081723...R NILES 1963...Niles...08-17-23...Niles Head Coach Jim Parry, center, shakes the hands of former teammates on the 1963 Niles McKinley High School State Champion Football Team...From left: Joe Lukz, Tony Flarey, Steve Sisko, Jim Futey, Parry, Dave Pappada, Frank Lukz and Ray Muche...by R. Michael Semple

NILES — As members of the 1963 Niles McKinley state champion football team walked throughout Bo Rein stadium before the Red Dragons’ game Thursday night against the Howland Tigers, the respect for what is considered one of the greatest teams in the history of Trumbull County still could be felt.

“You guys are my heroes,” a fan yelled to the former players as they stood under the bleachers before the game.

The players from the 1963 team were honored on the field during a pregame ceremony.

Before the festivities, the men were shown the new locker room and weight facilities used by the current Dragon players.

McKinley’s weight room is packed with dumbbells, numerous squat racks and other equipment to help the team be as ready as they can be for game time.

In the locker room, pads and helmets were spread about neatly. Some of the newest helmet models cost upward of $800.

The history of the program was painted along the top of the locker room walls, with pictures including some from the historic teams of the 1960s.

If the beautiful training facility and locker room wasn’t enough, the Dragons of the past then were informed that varsity practices are filmed using drone technology, so that players can review their technique, seemingly in an instant, sometimes even on their smartphones.

“We didn’t even have hot water,” Anthony Flarey, an offensive guard and defensive end on the 1963 team, said. “It would just trickle out of the shower. We only had free weights. We used to work out in Frank Lukz’s basement. His father built a weight room down there.”

As the former players sat in the training room under the stadium and reminisced, it was clear that high school football in the modern era is completely different from the game they played growing up.

The McKinley teams of the early 1960s might not have had anywhere near the technology that the current team boasts, but one thing that the Dragon teams of old undoubtedly possessed was success.

McKinley won 48 consecutive games between 1959 and 1964. They were named state champs in 1961 and 1963. Lukz, who was a left halfback and left cornerback and was a captain with the team, said that the 1963 squad showed that success can be achieved through hard work and teamwork.

“We had a team that had very few lettermen coming back,” he said. “But we had a team that was united and worked together. Whenever somebody had an issue, somebody else always filled in and made sure we had no issues.”

The 1963 Dragons finished the season with a 9-0-1 record and were named state champs by the Associated Press and United Press International.

The Dragons were known for their defense. During the 1963 season, they shut out seven of their 10 opponents.

Ray Muche was a sophomore on the 1963 team. He played quarterback and safety. He said that the younger players, himself included, often would get to play when the Dragons had secured the victory.

“It was a great defense,” Muche said. “They would get mad at us when they’d put us sophomores in and we’d give up points to the other team.”

Tony Mason was the legendary head coach of the team. He coached McKinley from 1958 to 1963 before going on to coach at several colleges. Muche said that the team was successful because of its great coaching.

“He was a great head coach,” Muche said. “He was like a psychiatrist, he’d have you ready to run through a wall.”

Lukz said that during McKinely’s reign of dominance, Dragon game days were events that could not be missed.

“When we grew up in the ’60s, when Niles played a game on Friday or Saturday night, the town shut down,” Lukz said. “The town was fully behind the program. It was an experience you’ll never forget as a kid or as a member of a family that lived in that town.”

Only moments before the game, the former players were led out onto the field and stood in front of the marching band. As the team was announced and honored for the 60th anniversary of its title season, the fans in the stands roared.

The former players joked about suiting up and joining the current McKinley squad.

“It was very thrilling and nostalgic,” Muche said. “I just wish more of us could’ve shown up. It was a great experience.”

McKinley’s current athletic director, Marc Fritz, said he was glad to see the 1963 team honored. He believes that it is good for current McKinley athletes to be aware of the school’s history.

“I think tradition is very important in any setting, Fritz said. Being named state champion is an honor not many schools have achieved. Looking back at what those guys accomplished and their unbeaten record of 48 games and the pride in the community at that time, which created the pride which that we have today in our football program, I think it is very important.”