Atkinson, Santo
| Santo Atkinson – (2004) |
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During the period of 1963-70, Santo Atkinson was a standout at three levels of the local sports scene. It provided him with the background to become a three-time football letterman and co-captain at the University of Cincinnati from 1971-74.
Beginning with his eye-opening performances as a running back and defensive specialist with St. Mary’s CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) football program and continuing with his feats at Hawthorne Junior High and Lorain Senior High School, Santo showed his multi-talented skills and his ability to make The Big Play at several different positions.
In 1964, Atkinson led St. Mary’s to the Lorain County CYO Lightweight Division football title. He tallied 27 touchdowns in an eight-game season. Santo then played two years at Hawthorne Junior High where he was a two-way starter for Coach Fleming Mosely’s speedy Cowboys.
Santo, who has the rare distinction of earning eight varsity letters in four different sports at Lorain Senior, still found that football was his forte while attending the old downtown school on Washington Ave.
In 1968, his sophomore season under LHS coach Doug Thompson, Santo performed admirably and earned a varsity letter as a kickoff specialist and alternate linebacker and defensive back. During his junior year, Atkinson retained his kicking duties and started at those same defensive positions with a fine 7-3-0 club.
Remarkably, hard-working Santo also lettered under Coaches Vic Furiga in baseball; Bill Provident in wrestling, and Thompson in track during staggered seasons for the Steelmen.
Santo enjoyed a tremendous senior year as a Lorain grid co-captain. He played every down of every series and never left the field in any game. His teammate was future Ohio State All-American Kurt Schumacher, but then Lorain assistant coach Harvey Herrmann remembers that a Sandusky High staffer told him that the Blue Streaks were more concerned about how to stop Santo rather than Big Kurt.
Although heavily-scouted Lorain lost a heartbreaker to Sandusky, 18-16, Santo later boomed a 34-yard field goal and gained 50 yards in 12 carries as Lorain beat Mansfield, 16-6. Against Marion Harding — an 18-6 loser — Atkinson earned Plain Dealer Dream Team honors by being involved in 20 tackles and rushing for 94 yards in just seven carries. In those days before soccer-style field goal kickers, Santo missed by mere inches a 45-yard straight-ahead FG attempt against Marion.
Among Santo’s other football honors as a high school senior were: Player or Co-player of the week four times; first-team All-Buckeye Conference; second team All-Northeastern Ohio District and Special Mention All-Ohio. The honors came in a 6-4 season in which Lorain lost several other close contests.
Santo earned three varsity letters under two coaches at University of Cincinnati. He played with Ray Callahan’s 2-9-0 club in 1972, then joined former Niles McKinley High mentor Tony Mason’s 4-7-0 and 7-4-0 Bearcat squads of 1973 and 1974, respectively.
Elected Cincinnati co-captain in 1974, Santo totaled more than 900 yards rushing as the Bearcats faced a rugged schedule that included the Washington Huskies, Temple Owls, Louisville Cardinals and Miami of Ohio Red Hawks.
Santo, who had a brief pro trial with the Oakland Raiders in 1975, earned his Bachelor of Administration degree from Cincinnati and his Masters degree from Baldwin-Wallace. He is now Human Resources Director for the Baywest Paper Co.
