Badgers, Packers Superstar Mark Tauscher named Fourth of July Grand Marshal

June 21, 2012

The Greenfield 4th of July Parade and Celebration Committee is announcing former University of Wisconsin and Green Bay Packers football star Mark Tauscher as the honorary parade grand marshal.

Tauscher will also be assisting with flag-raising ceremonies, enjoying the 5th Quarter performance featuring his alma mater University of Wisconsin band and appear as a special contestant in Greenfield Park & Rec's special event, "Are you smarter than a 5th grader."

Tauscher's was a star offensive tackle for the University of Wisconsin, with his best years coming in 1998 and 1999. He contributed significantly to Ron Dayne's Heisman Trophy-winning season in 1999.

Tauscher was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round (224th pick overall) of the 2000 NFL draft. His illustrious career with the Packers spanned a decade from 2000 to 2010. Career highlights include Superbowl Champion (XLV), Packers Walter Payton Man of the Year (2008) and Packers Ed Block Courage Award (2008).

Tauscher was born in Marshfield, Wis. on June 17, 1977.

"Tausch" is a life-long Wisconsinite and continues to be a huge fan of Badgers and Packers football.

As honorary parade marshal, Tauscher will proudly wave to fans knowing that Greenfield will be the only parade in Wisconsin to feature the University of Wisconsin Marching Band "and" Bucky Badger.

The Independence Day activities in Greenfield are hosted by the Partners of Greenfield Park and Recreation.

Partners of Greenfield Park and Recreation are a nonprofit community support group run in conjunction with the Department of Parks and Recreation. Partners of Greenfield Park and Recreation assist the Department of Parks and Recreation in the beautification of green space, purchasing park amenities, and development of park site activity areas for the benefit of the Greenfield community.

Partners of Greenfield Park and Recreation are a great avenue for individuals and organizations to make a positive difference in the promotion of public recreation in the city of Greenfield.

The Greenfield 4th of July Parade (12:15pm start) and Celebration will run from 11am to 11pm on Wednesday, July 4th. The parade and celebration are free of charge.

More than two points from Tupa

Time and Change: Catching up with ex-QB, whose son is headed to Miami (Ohio)

June 21, 2012

By Brad Bournival | BuckeyeNation

Time and Change is a series at BuckeyeNation where we chat with former Ohio State athletes.

Tom Tupa was an All-America punter and was the starting quarterback during his senior season in 1987, Earle Bruce's final year as head coach.

After being a backup quarterback for three seasons behind Mike Tomczak and Jim Karsatos at Ohio State, Tupa threw for 1,786 yards and 12 touchdowns his senior season. He was selected to the 1988 Hula Bowl.

Tupa, now 46, was a third-round pick in the 1988 NFL Draft, selected by the Phoenix Cardinals with the No. 68 pick. He averaged 43.4 yards per punt, which ranks 36th in NFL history, before retiring in 2006. He won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the 2002 season.


Tom Tupa had a 16-year NFL career as a quarterback and punter and started 11 games at quarterback for the Phoenix Cardinals in 1991.

A 1999 All-Pro selection, he was a backup quarterback in the NFL and became known as "Two-Point Tupa" for his three two-point conversions in 1994, when the rule was added to the NFL. He scored the first two-pointer in NFL history as a member of the Cleveland Browns.

Tupa is the recreation director for the city of Brecksville, Ohio, where he led the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Bees football team to a state title in 1983. He is also the offensive coordinator for the Bees' varsity squad, where his sons Tommy and Tim play. His youngest son, Tyler, will be a freshman this year, and his daughter Emma will be a seventh-grader.

His son, Tommy Tupa, committed to Miami (Ohio) in May. The RedHawks expect him to be their future quarterback.

BuckeyeNation caught up with Tupa recently and asked him about fatherhood, coaching and his time at Ohio State.

BN: Do you miss your playing days?

Tupa: I do a little bit as far as hanging out with the guys and game days and things like that. To be honest with you, though, I enjoy what I'm doing now. I'm coaching my boys and my daughter, actually. It's just a great situation to coach and watch them and be a part of what they're going through. It's been great so far.

“Obviously, making it to the first Rose Bowl my freshman year, that was a special time. Beating Michigan my senior year. It was Earle's last game up there. That was a special game for us with the circumstances surrounding that whole week.”
-- Former Ohio State quarterback and punter Tom Tupa

BN: What pieces of advice from Earle Bruce have you taken and applied to your everyday life?

Tupa: It's just to go out there and fight for what you want. To compete for the things in your life and what you believe in and not to back down when you believe in them.

BN: What is your fondest memory of Ohio State?

Tupa: To pick one is tough. I have a couple of great memories. Obviously, making it to the first Rose Bowl my freshman year, that was a special time. Beating Michigan my senior year. It was Earle's last game up there. That was a special game for us with the circumstances surrounding that whole week [Bruce was fired early in the week]. There are a lot of moments and games and what not, but those are the ones that stand out.

BN: Is it tough to sit back and not overstep your bounds when you're giving advice to Tim and Tommy as members of the football team?

Tupa: It's tough at times. You're probably always tougher on your kids than any other kids, so they get it more than anyone else. I think they understand that it's just part of being a coach's kid. When we're at home, we try to let it go. It's over with, it's done with. It's on to the next thing. It's tough because I'm looking for them to do the best they can and want to see them be successful. I think they know I'm just looking for what is the best for them.

BN: What does it mean to coach at your high school alma mater?

Tupa: It's great. I'm back in my hometown. We've had a few successful years back-to-back. We've got the program on the right trail again. The kids have bought into what we want to do. We've had a lot of city supporters and people are anxious to see us play. We're not a boring team. People like to see what we're going to do out there. We keep them on the edge of their seats from play to play. It's fun.

BN: What's next?

Tupa: I'm going to do the coaching thing for the foreseeable future. We'll see how long I do this, but I enjoy it. I have fun and we're winning and that makes it all that much better. For now, I'll stay the course, coach the kids and see where it leads us.

Raymont Harris inducted into Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame

June 19, 2012

By Plain Dealer staff

Former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel heads a list of eight local sports figures who will be inducted into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame for 2012.

Established in 1976, the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame has inducted nearly 500 sports figures, all with ties to Greater Cleveland. The induction ceremony is scheduled for Sept. 19 at Landerhaven.

Ticket information is available at clevelandsportshalloffame.com or by calling 216-682-0141.
The Class of 2012 inductees are:

Larry Chernauskas: Longtime high school boys and girls basketball coach, notably at West Tech, Gilmour and Magnificat. His career record was 508-280, and he was named Coach of the Year four times.

Mary Joe Fernandez Godsick: The current Cleveland resident who was born in the Dominican Republic was a three-time finalist in women’s singles and two-time champion in doubles at Grand Slam tennis tournaments. She won a gold medal in doubles at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics and a bronze in singles in 1992.

Raymont Harris: The Lorain native finished as the eighth-leading rusher in Ohio State history with 2,649 yards. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1994 and rushed for a career-best 1,033 yards in 1997.

Clinton Jones: The Cathedral Latin standout was a two-time All-American at Michigan State, then spent six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. He ran for nine touchdowns in 1970 and gained 452 yards on kickoff returns that year.

Tim Mack: The St. Ignatius graduate won a gold medal in the pole vault at the 2004 Olympics with a jump of 19-6¼, setting an Olympic record. He won the NCAA indoor pole vault title in 1995 for Tennessee and won at the 2001 Goodwill Games and the 2002 U.S. indoor and outdoor championships.

Preston Powell: He returned 16 kickoffs and had five rush attempts for the Browns in 1961, and after time with the Cowboys and Bears, he became a softball legend in the area, being inducted in the Greater Cleveland Softball Hall of Fame in 1985.

Jim Tressel: Won national championships as head coach with Ohio State in 2003 and Youngstown State in 1991, after starring as a quarterback at Berea High School and for his father, coach Lee Tressel, at Baldwin-Wallace College.

Vonda Ward: Twice named to the Parade Magazine All-American team as a basketball player at Trinity High School. Played in the 1995 NCAA women’s basketball championship game for Tennessee and played pro basketball before turning to a pro boxing career.