Nostalgia vs. Progress: The Dilemma of Akron's Enduring Football Rivalry

Photo byGreat American Rivalry File Photo

Akron, OH- One of Akron's oldest football rivalries, one that has gained a lot of attention during regular season football seems to be making noise as far as renewing the game in a regular season format. Akron Hoban vs. St. Vincent-St. Mary stopped their annual regular season game week eight of the 2022 season.

The last meeting Hoban took home both wins first a 28-14 regular season win, then a third round playoff game win 47-7 at that point St. Vincent decided not to renew the expiring contract for the 2023 season citing 'unsportsmanlike behavior' by then school president Leo Hyland.

In a letter obtained courtesy of the Akron Beacon Journal here was a full statement at the time of the closure of the annual series.

In 2024 there have been some changes, their is a new school president and also a new head football coach, Mark Butterworth has held the president position since November of 2023 after he was named interim with the departure of Hyland.

The head football position came open after the departure of Terry Cistone who guided the Irish for two seasons retiring with two playoff appearances and a 13-10 record with the '23 season having the most success.

The Irish have hired school alum and Ohio State Alum Doran Grant to succeed Cistone to lead the storied program, Grant brings a wealth of football with him playing in the NFL, Canadian Football League, also a stint in the now United Football League formally the XFL.

With all the changes and a new season of football hopefully both sides can come to an agreement to renew the long standing rivalry which not only brings communities together but brings a monetary value to both programs and schools respectively.

"I hope it happens sooner than later, like as soon as the 2025 season," said Grant. Both Catholic schools have met 49 times being coined 'The Holy War' which Hoban leads the series 28-21 with both programs having long stretches of wins along the life of the series.

Only time will tell.