Pads of Glory: 125 Years of the Sharon High School Football Tradition by Tony Molinari with Lyle Bieber and Brian Kepple (232 pages, paperback, 8.5 x 11")

“Pads of Glory: 125 Years of the Sharon High School Football Tradition” is a deluxe yearbook-style book chronicling the history and former Sharon High School football teams, players, and coaches since 1899. This publication will offer readers an in-depth look into America's favorite sport with detailed research, paired with historic and current photography. About a dozen historical narratives add context to key players, coaches, or events in Sharon High football history.

Few things seem as important to Americans as sports, particularly football. In western Pennsylvania, football, both professional and amateur, remains a staple of our sports culture. Since 1899, Sharon High School football has been a mainstay in the Shenango Valley. Originally known as the “Yellow Jackets” until 1934, the Sharon High School football team played on four different fields until the legendary Sharon Tiger Stadium was built as a Works Progress Administration project. Head coaches like Dave Stewart and Jim Wildman made Sharon’s team famous. Undefeated teams in 1931, 1956, and 1966 and great players like Joe Bosco, “Rube” White, Dick Bestwick, Wally Jones, Frank Gitschier, Jim “Spike” Moran, Mike Sebastian, Jim Hubicz, Randy Holloway, Mike Connell, Teryl Austin, Mike Archie, and Marlin Jackson helped build a dynasty. Visiting players who displayed their talents at Tiger Stadium include Terry Hanratty, Joe Namath, Tony Dorsett, Mike Ditka, Hugh McGinnis, Randy Crowder, Lorenzo Styles, Andre Coleman, and the Saul brothers from Butler. Memorable crowds at the stadium came during the 1956 Sharon-Farrell game with nearly 10,000 spectators and the 1996 Sharon-Wilmington game featuring undefeated teams. These are the stories of hundreds of young men who pushed themselves to their limits, the coaches who pushed them to victory, and those who sat in the crowd cheering them on.