By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Mogadore has been Portage County’s pinnacle of consistent excellence for decades.

Communities try to emulate the continued success by trying to recreate the formula that has worked for the Wildcats for so long.

As most would tell you, it’s easier dreamed than done.

Some have built programs that have maybe closed the gap in skill and commitment, but to this point, there is still only one Mogadore.

Since 1951, when Ned Novell took over the program and coached through the 1957 season, the Wildcats have won 77 percent of their games.

An incredible, almost unthinkable, number considering the time spans nearly three quarters of a century.

Matt Adorni was named the head coach in 2004 and currently has a career record of 202-48.

As a Mogadore graduate, Adorni said his main focus when he was hired was to keep the tradition of excellence.

“I wanted to keep the program as solid as possible, and I am extremely proud to have been able to help accomplish that for two decades,” Adorni said. “My wife, who is not from here, is still amazed that when we travel as a family, we inevitably will run into someone who will see a Mogadore shirt and instantly comment about us being known for our football program.”

The success has not happened by accident or because of the occasional special class of athletes that comes through once every few years. The success has been built through the unquestioned commitment of special people throughout the community who have dedicated their time, oftentimes volunteered time, to the sport and teaching it to the youth.

For many of the coaches, including Adorni, the connection to Mogadore football began as a youth player and has extended beyond their high-school careers and has become part of their adult lives.

Adorni has spent practically every fall night since the age of 7 on the football field.

Asked if he had ever tried to quantify the number of fall hours he has spent on the gridiron, he responded with, “That’s a great question.”

Then he tried to apply the math by talking his way through the years.

“I played 10 years of football, and I started as an assistant in 1994. Outside of birth to 7 years old, and my first two years of college, I have spent every fall at the football field. I am not even sure what I would do with myself in the fall (if not for football). The Rosato brothers (Them and Billy) and I had a conversation about this the other night.”

Someone else who could be included in that conversation is Matt’s father, John, who remains a volunteer assistant under his son.

“As you age, you really begin to appreciate the little things in life,” Adorni said. “Getting to spend time down there at the field with him before everyone else arrives is a special part of my day. He is part of a generation of men that we will soon be saying good bye to, and I love that he gets to interact with our kids. He gives me honesty and tough love, as he has my entire life.”