Behind Scenes, St Mary's Goes to Goddard
September 27, 2016
By Keith Dunlap
Special for Second Half
As a coach and athletic director at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s over nearly three decades, George Porritt has been asked plenty of times to recall details from his football program’s storied past.
That comes with coaching a program that annually has a roster full of highly-touted high school players coveted by college recruiters and has seen the best not only shine for prominent college programs but also NFL organizations (see Allen Robinson of Jacksonville).
“When was the last time a player did that?”
“What is the school record in this category?”
“How often has your team done this in a season?”
“When was the last time you lost to this opponent?”
Porritt’s answer is usually quick and consistent.
“Ask Robin Goddard,” Porritt typically says.
For the past 40 years, turning to Goddard has been a frequent option for anyone around St. Mary’s, and for that matter, other schools around the state.
It is why there will be lots of people in the prep sports community thinking of him when he has surgery on Thursday to break up kidney stones that have been bothering him during recent weeks.
Goddard each year puts together media guides with records and teams at St. Mary’s that go all the way back to the early 1900s. (See "Michigan's Football Past: A Must Read")
He can easily point out the fact that St. Mary’s won a state basketball championship in 1933, lost in the state basketball semifinals in 1919 and won its first state baseball championship in 1913. (Note: The MHSAA was not formed until Dec. 1924; previous championship tournaments were hosted by various entities around the state.)
“If he doesn’t have it in something, he finds it right away,” Porritt said. “He goes to the library and he tries to dig it up. He calls the other school and has done it for years. He keeps a great history of our school.”
Surely though, there have to be times when people raise their eyebrows at Goddard and wonder how he can possibly get accurate information from a century ago, right?
Actually, not really.
Not around St. Mary’s, anyway, even if it is hard to fathom for many others that high school sports in Michigan actually did exist before the start of World War I.
“I won’t even challenge him,” Porritt said. “I know he found it somewhere. He’ll tell other schools what their records are historically, and they don’t even know what theirs is. He has fun doing it and will go anywhere and find any way to find out the history of whatever he is looking into.”
Goddard’s importance to the school isn’t limited to being arguably the Encyclopedia Britannica of prep sports in the state of Michigan.
Also a facilities coordinator and valuable fundraiser, Goddard has spearheaded projects to put a track and lights at the football field, and was the architect of one of the most ambitious and out-of-box ideas ever seen at the school – the red artificial playing surface now on the football field.
During Labor Day weekend in 2011, Goddard flew to Cheney, Wash., to meet with officials at Eastern Washington University, which at the time had the only red-colored artificial football field in the country.
Goddard picked the brains of the folks at Eastern Washington, came home and started a fundraising effort to try and secure $600,000 to bring a red-colored artificial surface to St. Mary’s.
By the following spring, the funds were raised and construction began on the field that was ready by the start of the 2012 season.
At the time, it was the third red-colored field in the country in addition to Eastern Washington and a high school field at Canyon High School in Texas.
Goddard also helped start the annual Polish Country Fair that takes place on the St. Mary’s campus every Memorial Day weekend, which is one of the most regularly-attended festivals in the Detroit area.
Len Karschnia, an administrator and assistant coach for the both the football and basketball teams at St. Mary’s, said when Goddard gets in touch with alums who have the means to donate back to the school, there usually is no hesitation because of their respect for Goddard.
“They always trust Robin to do that,” Karschnia said. “Everything he does (is) for the kids and the school, and that is why nobody is really reticent to give back to any projects that he runs because if he tells you on Tuesday he wants $500 to put up a banner in the gym, on Thursday the banner is up and done and there is a plaque on the wall saying thanks to whoever gave it to him.”
A staple at the school since he arrived in 1976, there obviously will be a lot of prayers and well-wishes around the state for a speedy recovery from surgery.
“He is a guy that whatever St. Mary’s needs, he’ll do it and he doesn’t need any fanfare for his good deeds,” Karschnia said. “It’s all for the kids, for George and for the school. That is really his value.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Orchard Lake St. Mary's takes on Detroit Cass Tech on its home red turf in 2012. (Middle) Tucked away in the McLane Stadium bleachers, Robin Goddard watches the Eaglets' run to the 2015 Division 2 baseball championship. (Top photo by Terry McNamara.)
1st & Goal: 2024 Week 8 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 18, 2024
It all comes down to this weekend for several of this football season's league title races across Michigan.
As one might expect at this late date, Week 8’s schedule is filled with clashes that will be remembered for decades by those who are part of them over the next two days.
All but one of our featured matchups have league championship implications, as do several more that will be played this week across both peninsulas.
Games listed below are tonight unless noted, with results posting as they are reported all weekend on the MHSAA Scores page. Updated standings also are available by clicking the schools on the score list, and every division’s playoff points summary updates as well as scores are received.
Bay & Thumb
Frankenmuth (7-0) at Freeland (7-0) WATCH
Another year, another opportunity for these two to play for a Tri-Valley Conference title. The Red championship is again on the line, as is Frankenmuth’s 65-game league winning streak going back to 2014. The Eagles have defeated Freeland in five straight, including 38-13 last season when both entered undefeated as well. The Falcons’ defense has been exceptional this season, with four shutouts and no more than six points given up in a game before allowing 27 last week to Bay City John Glenn. The Eagles will counter with an offense that hasn’t scored fewer than 41 points since a season-opening 22-0 shutout of Goodrich.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY North Branch (5-2) at Almont (7-0) WATCH, Goodrich (6-1) at Fenton (7-0) WATCH, Grand Blanc (6-1) at Davison (6-1), Clare (6-1) at Pinconning (5-2) WATCH.
Grater Detroit
Detroit Cass Tech (5-2) vs. Detroit Martin Luther King (6-1) at Ford Field WATCH
This is another annual rematch, for the Detroit Public School League City title, with these two playing each other for the second time in the same season for the fifth-straight year. King won the first meeting this season 18-12 in overtime in Week 4, and over the last four years the winner of the first game has won the rematch as well three times – including Cass Tech claiming both a year ago. The Technicians’ defense has remained stellar, giving up just six points with two shutouts in its three games since the first loss to the Crusaders, while King has two shutouts as well over its last three games.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Clarkston Everest Collegiate (7-0) at Royal Oak Shrine Catholic (6-1), Dearborn Fordson (5-2) at Belleville (7-0) WATCH, Gibraltar Carlson (6-1) at Allen Park (6-1), Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard (5-2) at Macomb Lutheran North (6-1) WATCH, Detroit Central (5-2) vs. Detroit Denby (5-2) at Ford Field WATCH.
Mid-Michigan
Brighton (6-1) at Howell (7-0) WATCH
Howell has already clinched a share of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association West championship thanks to last week’s 35-21 win over Novi. But Brighton can mash things up tonight, as a Bulldogs win would create a three-team title share between Howell, Brighton and Novi. The Highlanders and Bulldogs have split their last four meetings, with Howell winning last year’s 43-7. Brighton’s only loss this fall was 37-34 to Novi in Week 4 – but the Bulldogs also have shown the ability to pull out a close win with one-point victories over Northville and Plymouth.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Ogemaw Heights (6-1) at Harrison (7-0), Lansing Sexton (4-3) at Portland (7-0), Lansing Catholic (5-2) at Olivet (5-2) WATCH, Walled Lake Western (7-0) at Mason (6-1).
Northern Lower Peninsula
East Jordan (5-2) at Frankfort (6-1) WATCH
These two will hold out hope for a Mancelona win over Maple City Glen Lake in Week 9 – a victory by the Ironmen next week would give tonight’s winner a share of the Northern Michigan Football League Legacy title. But in the meantime, Frankfort and East Jordan also are setting up playoff position, with Frankfort entering this week No. 15 on the Division 8 playoff points list and East Jordan just one spot behind at No. 16. A home playoff game very well could be on the line, and every little advantage counts as these two have played four straight games decided by six or fewer points – including the Red Devils’ 38-36 victory in East Jordan a year ago.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Oscoda (5-2) at Boyne City (5-2) WATCH, Montague (3-4) at Manistee (4-3) WATCH, Bay City Western (2-5) at Traverse City West (4-3) WATCH, Kalkaska (2-5) at Kingsley (5-2) WATCH.
Southeast & Border
Clinton (6-1) at Hudson (6-1) WATCH
The Lenawee County Athletic Association title comes down almost completely to this matchup, as these two are tied atop the standings with two league games to play and the winner tonight clinching a share of the championship. Clinton won it outright last year, with Hudson finishing runner-up thanks to a 29-0 Redwolves victory in the regular-season finale. The Tigers’ lone loss this season came to still-undefeated Fowler, and they haven’t been challenged much since. Clinton also opened with a defeat, to also still-undefeated Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, and since has advanced through four wins by 10 or fewer points.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Bronson (5-2) at Springport (6-1) WATCH, Brooklyn Columbia Central (3-4) at Hanover-Horton (7-0) WATCH, Grass Lake (4-3) at Leslie (7-0) WATCH, Manchester (5-2) at Michigan Center (3-4) WATCH.
Southwest Corridor
Kalamazoo United (6-1) at Parchment (6-1)
This is a winner-take-all for the Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore championship, and both are bringing significant momentum into this matchup. Parchment downed last season’s champion Constantine last week 51-30 and has given up 46 points total this season not counting its 48-16 loss to Dowagiac in Week 3. United’s loss also came in Week 3, 27-18 to Lawton, and the Titans otherwise have allowed just 41 points this fall with the majority also coming during a 33-21 win over Constantine. United has defeated Parchment in six straight, including the last five as league opponents, but only 30-28 a year ago.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Kalamazoo Central (5-2) at Mattawan (4-3), Buchanan (4-3) at Dowagiac (5-2), Portage Northern (4-3) at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix (5-2) WATCH, Saugatuck (5-2) at Lawton (5-2) WATCH.
Upper Peninsula
Kingsford (7-0) at Menominee (7-0)
Kingsford and Menominee also met last season with league title implications, and the Flivvers’ 41-32 victory resulted in a shared Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper title between Kingsford and Negaunee, while the Maroons finished tied for third. This time, it’s winner take all. Menominee is coming off a 34-19 win over Negaunee, while Kingsford got its 29-27 Negaunee win in Week 4 and hasn’t been challenged much the last few weeks. The Flivvers have three shutouts and are giving up only seven points per game, a notable detail as Menominee is averaging 50 points per game.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Iron Mountain (7-0) at Manistique (4-3) WATCH, Houghton (3-4) at Negaunee (5-2), Bark River-Harris (4-3) at West Iron County (3-4) WATCH. SATURDAY Cadillac (4-3) at Marquette (5-2).
West Michigan
Holland Christian (6-1) at Grand Rapids Northview (7-0)
A week after what has to be considered one of the most memorable wins in program history, Northview must finish the job in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Black against another contender enjoying one of its best seasons in some time. The Wildcats are coming off a 12-3 win over always-powerful Grand Rapids Catholic Central, and Holland Christian’s only defeat came to the Cougars 42-18 the week before. The Maroons rebounded off of that loss with a one-point win last week over one-win Middleville Thornapple Kellogg, but now have a chance at a shared league title if they can prevail tonight – although there haven’t been many down moments for Northview during a run that’s also included wins over Southeastern Conference White champion Chelsea and East Grand Rapids to start the league schedule.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Coopersville (5-2) at Big Rapids (6-1) WATCH, Muskegon (3-3) at Byron Center (6-1), Hamilton (5-2) at Grand Rapids West Catholic (5-2), Decatur (6-1) at Hopkins (6-1) WATCH.
8-Player
Pickford (7-0) at Norway (6-1) WATCH
This may end up just the first of multiple meetings between these two this season – they played each other during the regular season and playoffs a year ago – but this matchup carries much more significance than their first last fall as the winner tonight will earn a share of the Great Lakes Eight Conference East title. Pickford is the reigning champ, but Norway played in the GLEC West last season and won that division in similarly dominant fashion. The Panthers did claim both of their 2023 meetings, 40-18 and then 34-16 in a Division 1 Regional Final, and they are averaging 54 points per game and allowing just under seven. But Norway might provide the greatest challenge yet, having kicked things up a notch offensively with an already high-caliber offense averaging 45 points a game.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Mendon (7-0) vs. Climax-Scotts (6-1), Pittsford (6-1) at Waldron (5-2), Bellaire (6-1) at Indian River Inland Lakes (7-0) WATCH, Bay City All Saints (6-1) at Kinde North Huron (6-1) WATCH.
MHSAA.com's weekly “1st & Goal” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Click to connect with MI Student Aid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.
PHOTO Grand Rapids Northview's Jalen Gant (1) works to break a tackle against East Grand Rapids during a Week 4 win. (Photo by Michigan Sports Photo.)