Jim Traficant

8/5/09 Stan,
I want you to know that you are the only media figure I've responded to in over 7 years. The reason? I always thought you were fair, and I liked you! I'm glad to see that you are doing well! I received your info on your Mooney book?? Or, whatever.
Some of your facts are not accurate, I'll try to clarify.
Before I do, some other background to the early formative years: I was the first "recruit" in Mooney history!

I was a member of the Wilson Jr. H.S. Championship team. I played RB and Linebacker NOT QB!
In the summer of 1956, I worked out w/my Wilson teammates at Shady Run Park (now Pemberton Pk). I noticed a tall guy watching me. I was later told he was inquiring about me! One night, after a workout, he introduced himself to me-John Hudzik. He called me by my nickname "jimbo". He said "Why do you want to go to Wilson and be a RB-I'm the coach of the new H.S. C.Mooney, and I want you to be my QB." Till this day, it was the biggest decision of my life!!

When we assembled for the full 2-A-days, I was the odd guy out. I.E. All the other players came from [illegible...parochial? teams] many from Glenn Mary Jr. H.S. (their whole team!)
After a week or so, it was clear I'd be QB!! John Hudzik and I became very close-worked together.
John was a baseball guy (played in the Yankee org) But he was a good coach because he was a good psychologist. We played reserve teams the first year.
My 2nd yr was probably the most important year in [continued]

Mooney history!! We played senior teams, always at a disadvantage. The 3rd game was against Akron St Mary. What everyone overlooks is that Akron St. Mary was ranked #3 in the state. (there were no subdivisions)
It was an afternoon game in Akron. Akron jumps out with 3 TD's in the 1st quarter, wasn't over. I approached Hudzik and said "Let me go into a short punt spread formation, and throw the ball. We're going to get beaten by 100 points." I'll never forget it. He got this funny look on his face and said "Go ahead."

To make a long story short, we scared the hell out of the #3 team in the state. You're right, they beat us 51-33, but what you didn't know is that we had 2 60 plus yard TD passes, nullified by penalties. That game gave instant respect and credibility to Mooney throughout our region!
This game was figured into the first Mooney-Ursuline game. The week of the Ursuline game Hudzik put in the shotgun, spread formation (we never used it after the Akron game).

At the Ursuline game after we went back in for final instructions, Hudzik held me back as the team departed for the field.
We didn't leave the locker room till the entire Mooney team was running on the field. I remember clearly what he told me:
1. "Ursuline is bigger, should be better, you saw the films. They're the best team in the region, they've been snakebit."
2. "It will be hard to run on them. I'm counting on you to punt your best. Keep them far from our goal, they're not a big play team. They grind it out."

3. "I put the shotgun in for 2 reasons, I'm sure Ursuline has the Akron film, and they'll be coming after you. But I wanted them to spend some time on it this week, away from their normal schedule. And also, for our team. If Ursuline jumps out on us, I don't want the team to panic, they'll have some understanding of what to do."
4."DO NOT, let me repeat, DO NOT CALL IT. IF WE DECIDE TO USE IT, I'LL CALL IT. IS THAT CLEAR?" (This is the only time in 3 years he gave me a stern order.)

He then asked if I had any questions. I said "if Ursuline jumps out, don't wait until the 4th quarter to call it. I need to get a feel for it." He agreed.
I did not start the game on defense. Be advised that I was the middle linebacker but, had sore shoulders and Hudzik told me I'd only play defense if it was necessary.
Now, you're first mistaken fact:
Ursuline received the opening kickoff-we-marched quickly down the field for the first TD by D.S.Moore. Hudzik told me that I would have to play defense and inserted me as linebacker on Ursuline's strong side. They used an unbalanced line.

Once I went on offense, I never came out of that game and never went to the sidelines either to meet with Hudzik.(In those days players didn't confer on sidelines.)
We held Ursuline the rest of the first half, we went in down 6-0!
Your second understatement was Ursuline's size, it was more like 50 lbs across the line of scrimmage. In fact, I was Mooney's biggest player at 190 lbs. (one defensive lineman may have been 200 lbs.) Ursuline just pushed us all over, and gave me no time!

Hudzik also held me back in the locker room when the team left for the second half. He said:
1. "Our kicking game is working, we don't need to take any chances."
2. "Pick your spots, if need be take a sack. Don't throw unless you have time."
3. He then asked me what I felt/seen. I told him "they're too big and I have no time. Let me go to the shotgun." I also said "If they score again we'll never come back." Hudzik told me "DON'T CALL IT UNLESS I OK IT."

Once we got into the 4th quarter I was going to call it without his ok. I'd made up my mind. I needed to get in a rhythm as we huddled, Hudzik sent in a running play. Thinking they had seen something I called the play. It was 2nd down and I was reluctant to call the shotgun run for if it failed to get the first down Ursuline would have this run possession to prepare for it. I was sacked on 2nd down, but on 3rd down I saw a receiver come open the very last second and hit him, but short of the sticks!

You say it was Crawford that caught the 3rd down pass, I never saw the catch. In fact, on the four passes that determined the outcome of the game, I DID NOT SEE ONE CATCH. I WAS HIT ALMOST AS I RELEASED THE BALL. Now, the big 4th down- I decided immediately to fake the punt. I did not want to stay in the huddle too long, might tip them off. But just then, Hudzik sent in a sub. (I believe it was a guard-R.Ginder) The sub said "Coach said for you to kick it." When he saw the look on my face he said. "Coach told me to tell you if you don't kick he's going to take you out!"

There is no reason to make this up, that is honestly what happened.
As the sub entered the huddle (standing huddle with backs to the defense). I placed my hand on
Ginder's helmet and said"We are not going to kick, fake punt on 2." I told Crawford to be ready because we had used the fake punt in the past but usually go to the right side, and Ursuline had a great right defensive end. (forget the name) He was in my face all night.

I felt that he might be so eager to block the punt that I could get Crawford loose.
On the snap I mirrored my kicking style, I was a 2 step punter, right-left, kick. Straight up the field. On this punt I went 45 degrees towards my right with a 3 step prep. Left-right-left hoping to draw the big end. And it worked. At the very last second I fired the ball to Billy C., was hit, spun around, away from the play but realized it was successful by the reaction of our bunch.(Which was all I could see.)

Now for your other mistake. We were just inside Ursuline's 50 yard line (the 1st time we crossed midfield). I then decided to go with our shotgun. But, I had one play that I knew would work, If I had the time. And I thought it would be a TD play if we got inside the 20. I decided to use that play before going to the shotgun since I'd have 3 plays to use because I did not plan to kick the ball again. I made up the play. I decided to fake a quick hitter [continued]

with the fullback and jump around the big Ursuline front to ensure that no matter what defensive scheme Ursuline used, I'd get the ball off.
The fake was perfect, and once I got up in the air I noticed the Ursuline defensive backs were shocked and flatfooted. I saw Vasko spotting the deep backs and instead of just making a completion I led Jack up the field. I got hit, immediately spun around, but saw our bench reacted, and saw the offense running down the sideline signaling touchdown. I slowly walked to the team manager huddling with Gil Berquist.

I decided on the play then a sub came from Hudzik and he said "same concept." I smile about that because John knew we were limited with a short field but he wanted me to do something similar to the TD play. It was strictly what I had already decided. I called the play a little wider to the right this time. Then went up, looking back and felt I was literally hanging up there and had a problem! When Ursuline realized [continued]

it was a pass they froze but for one linebacker, who had probably been programmed to back up the defense. And he was unconsciously backing up into my lane for Vasko. It was open, but Jack wasn't there yet. If I moved off Vasko I'd have to turn in mid-air to hit find Crawford and I decided to go for Vasko. I had to put some steam on the ball and throw it before Vasko would even see the release. I threw the ball where I thought he would be so that the first thing he'd see would be the ball and have a chance for it.

I was hit immediately, spun around, saw the reaction from our bench and touchdown. Looking for flags (none), and walked up the field. If there was any team celebration, I didn't see it!
We held on.
We had to score two times on a great defense. Our smaller team dug in and did what they could. It was my biggest crowd I'd ever seen in High School game.The paper's figures were low. Even old South HS had every light on with [illegible] from this school.

After the game, Hudzik sent for me. We took a photo w/Bishop Malone. As we walked off the field he said, "I'm proud of you Jimbo, but we can't let this big win put us to sleep. We have more football to play and it would tarnish this great win if we were to lose to any of our opponents."
He said the same thing on the bus to the whole team (who was Mooney on this day!)
We were 20-30 point underdogs. The winning drive was probably the greatest in Mooney history. Mooney's won state championships , etc. But as Hudzik said, walking off the field that nite (sp), they'll talk about this game 50 years from now, Jimbo."

John was right. Anyone who saw that game would never forget it. I played in a lot of real big, many big games, but the "game" that I am most asked about the most is the Mooney Ursuline game!!
One small anecdote - Hudzik "tolerated" me making up plays. In my sophomore year at Pitt, we beat the defending National Champs Syracuse in old Archbold Stadium. (they had Ernie Davis, next year's Heisman winner.)
I didn't practice all [continued]

week (in bed w/flu) - wasn't supposed to play - It was a definite struggle, but Syracuse fumbled on their own 15 yard line. They put me in - cold - I ran a belly play into the short side - one yard gain. On second down, I called the same play (but was going to keep it without telling the team). It worked and I scored on a 14-yard run. We went onto win 10-0. That Tuesday, in PGH, I got a message to make a collect call to J. Hudzik in Columbus. (he was now an assistant baseball coach at OSU.)
I reached him. He said he had a little bet with Woody Hayes [continued]

that "Jimbo made that play up."
I said I made the play up - he laughed. I asked him how he knew. He said - "when the radio announcer said, "fumble, Traficant scores." John and I were very close. He was a key figure in my life.
But the heart and soul of Cardinal Mooney was our first principal. Bishop Wm. Hughes!

He instilled an attitude of excellence. In all priests of Mooney [illegible]. And, he was Mooney's 12th man vs Ursuline - 50 years ago.
God Bless!
Jim.

Stan,
I'd be remised if I did not mention that Mooney had a great coaching staff. That first year it was only Hudzik and John Constantino - (Constantino was a great coach) - Hudzik was Athletic Dir - head coach F.Ball - basketball + B.Ball - even drove the bus for the baseball team!
Mike Malmisure, Pat Pollifrone, Nat Sicuro, Bill Eichenberger, Harry Joyce and Denny Barrett were instrumental. Malmisure tought be the belly series (even though we didn't use it) to prepare me for college -
Pollifrone made a huge [continued]

difference w/our line and (illegible) defense -- Any one of that group would've been a great head coach -- (some did!)
Another item about the "game." I played in stadiums w/more than 60,000 fans - but - none louder than the "game" - I was hoarse afterwards -
The crowd was huge - (illegible) them, many jumped the fence, etc., and the student bodies were active so loud and throughout - Except the moment before the snap for the 2 pt. Conversion -- everybody just stopped and watched.
On the fake punt - the reason I discarded coach Hudzik's call was if we didn't use it then, Ursuline would be cautious later - and we had to surprise them!

I do not plan to meet with any press when I get back! If, and when I do, I'll give you the exclusive.
One other tidbit -- rather unusual -- we had two pep rallies that week - the second was on the Friday afternoon - sirens blaring, then Ursuline Students pushing a casket (on wheels) into the gym - singing - "hang down your head C.Mooney, hang down your head and cry, hang down your head C.Mooney - poor boy you're bound to die." (melody of song Tom Dooley.)
I looked at our team, [continued]

for their reaction - not one showed any emotion - I could sense that they finally realized that the much anticipated game was here - and, they looked somewhat serious, thinking etc.
No one ever mentioned that song - and when we went on the field for early warm-ups, the Ursuline student body kept singing that song!
In all 3 yrs. with Hudzik, he only gave me one restrictive order - to not go to the shotgun unless he approved it!!
In later years, he confided in me that he "knew" I was going to fake the punt - and he didn't want me too - thus, he sent Ginder? in!!

Jim Traficant included this postcard with his letter. On this side, Traficant has attached one of his own paintings of a single horse.

On the other side of the postcard is this clipping of an image that appeared in Sports Illustrated. It depicts Traficant during his college football years.