That beginning laid the foundation for what now is a very successful program. Edgewood has had just 11 losing seasons, won 13 league championships and been to the state playoffs 10 times in the last 12 years.
Fleming and many others who have been a part of the Cougars’ tradition will return to Kumler Field tonight, Sept. 11, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the school.
“I feel proud of all the guys I played with and of the friends I made,” said Fleming, who is a manager for CSX Transportation in Cincinnati. “Every time we get together, we talk about football. It’s a good feeling an I’m proud to be a part of that community even though I don’t live there anymore.”
Fleming does return to the community often to watch his grandson Drew Reckart play for the fifth-grade blue team.
“That’s my favorite thing to do now,” Fleming said. “I spend a lot of time up there now when I’m not traveling with my job.”
Tonight’s celebration was the brainchild of Scott Clemmons, a 1994 Edgewood graduate and current assistant coach. He said what drove him was knowing how many of the coaches were Edgewood graduates and how they constantly talk about the past.
“I was just trying to figure out a way to bring all of that back together,” said Clemmons, who is expecting about 150 to attend. “We preach about Edgewood tradition around here all the time. The kids see these guys on film, but don’t know them personally. Now we get to show it to them.”
The evening will begin with a tailgate party at 5 p.m. on the tennis courts. A tour of the fieldhouse will follow at 5:40 p.m., and former players and coaches will be able to watch the team’s pregame preparation. A group picture will be taken at 7 p.m. and then players and coaches will be acknowledged by decade just prior to kickoff.
“A night like this is unique,” said John Thomas, the district’s director of community relations. “When you look at other districts in the area, we’re still pretty young, but we’re at the age now where we are processing generations of families. We have grandchildren of guys who started this program.
“It’s an opportunity to get together and reminisce,” he continued. “The time is just right for something like this.”
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2852 or sweaver@coxohio.com.
About the Author