Wow, it is so sad to see the record of the Wallace Miners football team this year. I have no idea what is going on, but it is so sad to see once proud and mighty Wallace HIgh sink into such a lowly state.
Here is the recap of this season.
Troy Aug 30
54
Wallace
0
--------------------------------------------------------
Mullan/ St.Regis Sept 6
74
Wallace
0--------------------------------------------------------
Clark Fork Sept 12
42
Wallace
0--------------------------------------------------------
Lakeside Sept 27
30
Wallace
12
----------------------------------------------------------
Lakeside Oct,4
56
Wallace
6--------------------------------------------------------
Mullan/St. Regis Oct 10
46
Wallace
0------------------------------------------------------
Clark Fork Oct 18
46
Wallace
14----------------------------------------------------
Lakeside is scheduled again on Nov. 1
Showing posts with label Wallace Miners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wallace Miners. Show all posts
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
9/11---1953 A Jewel Is Born
Yes, there was another 9/11,but this one was to be a celebration in the sports-frenzied city of Wallace, Idaho.The year was 1953, and the upcoming gridiron war had taken on a life of its own. The sparkling new showcase football and baseball fields set against the backdrop of the shimmering green hills of beautiful Silverton, Idaho was finished and prepared to begin a long tradition that is still going on today.
The lights were on, and according to the Spokane Daily Chronicle, 2,500 rabid Wallace Miner football fans filled the bleachers in dual anticipation of a great evening of both football and the birthing of a new era of civic pride in their unmatched mining mecca of Wallace, Idaho. Sather Field was born that night and the crowd roared and bragged like a new father when he sees his new son or daughter for the first time.
And yes, there was a football game, too, that night. Unfortunately, the game did not go so well as the Vikings of Coeur D'Alene High School threw bombs in the air and attacked on the ground in rolling over the Miners 18-0. I am sure the outcome of that first Sather Field game was disappointing to the Wallace fans, but I think that the sting was somewhat negated by the celebration of the new era and civic accomplishment.
One man was honored that night in a halftime celebration and was presented with a new set of luggage.His name? Mr.Norman Sather. It was Mr. Sather who headed Civic Enterprises, Inc,which made the field of dreams come true.
Thank you, Mr. Sather. You built it, and they are still coming 63 years later.
The lights were on, and according to the Spokane Daily Chronicle, 2,500 rabid Wallace Miner football fans filled the bleachers in dual anticipation of a great evening of both football and the birthing of a new era of civic pride in their unmatched mining mecca of Wallace, Idaho. Sather Field was born that night and the crowd roared and bragged like a new father when he sees his new son or daughter for the first time.
And yes, there was a football game, too, that night. Unfortunately, the game did not go so well as the Vikings of Coeur D'Alene High School threw bombs in the air and attacked on the ground in rolling over the Miners 18-0. I am sure the outcome of that first Sather Field game was disappointing to the Wallace fans, but I think that the sting was somewhat negated by the celebration of the new era and civic accomplishment.
One man was honored that night in a halftime celebration and was presented with a new set of luggage.His name? Mr.Norman Sather. It was Mr. Sather who headed Civic Enterprises, Inc,which made the field of dreams come true.
Thank you, Mr. Sather. You built it, and they are still coming 63 years later.
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
The Rivalry Is Dead?-Reposted from an earlier blog
Nothing defined the changing of the seasons in Wallace more than the annual mother of all gridiron wars when the Wallace Miners and the Kellogg Wildcats banged heads on the gridiron. The battles in my childhood years were fierce, but I have been told and have read that the battles before my time were the clashes that gave birth to legends of mythical proportions.
As the crisp, clean, Autumn air turned cooler, and Jack Frost kissed the trees and grass with his lips of ice, the attention of the great rivalry turned from the outdoor fields of battle to the indoor hardwood floors of pain. The indoor battles were no less grueling and hostile than their counterpart wars fought outdoors. The shape of the ball was different, but the desired outcome was the same, beat Kellogg.
The year was 1962, I was but a young chap in grade school and my big brother was in the 7th grade. It was a Friday night in the cold of winter and there was a palpable excitement in the air. Tonight was the night of the home game between the Miners and the Wildcats. Both teams were loaded, and the matchup was sure to do nothing to melt the searing hot flames of rivalry between the two schools and towns that co-inhabited the Coeur d'Alene Mining District.
In those days when the two schools did battle, there was not a seat left in the Wallace Civic Auditorium. My brother and I arrived early that night to watch the junior varsity game that preceded the main event. When we entered the auditorium, the place was already filling up. Even the JV game, not usually a game that drew a lot of interest, was pitched up several notches, as the two opposing sides of fans roared every time their respective team made a basket.
The buzzer finally sounded and the JV game was over. By now the excitement in the gym had taken on a life of its own. The bleachers were packed, the balconies were full, the respective school pep bands were waiting for the grand entrance of the round-ball gladiators. And then it began. The roar of he crowd from the Kellogg side as their team came from the visitor's locker room and the KHS band played the Wildcat's fight song.
That loud noise was short lived though as a thunderous roar rocked the auditorium. The decibels, I dare say, would probably have matched the noise in Seattle during a Seahawk playoff game. My young eardrums had certainly never experienced anything like it. The band fired up the Wallace fight song, and the place exploded again with the sound of cheers and clapping.The player introductions were made, the National Anthem played, and the game was at last underway.
What a game it was.The score seesawed back and forth all night long. Alas, the night was not to belong to the Miners that time.The buzzer sounded and the scoreboard betrayed the local team and their fans. I don't remember the exact score, but I believe it was like 64-62 in favor of the hated Wildcats.
Now, that great rivalry is all but dead as the two towns and schools fight to even stay in existence. Wallace has shrunk to minuscule numbers and can no longer compete against larger schools. I read an article on Kellogg High School on Wikipedia, and it read that Kellogg's biggest rival for sports was St Maries! St Maries? Really? My oh my, how times have changed. The great rivalry appears to be dead. May it rest in peace, but I still bet Wallace could whup Kellogg in football any day of the week
As the crisp, clean, Autumn air turned cooler, and Jack Frost kissed the trees and grass with his lips of ice, the attention of the great rivalry turned from the outdoor fields of battle to the indoor hardwood floors of pain. The indoor battles were no less grueling and hostile than their counterpart wars fought outdoors. The shape of the ball was different, but the desired outcome was the same, beat Kellogg.
The year was 1962, I was but a young chap in grade school and my big brother was in the 7th grade. It was a Friday night in the cold of winter and there was a palpable excitement in the air. Tonight was the night of the home game between the Miners and the Wildcats. Both teams were loaded, and the matchup was sure to do nothing to melt the searing hot flames of rivalry between the two schools and towns that co-inhabited the Coeur d'Alene Mining District.
In those days when the two schools did battle, there was not a seat left in the Wallace Civic Auditorium. My brother and I arrived early that night to watch the junior varsity game that preceded the main event. When we entered the auditorium, the place was already filling up. Even the JV game, not usually a game that drew a lot of interest, was pitched up several notches, as the two opposing sides of fans roared every time their respective team made a basket.
The buzzer finally sounded and the JV game was over. By now the excitement in the gym had taken on a life of its own. The bleachers were packed, the balconies were full, the respective school pep bands were waiting for the grand entrance of the round-ball gladiators. And then it began. The roar of he crowd from the Kellogg side as their team came from the visitor's locker room and the KHS band played the Wildcat's fight song.
That loud noise was short lived though as a thunderous roar rocked the auditorium. The decibels, I dare say, would probably have matched the noise in Seattle during a Seahawk playoff game. My young eardrums had certainly never experienced anything like it. The band fired up the Wallace fight song, and the place exploded again with the sound of cheers and clapping.The player introductions were made, the National Anthem played, and the game was at last underway.
What a game it was.The score seesawed back and forth all night long. Alas, the night was not to belong to the Miners that time.The buzzer sounded and the scoreboard betrayed the local team and their fans. I don't remember the exact score, but I believe it was like 64-62 in favor of the hated Wildcats.
Now, that great rivalry is all but dead as the two towns and schools fight to even stay in existence. Wallace has shrunk to minuscule numbers and can no longer compete against larger schools. I read an article on Kellogg High School on Wikipedia, and it read that Kellogg's biggest rival for sports was St Maries! St Maries? Really? My oh my, how times have changed. The great rivalry appears to be dead. May it rest in peace, but I still bet Wallace could whup Kellogg in football any day of the week
Monday, October 19, 2015
Vandals invade Troy
And what a weekend it was on the local and regional football landscape. The big news, and I mean big news, is that the Idaho Vandals, yes, those lovable losers, actually won a game on the road against Troy in the football-mad land of Alabama. Chock up win number two for the silver and gold Vandals. It did not come easily for them, Nope, because of a delay in air travel, the team did not even arrive in Alabama until 9 AM game day. Maybe things are finally going to click, or not.
Idaho's neighbor in Pullman actually won two games in a row, de-feathering the Ducks of Oregon last week and then trapping the Beavers of Oregon State Saturday. As long as the Cougars have a team with an animal logo to play, they seem to rise to the occasion. I wonder how that will hold up when they take on the Huskies of Washington in a few weeks. Cats and dogs, well, the fur should fly.
And last but not least, on the local high school scene, our Wallace Miners beat St Maries, ok, ok, so it was the Lumberjack's junior varsity, but a win it was, and the lowly Wildcats of Kellogg continues their quest of an another rousing, winless season dropping a game a close game to Timberlake-62 to 8.
And that is our weekend in sports. Ah, we won't mention the Seahawks collapse number 4 of the season. No Supe Bowel this year.
Idaho's neighbor in Pullman actually won two games in a row, de-feathering the Ducks of Oregon last week and then trapping the Beavers of Oregon State Saturday. As long as the Cougars have a team with an animal logo to play, they seem to rise to the occasion. I wonder how that will hold up when they take on the Huskies of Washington in a few weeks. Cats and dogs, well, the fur should fly.
And last but not least, on the local high school scene, our Wallace Miners beat St Maries, ok, ok, so it was the Lumberjack's junior varsity, but a win it was, and the lowly Wildcats of Kellogg continues their quest of an another rousing, winless season dropping a game a close game to Timberlake-62 to 8.
And that is our weekend in sports. Ah, we won't mention the Seahawks collapse number 4 of the season. No Supe Bowel this year.
Monday, September 29, 2014
I would sooner be a Miner Than A Sooner-the legend of The Fighting Irish of Wallace
The year was 1957, and no high school in the Idaho had a better, tougher, and more determined team than dear old Wallace High School. So, how does a small school from Wallace and legendary collegiate gridiron giants get mentioned in the same breath? Sit down, kick your feet up, have a drink, and I will tell you about the Fighting Irish of Wallace High.
The collegiate gridiron wars had been dominated by two legendary programs whose pigskin heroics and feats were recounted the same way the ancient Greeks and Romans must have reverently narrated the sacred tales about the gods and goddesses of power and might. The two giants were the Oklahoma University Sooners, and the Fighting Irish of the University of Notre Dame, and there was no love between the warriors of these two mighty armies of grit, power, and superior athleticism.
The Sooners of Oklahoma had been on an unparallel roll of a win streak that had seen them score a victory in an astonishing 47 straight games. Now, in the world of parallel existence many, many miles from Norman, OK, sits the tiny farming community of Pullman, WA. Not only is Pullman the home of the Washington State Cougars, it is also home of the Pullman High School Greyhounds, and the Hounds were on a very impressive win streak of their own, having reeled of 35 straight wins. Word of the streak of Pullman High reached the Sooners in Oklahoma, and the Sooners were so impressed that they sent congratulations to their younger pigskin brothers in Pullman, and gave them the honorary nickname of “The Sooners of the Palouse”.
As we know, no streak lasts the test of time, and on a fateful Sooner day, November 16, 1957, the Sooners streak died on the battlefield to, yep, you guessed it, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. When he dust had cleared that day not a sound except for occasional sobs could be heard from the Sooner faithful as they looked with disbelief at the scoreboard. Could it be real? The answer was all too painful, for the it read –Notre Dame 7-Oklahoma 0.
Now, let’s move up north a bit from Oklahoma and Pullman to the small mining town nestled like a baby in the arms o the greatest silver, lead, and zinc deposits that the at that time had ever seen. I am talking about my hometown, the beautiful city of Wallace, Idaho. Wallace was home to a pretty tough and tumble football powerhouse of its own, The Wallace High School Miners, then coached by the legendary Bud Riley, the former Alabama high school star and Idaho Vandal star. Riley’s teams were always formidable and thought nothing of knocking schools five times their size on the collective keisters.
So, can you tell what is coming next? Pullmans’ streak was at 35, and next up on the schedule that year was ----drum roll please-“ladies and gentlemen, your Wallace Miners”. The hounds picked up their bruised bodies from the field, tails tucked under their bodies in total defeat, left the field.
Word reached all of the way to South Bend , Indiana, and the Fighting Irish were so impressed with the Miner’s victory over the “ Sooners of the Palouse” that the athletic director of Notre Dame sent a telegram to Wallace coach Bud Riley congratulating them on their big win, and dubbed Wallace as the “Fighting Irish of the Northwest” In addition, each Notre Dame player autographed a football, and the ball was sent to Wallace High, and the last time that I was in the old Civic Auditorium , it was still resting in the trophy case in the entrance to the auditorium. I assume that it now rests in a place of honor in the new school.
Ah, the good old days of Wallace!
The collegiate gridiron wars had been dominated by two legendary programs whose pigskin heroics and feats were recounted the same way the ancient Greeks and Romans must have reverently narrated the sacred tales about the gods and goddesses of power and might. The two giants were the Oklahoma University Sooners, and the Fighting Irish of the University of Notre Dame, and there was no love between the warriors of these two mighty armies of grit, power, and superior athleticism.
The Sooners of Oklahoma had been on an unparallel roll of a win streak that had seen them score a victory in an astonishing 47 straight games. Now, in the world of parallel existence many, many miles from Norman, OK, sits the tiny farming community of Pullman, WA. Not only is Pullman the home of the Washington State Cougars, it is also home of the Pullman High School Greyhounds, and the Hounds were on a very impressive win streak of their own, having reeled of 35 straight wins. Word of the streak of Pullman High reached the Sooners in Oklahoma, and the Sooners were so impressed that they sent congratulations to their younger pigskin brothers in Pullman, and gave them the honorary nickname of “The Sooners of the Palouse”.
As we know, no streak lasts the test of time, and on a fateful Sooner day, November 16, 1957, the Sooners streak died on the battlefield to, yep, you guessed it, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. When he dust had cleared that day not a sound except for occasional sobs could be heard from the Sooner faithful as they looked with disbelief at the scoreboard. Could it be real? The answer was all too painful, for the it read –Notre Dame 7-Oklahoma 0.
Now, let’s move up north a bit from Oklahoma and Pullman to the small mining town nestled like a baby in the arms o the greatest silver, lead, and zinc deposits that the at that time had ever seen. I am talking about my hometown, the beautiful city of Wallace, Idaho. Wallace was home to a pretty tough and tumble football powerhouse of its own, The Wallace High School Miners, then coached by the legendary Bud Riley, the former Alabama high school star and Idaho Vandal star. Riley’s teams were always formidable and thought nothing of knocking schools five times their size on the collective keisters.
So, can you tell what is coming next? Pullmans’ streak was at 35, and next up on the schedule that year was ----drum roll please-“ladies and gentlemen, your Wallace Miners”. The hounds picked up their bruised bodies from the field, tails tucked under their bodies in total defeat, left the field.
Word reached all of the way to South Bend , Indiana, and the Fighting Irish were so impressed with the Miner’s victory over the “ Sooners of the Palouse” that the athletic director of Notre Dame sent a telegram to Wallace coach Bud Riley congratulating them on their big win, and dubbed Wallace as the “Fighting Irish of the Northwest” In addition, each Notre Dame player autographed a football, and the ball was sent to Wallace High, and the last time that I was in the old Civic Auditorium , it was still resting in the trophy case in the entrance to the auditorium. I assume that it now rests in a place of honor in the new school.
Ah, the good old days of Wallace!
Sunday, September 21, 2014
If It Quacks Like A Duck, It Must Be A Cougar.
What a great Sunday coming up in the world of Seattle sports. The Mariners are in Houston in the last stretch of the season, and only 1/2 game out of the Wild Card Go M's. Not to be outdone, we have a repeat of last year's Super Bowel with the always dangerous Denver Broncos arrive in Seattle to wage war with the team that humiliated them last year on the big stage. Can Seahawk magic get it done again?
On Saturday, the WSU Cougars almost pulled off the upset of the century when they went toe to toe with then 2nd ranked and always powerful Oregon Ducks. Unfortunately, the Cougars quacked a bit, and the Ducks swam away with a 38-31 victory. Great game for the Cougars, although there are no moral victories in football.
Meanwhile my Idaho Vandals were in Ohio doing their thing-losing, although the big I are showing much improvement this year even though their record does not show it, yet. Go Vandals!
In the local high school scene, my hometown Wallace Miners crushed Lakeside 66-6 and are 2 and 2 on the season, while the Kellogg Wildcats are off to their usual 0-4 start, losing on Friday to St Maries 28-13. Better luck next weekend Wildcats.
In the Lake City, CDA High continues to shock and awe. These are not your father's Vikings. Across town, Lake City High pulled out a nice win over Shadle from Spokane.
On Saturday, the WSU Cougars almost pulled off the upset of the century when they went toe to toe with then 2nd ranked and always powerful Oregon Ducks. Unfortunately, the Cougars quacked a bit, and the Ducks swam away with a 38-31 victory. Great game for the Cougars, although there are no moral victories in football.
Meanwhile my Idaho Vandals were in Ohio doing their thing-losing, although the big I are showing much improvement this year even though their record does not show it, yet. Go Vandals!
In the local high school scene, my hometown Wallace Miners crushed Lakeside 66-6 and are 2 and 2 on the season, while the Kellogg Wildcats are off to their usual 0-4 start, losing on Friday to St Maries 28-13. Better luck next weekend Wildcats.
In the Lake City, CDA High continues to shock and awe. These are not your father's Vikings. Across town, Lake City High pulled out a nice win over Shadle from Spokane.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
-
I had always thought that there was some type of Divine order to this chaos. I always wanted to believe that everything happened for a purpo...
