Posted By Mr. Eddie Dwyer

Janet and Jim Carlson, who grew up and resided in Canton from the 1940s through the early '80s, before settling in lovely Lakewood, Ohio, asked yours truly where Canton McKinley's second-year Head Varsity Football Coach, Dan Reardon, coached before taking over the Bulldogs' helm in 2015.

J &J, Coach Reardon actually started in the college ranks as a graduate assistant, first on Jim Tressel's staff at Youngstown State, and then with Cam Cameron at Indiana.

Coach Reardon was an assistant from 1998-2003 at Warren Harding under coaches Gary Barber and Thom McDaniels. He then moved on to Youngstown Ursuline in 2004, where he had tremendous success.

In compiling a record of 72-29, Coach Reardon’s teams at Ursuline appeared in four state championship games, winning three consecutive OHSAA Division V state football titles from 2008-2010.

Believe me when I tell you that Coach Reardon's state championships teams at Ursuline were talent laden.

Coach Reardon then coached in the Western part of the country and in 2014 he guided Wheat Ridge High School, where he led the Farmers to a 6-4 record.

Last year, his first with the McKinley, Coach Reardon directed the Bulldogs to a first-round Division I playoff appearance and an overall record of 7-4. The 2015 season marked the merger between McKinley and Canton Timken High School.

Hope this help, my friends, and go Tribe. J & J live and die with the "Fighting Franconas." Obviously, they're in great spirits this summer.

IT WAS A JETT-PROPELLED TUNEUP FOR THURSDAY'S ANNUAL 7 PM PRESEASON VARSITY FOOTBALL JAMBOREE WITH THE MCKINLEY BULLDOGS, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE AT CANTON CENTRAL CATHOLIC'S LOWELL KLINEFELTER STADIUM. THE VARSITY JAMBOREE WILL BE PRECEDED BY A 5 PM SPLIT-FIELD SCRIMMAGE BETWEEN THE JUNIOR VARSITY AND FRESHMEN PROGRAMS FROM SAINT IGNATIUS AND MCKINLEY.

From Wasmer Field, where the 2016 aspirations are high: Coach Chuck Kyle's Wildcats worked on their hurry-up, or two-minute offense, on Wednesday afternoon. Senior quarterback Patrick Ryan and his receivers were clicking through a partially blue, but mostly gray clouds sky that hovered over Ohio City.

Junior running backs Mark Bobinski and Matt Viancourt were carrying Mr. Wilson with vision, balance and authority, but the play of the day was turned in by gifted sophomore defensive back/receiver Jett Elad.

Jett came up with an excellent effort on a deep ball against the Varsity first unit, a play that saw him go airborne without losing sight of the ball, intercept the pass at its highest point and maintain possession as he landed on the turf in the scoreboard end zone of Wasmer Field.

LAST YEAR'S JAMBOREE: It was all Wildcats at last summer's Jamboree in Tom Benson Stadium (formerly legendary Fawcett Stadium), as Running Backs Coach Terry Fergus watched his ground keepers compile nearly 230 yards rushing. James Norris from the Class of 2016, who will be furthering his education and outstanding track and field career at Cornell, ran for 120 of those yards in the first quarter.

See you at Lowell Klinefelter Stadium, which has produced many legendary moments of its own.