I’m not from Stark County. I didn’t attend Massillon or McKinley, and I’ve no allegiance to both college. Perhaps that makes this simpler to see from the surface: Massillon-McKinley isn’t actually a rivalry anymore.
Traditionally, completely. In the present day? No.
A rivalry requires two sides, and for greater than a decade this has seemed extra like large brother beating up little brother. McKinley followers nonetheless speak in regards to the historical past and what this recreation is meant to imply. Massillon simply retains profitable.
McKinley followers remind me of Nebraska or Tennessee soccer followers: passionate supporters of a proud program who haven’t utterly accepted that yesterday’s success doesn’t assure tomorrow’s.
And I’m not satisfied McKinley will ever return to what it as soon as was.
The larger problem goes past soccer. A highschool soccer program is in the end a mirrored image of the varsity and group round it. Canton Metropolis Colleges faces severe issues, and till the district itself turns into stronger and extra enticing to households, anticipating McKinley soccer to completely return to its glory days appears unrealistic.
None of that erases McKinley’s historical past. However historical past and rivalry aren’t the identical factor.
Massillon has change into this system McKinley nonetheless believes itself to be.
Till McKinley can constantly compete with and beat Massillon, name the sport historic. Name it vital. Name it considered one of Stark County’s biggest traditions.
Simply cease pretending it’s nonetheless a rivalry.
C. Tate Blankenship, Canton
This text initially appeared on The Repository: r
