January 6, 2008 (Portville, NY) - Big Jim Hawbaker submitted his annual list of top teams in Portville Football history.  The 2007 squad broke the Top 20 at #16, shaking up the whole revised list.

 

Always controversial, Big Jim's new list was limited to seasons with a minimum of seven games.  This new move by Big Jim basically eliminated the World War II years, when PCS teams went undefeated, but only played 5 or 6 games a season.  Gasoline was rationed during that era, and football games were limited to local travel.

 

"My list in just an opinion," noted Big Jim in a recent interview with The Panther Profile.  "I've been watching Portville Football since 1945 first-hand, played for the Panthers for four years, and I personally know dozens of the players throughout the modern age.  I also talked to all the people who know about Portville football history, and I try to tie it all in to the facts and statistics.  After much thought, I decided to limit the very best 25 teams to at least a 7-game season.  What else can I say?"

 

Big Jim continued, "I basically look at the number of victories, number of losses and ties, winning percentage, points scored, points allowed, point differential, number of shut-outs, year it occurred...then I tie together the stats and all the stories and opinions of former players.  With my list, I try to be as objective as possible.  But it is certainly debatable and subject to revision over time."

 

For his research, Hawbaker also claims to have checked all the Olean Times Herald information related to Portville football, as well as the old Portville newspapers of the early 20th century.

 

"I've talked with everyone from Lee Frair to Tony Wilson to Wimpy Swetland to  Bob Connell to Lance Chaffee to Boomer Connell to Kevin Curren to Gary Swetland to Chris Holcomb to Matt Milne to Brian Nitsche...and everyone in between," declared the old woodsman.

 

The 1975 Panther football team remains on top of the Hawbaker List.  The 1984 squad is second, the last team to play Pennsylvania schools in the old Border League.

 

Big Jim added, "The rules have changed since the state playoffs were instituted.  It is much more difficult to go undefeated now.  In the old PCS days, before state playoffs, it was easier to go undefeated...because you only played 7 to 9 games."

 

"In my book, if a current Panther football team goes 9-0 or 10-0, and wins the sectional championship at Wilson Stadium...they could de-throne the '75 team, but only if their point differential is higher.  It may not matter how far they go in the state playoffs...in order to be fair historically."