On February 20, 2010, seven friends from an age long ago, got to share a laugh-filled evening reminiscing about their once proud Friday nights under the lights at Welcome Stadium. At Nick Stamas’ studio loft in downtown Dayton, seven former football players from the class of 1964 renewed their friendships forged on the grassless practice field at Colonel White High School. As I parked my car and got out, coming across the street, was Carl Woesser in his Colonel White Varsity Letter Jacket. After all these years he could still fit into it (a little snug mind you) but; still looking like he was 17. We met Mike Kline at the entrance door and the three of us made it up the four floors to Nick’s loft. With one knock on the door we were greeted by Nick Stamas, sporting his always cordial and inviting smile.

As we entered his loft, Nick immediately pointed to an interior wall where he proudly displayed seven enlarged pictures of each of us in our Colonel White football gear. The “magnificent seven” as I nicknamed us, were Carl Woessner, Nick Stamas, George Keller, John Nugent, Mike Kline, John Cromer and yours truly Jim Rowlands. Man did we look young!

After a round of greetings, handshakes and some manly hugs, the night of a thousand laughs began. One of the funniest stories and perhaps the biggest laugh of the night, took everybody off guard. George Keller made a most bizarre confession to John Cromer, our quarterback. He expressed being upset with something John had said in the huddle during the Dunbar game in ‘63. As George came to the line he whispered to the Dunbar defensive tackle that he had been blocking all night, that the next time number “13” ran the ball, he was going to intentionally miss his block and let the Dunbar player have a free shot at John. When John ran the ball, the defensive tackle didn’t believe George and missed his chance for an easy tackle. However, the next time Cromer carried the ball to George’s side, John unfortunately came facemask-to-facemask with this enormous Dunbar player, who promptly, and with the greatest delight, planted Cromer into the Welcome Stadium turf. This story, was whole-heartedly, one of the biggest laughs of the night. Even John found the story entertaining. I think? George’s anecdote had triggered an avalanche of outrageous stories that delighted us all.

Later that night we began watching game films from our 1963 football season. Every time George changed a reel, we took a beer and pizza break. During one of these breaks, George, a city league head football coach, recanted a rather funny story that happened to one of his players at Meadowdale High School. As soon as he finished his story, George, without missing a beat, dramatically pointed his finger at Mike Kline and asked him if he remembered creeping in on one of our showering teammates, and dumping a massive amount of Tuff Skin, (a very sticky substance), all over this unsuspecting target’s head. Mike, with a sheepish grin chimed in with “you should have seen his face as he tried to get the glob of Tuff Skin out of his hair.” All of us looked at each other to see if we had been Mike’s target, and happy to report, it was none of us!

As the aged football films played on, I was amazed at some of my blocking skills – saying to myself, “not bad Rowlands-not bad at all.” I marveled at Nick’s gifted running and throwing; - boy was he a gifted QB. Mike’s blocks were devastating; and in one instance pulling the wrong way; Mike cleverly added that he had just invented the “influence block”. George must have re-run that play ten times. I played next to Kline and I can honestly say he was one hell of a lineman. John Nugent, quite a force, was a hard nose running back, who always seemed to get the extra yard when needed. Nugent became our own defensive wrecking ball with his tenacious tackling of enemy ball carriers. His football exploits brought a lot of replays accompanied by “way to go John!” John Cromer’s mastery at running the offense and on occasion, intercepting an errant pass, showed what a gifted athlete he truly was. Our offense was always in talented hands with either Nick or John at the helm. George’s crushing blocks left gaping holes for Nugent and others to run through. His blocking technique was a marvel to behold.

Carl Woessner, a devastating and prolific running back, was also equally accomplished on the defensive side of the ball. He was known as a defensive force that could demoralize the opponent’s offense with his ability to seek out and crush the enemy running backs. After watching the game films, I realized, no matter what the score was, or who we were playing; my teammates were a very special breed of competitor who gave all they had on each and every snap of the ball.

That night we did not forget the other seniors, who gave so much of themselves to make our playing days so memorable. Each one holds a special place in our hearts: – Chris Pavlakos, Ronnie Stonerock, Dave Annis, Ronnie Reece, Gus Kontonickas, Ronnie House, Jeff Allen, and Bob Evans. Bob even sent me a most wonderful e-mail expressing how much he would love to be at the reunion, but living in California made it out of the question.

These were the “magnificent seven,” who, for a brief moment in time, got to re-live a part of their youth, where they were truly the power behind the “Power “I” formation.” That night in February proved to be a very precious gift to us all.