Dan Wilson #35

Running Back / Defensive Back Kickoff Returns / Punter1992-1994

High School Honors: Junior- 1st Team All N.B.C.1st team

A.P. Northeast Inland All-District Team1st Team Canton Repository

1st Team All Akron Beacon Journal

1st Team All Alliance Review

Special Mention All-State

Stark County Player of the Year, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the award

Second Team All-Ohio

1st Team All-County Jersey #35 retired

1st Team All N.B.C. N.B.C.

Player of the Year TV-23 Player of the week, for the game against Springfield

1st Team All Akron Beacon Journal single season rushing leader with 1,702 yds.

1st Team Canton Repository1st Team A.P. Northeast Inland All District

College Attended The University of Akron for two years

Coaching,Coaches the Leopards” I love coaching kids the game of football”.

Personal Born December 4th, 1976

Children: Beautiful son Cody who is two years old.

Wife Michelle Morris of Louisville Dan’s first memory of Louisville football came in 1988 when Rick Crislip took over as head coach. Four years later, Dan would suit up in a Leopard uniform with Rick Crislip as his head coach. Watching his team play, Dan knew he wanted to be as good as Brian Beatty when he got his chance to play. Now, almost ten years later, a young football player sits in his home and his first memory of Louisville football is watching Dan Wilson play. Yet another young football player wants to be as good as Dan Wilson someday. Dan’s family played a big part of his success as a Leopard. They were always there to support him and never had to push him during football season. “They were my biggest fan's, that's why they were my biggest influence”. Over time, Dan got to know his coach very well.” Playing for Rick Crislip, besides my parent's, he was probably my biggest influence in my high school career. He was always there no matter what Along with his brother Cotton. They pushed me to be my best everyday”. When it came to preparing for a game, everyone always does their own thing.

For Dan, preparing for a game meant a little time to kick back and throw on some A.C/D.C. and Metallica and spending time with his teammates.” When it was go time though, it was on”. Every player has their favorite moment, for Dan, it was in front of 17,000 rabid fans at Canton Fawcett Stadium, week 3 of 1994. With only 1:46 to play in the game, Louisville QB Ryan Crislip scores on a beautiful 11 yd. TD run. Louisville down 14-12, Coach Crislip knew what he had to do. A two-point conversion was the only option. Nine feet away from a tie ball game, Dan gets the call to carry the ball for the conversion. What goes through a players head in such a huge game and basically one last opportunity for a chance to win the game? “Just score, Do it for my teammates, do it for myself, do it for my school, do it for the community, and just do it for Louisville football”. And score he certainly did. But sometimes, nothing compares to beating West Branch. As was the case in 1992. “We were up 31-0 at the half and end up winning 38-12.” They were #1 in the state and we were #2, never saw so many people in the stadium like I saw that night”. As a fan. One of Dan's favorite moments came on November 1st, 2002. Louisville's 500th win all-time.” Knowing that my family and I were a part of it. Between my father, my two brothers and me, we were part of 98 of those victories. That speaks for itself to me”. As good as everything was, there always comes a time for that heartbreaking moment. For Dan, it came his Sr. year. After a week 10 beating of Minerva by a score of 37-29. “Just knowing I couldn't ever put on the blue and white again scarred me for life it felt like”. Nearly eight years later, Dan was there for his brother and knew the feeling his brother had in his stomach after losing a heartbreaker to Olmsted Falls in the playoffs. Certainly everyone, fans and players alike, have a game that they would like to go back in time and witness. For Dan, that game would be a week 10 match up in 1965 vs. Minerva. Where Tom Chlebeck scored 8 TD's and Louisville went on to win 62-0.With approx. 712 schools in Ohio currently fielding a football team, I asked Dan what team he would like to see Louisville play more than any other. Simply put, St. Thomas Aquinas.

A little word association with Dan.

Louisville Football: Tradition

Football in Stark County: The best

Paul Starkey Legend

Bob Gladieux: Incredible

Dan Wilson Competitive and humble

Rick Crislip Father figure

Paul Farrah When running the football, never got caught from behind.

500 wins: Proud to have been a part of it.

Tradition Speaks for itself .

Finally, a few words from Dan..”I would also like to mention a special thanks to some certain people, my family they were always there and still are”. Thank you, Rick and Cotton Crislip- they were such great influences on me who are truly blessed with coaching ability, and to Brian Beatty, Ken Kuhn, Jeff Kuhn, Tom Chlebeck and Bob Gladieux, thanks for laying the ground for all of us, you men are true legends of this great tradition. And finally to all of my teammates I played with. I received many awards throughout my career, those awards and successes that I had will always be theirs too. My teammates made me the player that I was. Thank you and Go Leopard's.