In 2005, the Massillon Tigers will be hoping to rebound from what has been
two sub-par seasons. The Tigers, coached by Rick Shepas, are not accustomed to
rebounding from losing seasons, and all indications are that next year could see
the Tigers return to being one of the top programs in Ohio.
One of the top returnees for Shepas is sophomore safety Andrew Dailey. Dailey
is listed as one of the top sophomores in the state by Ohio High magazine. The
6-3, 212-pound Dailey, who started every game but one, is known as a big hitter
and is drawing the attention of college recruiters.
"I'm getting letters from Purdue, Kansas, Boston College, Notre Dame,
Michigan and Ohio State, as well as others. I stopped at Michigan last summer,
and I've been to games at Notre Dame and West Virginia. Coach Shepas took me to
the Ohio State-Michigan game last season, and that was great," Dailey said.
As one of the top players in a school known for success, Dailey said the
Tigers are working hard to turn around their fortunes. When asked about his
goals for 2005, Dailey was quite direct and honest.
"We need to make the playoffs and have a deep run in the playoffs. We
need to start beating some of the best teams in Ohio. We especially need to
start beating Canton McKinley again," Dailey said. "For my personal
goals, I'd like to lead the team in tackles. I'd also like to play wide receiver
to show my athletic ability. I'll play both ways if that helps us win."
Andrew, who currently has a 3.5 grade average, loves playing at Massillon and
enjoys playing for Rick Shepas.
"Playing at Massillon is great because of the tradition. Nothing
compares to the Massillon-McKinley rivalry. There's nothing like running out of
the tunnel before that game," Dailey said. "Coach Shepas is someone I
like a lot. He moved me to safety from linebacker, because he believed in me. He
cares about the players and wants what's best for us, not just when we're
playing for him, but even after we leave school."
Since the end of the season, Dailey has been busy making himself a better
player. His speed has improved dramatically and he hopes to get even faster.
"I worked out in Akron with Butch Reynolds for 10 sessions. We worked on
getting faster and I can tell it's working. We started baseball workouts this
week, and my 60 yard dash time is .4 faster than last year. I ran a 4.57 forty
last summer and I'm hoping to lower that time this year," said Dailey.
"I like playing baseball but I feel my future is in football. I've read a
lot about Jerry Rice's work ethic and I try to follow what he's done off the
field. On the field I try to play like John Lynch."
After a successful season on the freshman team, one might think the
adjustment to varsity football would be difficult, but Dailey handled the
transition just fine.
"The speed of the game was tough at first, but it got better. I played
my best football the last four games. The game seemed to really slow down and I
was feeling more comfortable. I can't wait for next season to start. We need to
get Massillon football back to where it should be," Dailey said.
Andrew is good friends with another top sophomore football player, Devon
Torrence of Canton South. They play summer baseball together and the two talk
often, as they push each other to get better.
"Devon and I are close. We're always trying to see who can beat the
other one. I raced him a couple years ago and beat him in about a 30 or 40 yard
race. I'll never let him forget it either," Andrew said with a smile.
"It would be neat if we could go to the same college some day. He's a great
athlete."
Andrew Dailey is as mature a person as any sophomore you'll meet. He has a
great attitude, as well as tremendous talent, and it appears he has a bright
future in football. Dailey is a player that we will track very closely in 2005
at Ohio High magazine.