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Youngstown Hardhats

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Youngstown Hardhats
Established1972
Folded1981
Based inYoungstown, Ohio
Home stadiumStruthers High School
South High School
LeagueMidwest Football League (1972–1974, 1976)
Mid-Atlantic Football League (1977–1981)

The Youngstown Hardhats were a semi-professional football team that played from 1972 to 1974 and 1976 to 1981. The team was based in Youngstown, Ohio, and competed in the Midwest Football League from 1972 to 1974 and 1976, and Mid-Atlantic Football League from 1977 to 1981.

History

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Midwest Football League

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In January 1972, owner R. James Erskine announced George Rodak as the head coach for the Hardhats, a new franchise competing in the Midwest Football League.[1] Darrell Dess was named an assistant coach in February 1972.[2] Erskine said it would cost around $100,000 for the Hardhats to play their first season.[2] They played their home games at Struthers High School in 1972, with renovations to the locker rooms and training facilities costing the team between $8,000 and $10,000 to perform.[3][4] By April 1972, the Hardhats signed an agreement with the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League that the Browns would have first priority over other NFL teams in signing Hardhats players to contracts.[3] The team held open tryouts in June 1972, with former Duke linebacker Dick Biddle in attendance.[5] They played against the Washington Bears in an exhibition game on July 1, 1972,[6] and against the Madison Mustangs of the Central States Football League on July 22.[7] The Cleveland Browns of the National Football League sent six contracted players to the Hardhats for their August 5 game against the Lansing All Stars.[8] After posting an 8–2 regular season record in 1972, the Hardhats were defeated in the league championship game by the Indiana Caps.[9] The Hardhats lost $20,000 over the course of their inaugural season,[10] and Rodak was fired as head coach in November 1972.[11]

They went 8–2 again in 1973[12] under head coach Bill Shunkwiler.[13] Al Boggia was named head coach of the Hardhats in May 1974.[14] The team went 5–4 in 1974, finishing second in the Lakes Division.[15]

The Hardhats posted a 38–6 record over three seasons. Despite this record, the Hardhats' owners announced in March 1975 that they would not field a team for the upcoming season, because of declining attendance and reports that a team from the World Football League would locate in Akron, Ohio.[16] The Hardhats returned for the 1976 season,[17] and posted another 8–2 record.[12]

Mid-Atlantic Football League

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Youngstown joined the Mid-Atlantic Football League in 1977, and, after, posting a 9–2 record in the regular season, lost in the championship game.[18] They were considered the ninth-best semi-pro team in the country in 1977.[19] They remained in the league for the 1978 season,[20] competing in the South High School stadium in Youngstown and coached again by Boggia.[19] During the 1979 season, the Hardhats were considered ninth in the country for minor league football teams.[21] They played in the Mid-Atlantic Football League again in 1980[22] and 1981.[23] The team folded during the 1981 season.[24]

Season-by-season

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Year League W L T Finish Coach
1972 Midwest Football League 8 2 0 2nd George Rodak
1973 8 2 0 2nd Bill Shunkwiler
1974 5 4 0 2nd (Lakes) Al Boggia
No team in 1975
1976 Midwest Football League 8 2 0 2nd (Lakes) Unknown
1977 Mid-Atlantic Football League 9 2 0 1st (Southern) Unknown
1978 Unknown Al Boggia
1979 Unknown
1980 Unknown
1981 Unknown

Notable players

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References

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  1. ^ "Rodak Named To Coach Youngstown's Pro Team". The Evening Review. January 3, 1972. Retrieved April 2, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b "Youngstown Joins MPFL". The Plain Dealer. February 1, 1972. Retrieved May 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b "Youngstown Hardhats Prep for Inaugural Season". The Plain Dealer. April 4, 1972. Retrieved May 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Zitrin, Rich (January 9, 1972). "He's Bucking 'NFL Monopoly'". The Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved April 2, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Biddle Looks Good In Hardhat Drills". The Weirton Daily Times. June 3, 1972. Retrieved April 2, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Grid exhibition". The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 30, 1972. Retrieved April 2, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Lindstrom, Don (July 6, 1972). "Mustangs Open Drills With 25 Vets Reporting". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved April 2, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Senyczko, Ed (August 4, 1972). "NFL Browns Send Players To Bolster Youngstown". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved April 2, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Caps Win MFL Title". The Indianapolis Star. October 15, 1972. Retrieved April 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Hardhats Deficit Is $20,000". The Plain Dealer. November 6, 1972. Retrieved May 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Youngstown Hardhat Coach Rodak Is Fired". The Plain Dealer. November 22, 1972. Retrieved May 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ a b Gill, Bob; Maher, Tod; Brainerd, Steve (2010). Outsiders II: Minor League and Independent Football 1951–1985. St. Johann Press. pp. 113–116. ISBN 9781878282651.
  13. ^ Zitrin, Richard (March 23, 1973). "Perfectionist Image Nothing New For Indiana Cage Coach". The Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved April 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Mollica, Pete (May 14, 1974). "Al Boggia Hardhats new coach". New Castle News. Retrieved April 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Midwest Football League (Final Standings)". Lansing State Journal. September 18, 1974. Retrieved April 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "A Century of Sports: The Mahoning and Shenango Valleys". The Vindicator. November 14, 1999. p. 4.
  17. ^ "Hardhats To Face Michigan Indians". The Salem News. July 30, 1976. Retrieved April 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Jets stun Hardhats, 29–21". Press and Sun-Bulletin. October 23, 1977. Retrieved April 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ a b Spudic, Tom (May 10, 1978). "Low pick disappoints Brzoza". New Castle News. Retrieved April 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Roessner, Frank (March 3, 1978). "Jets' 2-league sweat has a 3rd dimension". Press and Sun-Bulletin. Retrieved April 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Youngstown Big Test For Colts Tomorrow". The Pittsburgh Press. August 3, 1979. Retrieved April 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "3 Tie For Lead In Golf Classic". The Pittsburgh Press. September 5, 1980. Retrieved April 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Bulldogs win home opener 29–0". The Akron Beacon Journal. July 7, 1981. Retrieved April 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Steeler Fans Rowdies?". The Pittsburgh Press. September 5, 1981. Retrieved April 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Notes...off the cuff". The Plain Dealer. April 8, 1972. Retrieved May 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Determined Lowry finds NFL niche". The Marion Star. August 26, 1983. Retrieved April 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ a b "Hardhats' Next Foe Is Flint". The Plain Dealer. August 7, 1972. Retrieved May 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ Weisman, Larry (November 10, 1979). "Ex-Jet Piccone is alive and well in Buffalo". Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved April 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ Danowski, Jeff (July 20, 1995). "Piccone did NFL's dirty work for 9 years". The Journal Times. Retrieved April 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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