By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

It is a feeling.

A special one.

One that Matt Adorni has a difficult time describing.

Probably because it has been such a natural part of his life, incredibly, for more than four decades.

The feeling of football.

The weather and smells, the familiar sounds on and off the field, the calendar invasion, the conversations that range from adjustment to motivation to simple conversations with friends who have forever been connected by football.

None of it ever goes away, but by July 5, they emerge again.

Heightened by the start of a new season.

Ready to be revisited for another year.

Adorni, now 51, in his 22nd year and Mogadore’s all-time winningest (210 wins) and longest-tenured coach, has experienced it all for 42 years.

First as a youth player, as a fan watching his older brother Mike, who played from 1981-84 and remains part of his younger brother’s game-day staff, then during his own moments underneath the Friday Night Lights, then his return to his alma mater as a scout, assistant coach and as the head coach since 2004.

“I interviewed to be the head coach and got the job at 29 years old. In the blink of an eye, I am now 51,” Adorni said. “There were seven years I couldn’t play football because I was a toddler, then there were two years when I first started college that I didn’t coach, but for the other 42 years of my life, I have spent thinking about Mogadore football.

“In a lot of ways, it was every part of our house growing up. My brother and his friends, they were heroes to me.”

All part of the feeling of football in Mogadore.

The lore, the nostalgia and the history.

New versions of it being created every year.

Each building on the previous, with today’s players and families standing on the shoulders of giants.

“I am not sure that I could even imagine what fall would be like without football in my life. Growing up in Mogadore, or just as a kid in Ohio, football was important to so many of us. There were the high school games Friday, JV games on Saturday mornings and then back home to watch college football on TV, with dinner scheduled for halftime so we could get back to watching the second half.”

Adorni’s football schedule has been stuck in drive for the last 32 years straight.

He left the sport to begin his college education in 1992 and 1993, then bounced back to the sport in 1994 when then-head coach Scott Pollock was looking for an assistant freshman coach to fill out his staff. That same year, Adorni served as a scout for the varsity program, then he was hired as the freshman head coach for 1996 and 1997, then officially joined the varsity staff as an assistant in 1998.

Six seasons later, he replaced Pollock, who coached from 1992-2003, went 118-28 overall and won state championships in 1996 and 2002.

“I knew a lot about what we did here, but I learned a lot about football and other systems by scouting,” Adorni said. “Being at games, in person, learning the game instead of just watching film like many do now. Learning at the games and seeing it was such a valuable part of my experience.

“All along the way, I picked up some things, but I have always felt like I had the best of all worlds. I got to coach and learn under Scott, and I played for coach Lingle.”

Norm Lingle was the Wildcats’ coach from 1974-1991 and was 150-53-1 overall.

“I hope that I have now put my own stamp on things and hopefully somebody is able to learn something from me,” Adorni said.

Part of that group ready to learn now includes his twin sons Luke and Blake, who are freshmen this fall.

It is the next wave of Mogadore football bloodlines, which for the Adorni family, dates back to 1965 when Adorni’s father, John, now 74, first started playing varsity football.

That’s 60 years of Adorni football in Mogadore, with the game still holding them close together.

“My dad tells the kids that I may be the head coach, but he is the one who runs the show,” Adorni says with a laugh.

“The time I get to spend with him at the field is so valuable. It means so much to me. It is a great experience to have him around, first of all because he is my dad, but second because he knows so much about the game and how to motivate players.

“He really is a strong grandfather and father-like figure to a lot of players. He gives tough love and speaks honestly whether you want to hear it or not. He keeps me on my toes, too, and I get as much criticism from him at times than I do praise, but the joy of winning big games together is such an important part of my life.”

Adorni described his father as a “different cut of person.”

“He is supposed to be retired, but he still will get out and work drywall jobs on the weekend sometimes. In his mind, he is still a player, and I bet he thinks he could go out and give the team a few downs if he had to. That’s just the passion he has for the game and for Mogadore football.”

It’s a feeling.

A special one.

The feeling of football in Mogadore.

tells the kids i am the head coach but he runs the show

time i spend with him down here is so valuable. he is 74

full circle with twins on the team… bro helps on sidelines on game night truly family affair.

love it because it gives him a purpose. can’t retire… still some drywall on the weekends. different cut of person.

kids love him.

he really is a strong grandfather/father figure with tough love and honesty like it or not.

great experience to have him around every day phone conversation . keeps me on my toes.

school starts lot on my mind.

great to lean on when need something. sporting goods store.

much criticism from him at times… joy of winning big games together so important. so neat to experience it. still a football player in his mind. still thinks he could give us a few downs if he had to. his passion… sees a lot of things.

learn a lot of football by scouting i knew what we did here, but not a lot of other systems

learn a lot about wing t dissect what they were doing such a valuable part of my experience.

state finals in 96 saw some amazing football. 96 st. henry game… st. henry three scores down twice to win and just incredible football exposed

now all off video.

playoff games 3 hours from home.

picked up some things from when I became a head coach. stubborn in our ways, but jotting things down for future

not as many teachers who coach.

coach under scott was a huge influence… really best of both worlds. played with lingle … then coach for scott and saw his ways.

hopefully got to put my stamp on it and hopefully someone learns from it.

strange to think about my age and how long i have been here.

interviewed and got job at 29… now 51 blink of an eye.

feeling confident, felt like i was… kids just at the start of change… felt like a good fit for that. old guard starting to get out. biggest challenge is how you evolve through time with the change of kids. not so much kids change, society and parents change and kids change cuz of that… even in the classroom. remind yourself how old getting. LT not even know him.

There is a picture hanging in Matt Adorni’s classroom that still rushes a series of emotions into his heart.

description of tired, sweaty, eye black pictures

Memories of a time when his head coaching career was only three years old and under the cloud of pressure that comes with being the leader of the Mogadore football team could only bring.

The picture shows 2006 team captains Bobby Shew, Will Yoho, Shane Smith and Zach Daugherty clutching the regional championship trophy.

There is a reason why it is still hanging in his room all these years later.

“I just love that picture.”

Those boys, that team and that season were a sense of validation and a season that kept the Wildcats in the discussion as one of Ohio’s greatest small-school football programs.

“That third year was a pivotal year as a coach for me,” Adorni said. “I felt like we were wobbling on the tracks a little at that time, to be honest. You might be able to say that we reached the Final Four unexpectedly. We won two incredibly tough games against Cuyahoga Heights and Columbia to get to the state semifinal. I think it was a reminder for everyone that this is still Mogadore football.”

Not many would know what that means more than Adorni.

At 51, the Wildcats’ coach now in his 22nd season and the program’s all-time wins leader, has spent more than four decades being engulfed by football.

Outside of his first six years on Earth when he couldn’t play youth football yet, and two years at the start of his college education, football has been a fabric of his fall for the other 42 years, starting as a player, then transitioning to his career as a coach.

Every summer, when families and communities are celebrating the country’s birthday with Fourth of July celebrations, Adorni is right there doing the same, but he also knows that the football season is on.

early days of football… big in your family

what did Fridays feel like to you

when know you want to coach

why you want to coach

bleed green what does that mean

football in your life

football landscape has changed… even at Mogadore

share sideline with dad

when do you know the new year is here

dad played here… four year starter… first three in suburban league…Mogadore made move to pcl first year league title in 68

pivotal moment

mom and dad had brother when sophs in hs… defensive scholarship to akron played for two years… brother played

first memories being around … football manager on suburban league team.

coached by rosato family now prominent part of my staff

bro 81-84…junior lost to Newark catholic… made it final four lost to sta

matt played through youth and hs ball

2 years 92 and 93 nothing with football.

scott pollock looking for an assistant freshman coach in spring of 94. rest is history

old days cut teeth long time before make it varsity roster.

fresh asst scout 94

fresh coach 96-97

on varsity staff 98

learn a lot of football by scouting i knew what we did here, but not a lot of other systems

learn a lot about wing t dissect what they were doing such a valuable part of my experience.

state finals in 96 saw some amazing football. 96 st. henry game… st. henry three scores down twice to win and just incredible football exposed

now all off video.

playoff games 3 hours from home.

picked up some things from when I became a head coach. stubborn in our ways, but jotting things down for future

not as many teachers who coach.

coach under scott was a huge influence… really best of both worlds. played with lingle … then coach for scott and saw his ways.

hopefully got to put my stamp on it and hopefully someone learns from it.

strange to think about my age and how long i have been here.

interviewed and got job at 29… now 51 blink of an eye.

feeling confident, felt like i was… kids just at the start of change… felt like a good fit for that. old guard starting to get out. biggest challenge is how you evolve through time with the change of kids. not so much kids change, society and parents change and kids change cuz of that… even in the classroom. remind yourself how old getting. LT not even know him.

having children helps me keep me in the space of kids. not sure i could continue on without on. helps me remain aware of what kids are going through. what listen to… how they tick.

still resonate with kids because living it on my own.

still knowing and engaging the kids… good relationship with parents before they ever set foot in HS.

51 minus 7 years couldn’t play and 2 years in college didn’t coach… 42 of 51 years thinking or playing Mogadore football. obviously part of my house growing up. brother and friends were heroes to me.

football in the fall not imagine what life would be like without it. 32 years in a row.

growing up in Mogadore… just a kid in ohio it is what you did. HS on Friday… JV youth and college on Saturday.

dinner at halftime of watching college games on tv… schedule around watching it.

tougher football player than me. i was more of a thinker player. they have always and still to this day put in my head … comes down to toughness blocking and tackling basic skills to build at youth level.

no matter how we draw it up, still comes down to blocking and tackling. really they pride themselves on the physical side of the game.

big for them how it was play. vastly undersized how we learn how to play MO … fast and physical. helped with my philosophy.

college not sure what want to do… switch to education — few weeks later scott reached out about coaching.

fall of 94 all clicked 20 year old … minute out here found my path.

this is a part of who i want to be. consumed my life.

lecture hall… x and o on ancient world history notebook…

help understand the game better. stuck in own tunnel, then you explore.

fascinated by service academy stuff. reincarnated… army navy stuff. triple option fascinates.

love watching football.

reminds me of us a little… undersized disciplined hard and forward.

what means to community… pay to play this year.

alumni group raised money to help really been great … to show kids. look how much this matters.

lot of success blessed that way. one season seems like another… but look how important this still means to people you will never meet. more important things in their lives.

something to boost program….at festival.

collest come out of fundraiser story… booth football tradition. Newark catholic from 80s and couple of players from 85 team came to practice then to festival.

donated large amount money to our fund out of respect.

still matters to people.

tells the kids i am the head coach but he runs the show

time i spend with him down here is so valuable. he is 74

full circle with twins on the team… bro helps on sidelines on game night truly family affair.

love it because it gives him a purpose. can’t retire… still some drywall on the weekends. different cut of person.

kids love him.

he really is a strong grandfather/father figure with tough love and honesty like it or not.

great experience to have him around every day phone conversation . keeps me on my toes.

school starts lot on my mind.

great to lean on when need something. sporting goods store.

much criticism from him at times… joy of winning big games together so important. so neat to experience it. still a football player in his mind. still thinks he could give us a few downs if he had to. his passion… sees a lot of things.

train rolling good… talent changes… league catching up… woodridge, Streetsboro and Garfield

little less talent wise when started

staff was amazing

cat murphy 19 years not here today without his contribution.

fight through the tough early.

just remember 6-5

8-4

third year was pivotal year. bobby shew on staff… wobbling on track… fall 06 regional title.

final four maybe unexpectedly. won two incredible tough games chts and Columbiana.

this is still Mogadore football.

“take it back”

the league

the region

still have picture in my classroom of those captains holding the regional championship trophy.

bobby shew, will yoho, shane smith, Zach Daugherty

love that picture

through graduation… July 4 it’s on…

for me anyways.

Fridays still get the butterflies… feel the same still

expected to be good… pressures. felt different pressures 0-3 in Mogadore since i was born.

different now that twins are involved with me.

maturity and experience and staff unity… did great to stick together. nobody is going to feel sorry for us.