Hall of Fame Inductee 2008

1st Row: Bill Schropp, Ken Higgins, John Maeder, Don Schropp, Ken Herman, Walt Scheel, Bob Guendelsberger, Harold Riedy, Wayne Fairfield

2nd Row: Bill Smith, Jack Loeffler, Ray Fitz, Jay Hennessey, Frank Steinhauser, Bob Wiesler, Norm Hoelzer, Jim Weigel

3rd Row: Bob Mitchell, Paul Friedman, Ed Herman, Owen Disbrow, George Martin, Ed Scales, Lamont Higgins, Joe Bodner, Coach Zierolf


Coach: Lee Zierolf

Overall Record: 10-0

SMCC Hall of Fame Induction Speech: 1934 Undefeated Football Team

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I am honored and humbled to speak to you tonight on the occasion of inducting the 1934 Football Team into the St. Mary’s Central Catholic Hall of Fame. Before we begin I would like to extend my heartiest congratulations to all Class of 2008 HOF inductees. This is quite an honor.

Also, I would like to thank Mike Opfer and the HOF Selection Committee for making this evening possible. Through their efforts, they have ensured that our shared legacy and our shared heritage will not be relegated to the dustbin of history. They provide the means to keep our cherished memories alive. Their work provides us the opportunity to identify role models to the younger generation of Panthers and to teach them about their storied past. For this and so much more we owe Mike and the Committee a large debt of gratitude.

Our words this evening will surely fail to capture the human stories of those young men swept up in the pursuit of perfection in the Fall of 1934. The prospect of failure, however, should not deter us from our attempts to recount their history. For you see, deep in the collective consciousness of every people is the tale of beloved warriors who, when challenged by a great leader, rise up to meet that challenge and achieve great things. In the lore of the St. Mary’s Panthers, this epic is embodied in the exploits of the 1934 Football team as they endeavored to prosecute an undefeated, untied, un-scored upon season.

This level of perfection is a rarity in the world of football as perfection is achieved by the very few. According to the OHSAA record book, only seven teams have accomplished this feat. On average, this milestone is reached once every Seventeen years. Therefore, we are gathered this evening to celebrate this combination of perfection and rarity by inducting the 1934 Football Team into the Hall of Fame. Through their accomplishments and the level of perfection they achieved, they are worthy of the honor. However, the significance of their achievements is secondary to their coalescence as a team under Coach Lee Zierolf’s leadership. Together, they ushered in a Golden Era in our school’s sports history. Let’s examine how this came about.

Attend a gathering of Coach Zierolf’s former players and you will be treated to many humorous and amusing “War Stories” about how demanding and tough the coach was and how miserable he made their playing days. Look beyond the bravado and humor however and you will detect a common theme woven throughout the tales that are told. You will discover how Coach Zierolf shaped the player’s lives and molded them into men of fine character. Throughout his career Coach Zierolf molded his players by stressing Hard Work, Team Work, High Goals and Standards, Sound Principles, High Values, Excellence of Character, Discipline and Pride. He stressed these things because they mattered greatly.

For example, hard work and teamwork mattered! They mattered for few things in life are accomplished without them.

Setting high goals mattered. Setting high goals mattered because Coach Zierolf knew that if you set your goals too low, or worse set none at all, you will be doomed to achieve them.

Pride! Pride mattered! Pride, born not out of arrogance, but out of confidence in your abilities and the abilities of your teammates. A confidence hard-won during Zierolf’s grueling practice sessions.

Discipline mattered! It mattered because through discipline you are able to maintain your focus, execute your plans, and follow through on your commitments.

Character mattered! Character mattered because character defines who you are and plays a major role in shaping your destiny.

The 1934 Football Team took these life lessons to heart. They came together as a team, accomplished the impossible, and set the bar high for all those Panthers who were to follow. In concert with their coach, they set the cornerstone and laid the foundation upon which our proud, winning tradition is built. Then, as they entered the adult world, they would go on to be loving husbands, fathers, grandfathers, uncles, friends, heroes and role models. They eagerly took their place in society and became productive citizens. They provided the labor and leadership required to make our community thrive. They supported the Church and the School and ensured that their children were raised in the Catholic tradition. When the drums of War were sounding from distant shores, many would go on to honorably serve their country. They conducted their lives as honorable men whose characters were shaped and molded by Coach Zierolf. Indeed, Coach Zierolf’s lasting legacy is not defined by wins and losses, numbers and statistics. No! His true legacy is the positive influence had on his teams and players. Upon his arrival at St. Mary’s he lit an incredible spark. And upon his departure, he left an indelible mark.

It has often been said that Coach Zierolf was a very intense and demanding person. His intensity sprang from his deep, profound convictions, his unshakable sense of purpose and his furious energy. The 1934 Football Team responded to the Coach’s motivation to excel and obtained what few others have achieved perfection and rarity. By virtue of their Undefeated, Untied and Un-scored Upon season it is with a great deal of pride that I present the 1934 Football Team for induction into the SMCC Hall of Fame.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your kind attention. Enjoy the rest of the evening. It promises to be a memorable one. Thanks again to Mike Opfer and the Selection Committee for all of their hard work. Kudos to the Class of 2008 Hall of Fame Inductees. And always, always remember the Undefeateds of ’34.

Written By: Joseph F. Steinhauser
Class of 1971
Nov. 28, 2008