Faust speaks wit:h fondness of the team that started it all By Joe Minster Press Contributor
/
:J.,. -J f..1J
He was busy welcoming recruits at Akron University, but Gerry Faust's thoughts last Saturday definitely were directed to Massillon, where Moeller's Crusaders were playing Cleveland St. Ignatius for the Ohio Division I prep football title. "I couldn't be there, but I'm looking for a good game," said Faust, the man who masterminded Moeller to 1 72 victories, two ties and just 17 losses in 18 years from 1963 to 1980. "Yes, I know St. lgnati us is considered the No. 1 team in the nation and will be favored, but I also know the type of football that's played in southwest Ohio, so you can't count Moeller out," added Faust, current Akron football coach. Faust coached no fewer than seven undefeated and untied Crusader clubs, in 1965 (10-0), 1969 (10-0), 1975 (12-0), 1976 (12-0), 1977 (12-0), 1979 (12-0) and 1980 (13-0). And six more of his teams lost just once, in 1963, the first year for football at Moeller, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974 and 1978. Like St. Ignatius, which has won five of the last six years
Gerry Faust
(1988, 1989, 1991, l992 and 1993), Moeller captured five out of six Ohio championships from 1975 through 1980, missing the playoffs only in 1978. "All of our Ohio titles have special memories for me," Faust said, "but perhaps the most memorable was the first one in 1975, when we beat Lakewood St. Edwards, 14-12, in the finals." ¡ "We were the underdogs is almost every game in l975 and we came from behind to win seven different times in posting a
12-0 record. "Then, in 1976, our kids expected to win and they always seemed to find a way to win because we went 12-0 for the second straight year." In that unforgettable five year stretch from 1975 through part of 1981, Moeller won an incredible 72 out of 73 games, a string interrupted by a 1978 loss to Princeton. Gifted athletes and excellent coaches have combined to make Moeller the power it was under Gerry Faust and continues to be under Steve Klonne, the present ¡ Crusader coach. "They've established a winning tradition at Moeller, where their young men are willing to pay the price in the form of hard work to win football games," Faust pointed out. How much longer does he intend to be on the coaching lines? "As long as they'll have me,." Faust said without the slightest hesitation. "I enjoy being around young people and hope to be coaching for many more years. "But as long as I'm in or around the game, I'll never forget my many years at Moeller High."