[ back ]
Tiger alumni remain die-hard football fans
(by Jenna Berris - December 15, 2010)
Tiger alumni remain die-hard football fans
By JENNA BERRIS
Three Chagrin Falls High School alumni who once played on the field stood on the sidelines as their sons and the rest of the Tigers' football team swept through the playoffs to compete in the Division IV state championship.
And although the team took the title of runner-up both this year and last year, these three fathers are proud of how far this team has come.
Roger Vasey, of Chagrin Falls, watched his son play the same game, for the same school almost 40 years after he did. However, Vasey said that the whole idea of the football state championship was not the same when he played for Chagrin Falls.
"They did not have playoffs until my senior year, 1972, when the state of Ohio only took four teams. We did not make it to the playoffs, but our team was undefeated two years in a row," Vasey said.
Vasey, who played guard and defensive back, watched his son, junior Tom Vasey, play both tailback and, like his father, defensive back this season.
Vasey celebrated the success of his son and his son's teammates even if he is the coach Kenston High School football team.
"It's been great for the community," he said, "When these kids are older, they can look back on this. It's hard to win football games, so this was outstanding."
Steve Diedrich played for the Chagrin Falls nearly a decade after Vasey, but both played under coach John Piai.
Diedrich played receiver in 1980 and 1981. Similar to Vasey's time on the team, he and his teammates went almost undefeated during his high school career.
"My junior and senior year record was 8-2, but we never made it to the playoffs," Diedrich said.
Diedrich, who lives in Chagrin Falls, is a painting contractor.
"In theory, I never really left," said Dietrich, who has followed the football team since his glory days.
"In all of these years, this is the biggest thing that's been around here," he said, "There is something to be said about the teams."
Diedrich's son, Spencer, just wrapped up his senior football season as a receiver and a defensive cornerback, and has no plans to play in college.
A former teammate of Diedrich, quarterback and cornerback Bill Porter, said their team "did not have a snip at the playoffs".
"Out biggest thing was that we tied Solon," Porter said, "And we finished second in the CVC all three years."
Porter's son, quarterback Tim Porter, is undecided on whether he will play football in college.
Either way, his father, who has been a Chagrin Falls football fan since he graced the field almost 30 years ago, is thrilled with his son and his team members.
"It's been fun to watch," Porter said. "And it's special because we played on the same field and some of the old coaches and people are still around like John Piai and Lenny May. John Piai even addressed the team at one of their Thursday night dinners."
Porter attended Indiana University where he obtained a degree in business. He now lives in South Russell and is a project manager for Snavely Development Co.
Diedrich and Porter both coached their sons on Chagrin Athletic Association football teams.
"It's been good too see these boys playing together since they were younger," Diedrich said.
[ back ]
