STEUBENVILLE — When you think prep football in the Ohio Valley, Steubenville Big Red immediately pops into your mind. When you think Steubenville Big Red football, you immediately think of Reno Saccoccia.

Big Red football and their ageless taskmaster are still basking in the glory of another state championship. It came in the form of a Division IV 50-36 pasting of Clinton-Massie last Saturday.

The cherished title triumph helps to ease the pain of the previous two seasons of state runnerup finishes to Columbus Bishop Hartley.

For Saccoccia, his fourth state crown at the Big Red helm joins 1984, 2005 and 2006 championship campaigns. The most recent title also takes on a little added meaning for the coaching icon.

“All four are great. State titles are precious. We are thrilled,”

Saccoccia said Thursday morning in a phone interview. “What is really nice with this one is that it took a little longer to come to fruition. But they are all beautiful.

“But last year’s title loss really hurt, not just me, but the entire Big Red community. So this one really feels good,” he added.

“Losing can cause more hurt than winning brings happiness, but this year’s bunch showed their championship resolve and character all season long.”

Saccoccia just ended his 34th season at the Big Red helm. His success during that span is nothing short of remarkable.

Steubenville has won 371 games and lost just 68 under his tutelage to go with 17 straight OHSAA playoff berths. The Steubenville Catholic Central product also has produced five state runner-up finishes at Big Red.

All that winning landed Saccoccia into the Ohio High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in the spring of 2009.

Coaches can be prisoners of their own success. Saccoccia, however, relishes the lofty hopes and goals of the Big Red Nation.

“I was walking across the field after the state title game and one of our younger kids said, ‘Coach, we will be back here again next year,'” Saccoccia said. “But I would rather be at a place with high expectations like Steubenville. We have a lot of support here with our administration, community and parents.

“They are all good people and know what it takes to be successful. They understand all the work that goes into winning,” the Akron University grad continued. “But that attitude isn’t just isolated with football. It is all sports, extra-curricular activities and academics here at Steubenville. Out of our 70 players, 40 had GPAs over 3.0.”

So at age 68 and a boatload of championships on his resume, what keeps the coaching juices flowing for the affable grid legend?

“What motivates me is coaching the type of players that we have here. They want coached, they want pushed and they want challenged,” Saccoccia noted. “Our players have the will to win, and our parents love the game.”

HONORING PROSSER

THE SECOND Annual Skip Prosser Prep Basketball Classic is set for Friday, Jan. 26 at the Linsly School.

The game features the boys? programs at both Wheeling Central and Linsly, two schools where Prosser served with great success. He was 33-9 in two years at Linsly while ringing up a splendid 104-48 mark at Central, including a Class AA state championship in 1982.

This year’s contest will include clothing memorabilia, various tributes as well as a heart and hustle award for a member selected from both Central and Linsly?s varsity squads.

Last year’s game ended up an OT thriller with Wheeling Central prevailing. The classic yields scholarship money in Prosser’s name to be used at both school’s discretion.

Sponsors are needed to continue the growth of the game in order to honor Prosser, who went on to post a 291-146 collegiate record. He emphasized the ABC’s of academics, basketball and character while never forgetting his Ohio Valley roots.

Donations of any size, which are tax-deductible, can be forwarded to the following: Wheeling Central c/o Lee Ann Harris 75-14th St. Wheeling, WV 26003 or Linsly c/o Terry Depew The Linsly School Knox Lane Wheeling, WV 26003 or game day expenses c/o John Stanko, game director, 434 West 36th St. Shadyside, Ohio 43947

BUBBA’S BITS

YOU CAN make a case for Alabama, Ohio State and USC for all making or not making the college football playoffs this season. But this year’s playoff chaos does dictate a need to expand the playoffs to eight teams.

THE OHIO County Library in Wheeling offers a popular “Lunch With Books” program. The Jan. 16 event will feature OVAC Executive Director Tom Rataiczak. He will be speaking on the history of the conference as it celebrates its 75th year of existence. The program starts at noon.

JOHN MARSHALL grad Kristin Lewicki has played in four of the five Buffalo Beauts games of the National Women’s Hockey Leauge. The former Adrian College All-American and D-III player of the year has netted two assists while firing eight shots on goal for the second-place Beauts.

D.P. HARRIS is now in his 15th year as head coach of the Saint Vincent men’s basketball team in Latrobe, Pa. The former Wheeling Park hoopster has guided his Bearcats to a 5-2 mark this season. Harris is a member of the Saint Vincent Hall of Fame.

NFL CZAR Roger Goodell may earn close to $200 million via his new contract. And people think the players are overpaid?

JOEL NAU is the new head men’s basketball coach at Ohio University Eastern.

JOANNA BERNABIE-McNAMEE has her University of Albany women’s basketball team playing well. The Danes are 6-2 on the campaign, with one of those blemishes coming at the hands of national power Maryland in the season opener.

DONNA FERGUSON is the new Weir High athletic director. She replaces Mike DelRe who retired in November.

OVAC OFFICIAL Rick DeLuca is recovering very well from his heart attack last month. He was scheduled to be released from East Ohio Regional hospital today.