours before kickoff! You can be sure the Tiger faithful will show up in big numbers, will show up early, and will be very loud come kickoff. Rise up, TailCatters!!! The playoff march takes another big step this weekend!!

And the St Ignatius-Massillon match up is personal for us Dowds. The Wildcats only loss to Massillon was in 2005 during our son Dan's senior year. A very traumatic game. Hard hitting and intense as all these games have been - but the Tigers were talented and very tired of the losing streak. In a close game in the 4th quarter, Robby Parris took a big hit and dislocated his hip, lost for the season. Right in front of our bench. It was very upsetting for our kids - and the fans, as well. Massillon took possession and drove down to score the winning touchdown with seconds on the clock.

Hearing the Massillon players and fans run around Byers celebrating - for what seemed like hours - was very, very tough to take. As we all assumed the worst about Robby's injury as he left in an ambulance. I've never seen Coach Kyle look more troubled after a game.

This current series ends Saturday night - we need to end it with a loud and supportive crowd. And a win! Massillon is NOT happy about the record-setting loss they absorbed from us last year at Paul Brown Stadium. We're not happy cuz - well, cuz it's Massillon!

This week's theme: Mexican

GO CATS!!!