Running back / defensive back1961-65

High school honors

Broke the Ohio high school football scoring record with 196 points his senior year

Averaged more than 10 yards per carry as a senior, when he was named first-team All-Ohio.

First-team Stark County and honorable mention All-America.

Named honorable mention All-Ohio as a junior.

Never came off the field as he handled kicking, punting and all return duties as well as starting both way

Earned three letters each in football, basketball and baseball.

His 1,024 points still stands as the Louisville career basketball scoring record.

College highlights:

Three-year letterman at Notre Dame.

Scored Notre Dame’s only touchdown in 10-10 tie against Michigan State in 1966 “Game of the Century.”

Led Notre Dame with 713 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior.

Ranked second among Irish receivers that year with 37 catches for 442 yards and two touchdowns.

Named honorable mention Parade All-American as a senior.

Gained 681 yards from scrimmage and scored seven touchdowns as a junior, when Notre Dame won the national championship.

Professional career: Drafted No. 8 overall by the Boston Patriots in 1969.

Played for the Patriots through 1972, as well as one game with Bills in 1971

Played for Winnipeg (1973) of the Canadian Football League, then with New York (1974) and Charlotte (1975) of the World Football League.

Coaching career: Assistant coach at Albany State (1981-82) and William Patterson (1983-85); graduate assistant at Notre Dame (1986-87).

Personal: Born Jan. 2, 1947. ... Serves on Davenport (Ind.) University advisory board. ... Runs Gladieux Travel agency in South Bend, Ind. ... Earned degree in economics from Notre Dame in 1969 and MSA from Notre Dame in 1988. ... Wife, Inge. Children: Annette, 22; Anja, 18; and Molly, 12. ... Father, Ted, and brother,
Louisville's Gladieux ran foes wild. Hap Lillick brought his wing-T and unbalanced line from Massillon to Louisville High School in 1960. But it wasn't until two years later, when Bob Gladieux suited up for the Leopards that everything came together. In Week 2 of Gladieux's sophomore year, he scored both of Louisville's touchdowns. One on a punt return, and added an interception in a 14-6 win over Canton South. That turned out to be the most points the 9-1 South team gave up in a season in which the Wildcats finished 9-1 and won the Federal League. Overnight, Gladieux went from a quiet but promising youngster to cover boy.” I used to help a friend of mine deliver papers, and when we got up the next morning, there I was on the cover of The Repository sports page," said Gladieux, who will be among the first class enshrined in the Stark County High School Football Hall of Fame. "That really awe-struck me.” As time passed, Gladieux got used to the attention. The Leopards had winning seasons just three times in the nine years prior to his class reaching varsity age. From 1962-64, Louisville went 28-1-1, earning Tri-County League titles each season. They went 10-0 Gladieux's senior year, a season in which the Leopards outscored opponents 420-24.For two years, Gladieux shared backfield duties with Tom Chlebeck, who went on to break Gladieux's single-season state scoring record of 196 points. Louisville's top defensive player was Mark Stier, who as an Ohio State linebacker was named MVP of the 1969 Rose Bowl.” My senior year, we felt we could play with anybody," Gladieux said. "It all stemmed from beating Massillon our freshman year. Talk about a confidence-builder.” As the team's primary running back, punter, place-kicker and return specialist, Gladieux earned first-team All-Ohio and honorable mention All-American in football his senior season. He was honorable mention all-state as junior and added similar honors in basketball and baseball. He is one of the few Leopards to have his football number (31) and basketball number (30) retired.” I was just amazed by the things he could do on the athletic fields," said Andy Aljancic, who coached running backs and was the head baseball coach during Gladieux's senior year. "How shifty he was and how he could swerve with speed. He was special.” Most recruiters came calling, including Ohio State's Woody Hayes, who practically set up camp outside the Gladieux front door. But a devout Catholic growing up, the 5-foot-11, 170-pounder waited almost the entire recruiting season before getting the call from Notre Dame, the place he had waited his whole life to play football.” I told Coach Hayes that I respected him so much; I didn't want to deceive him. My heart was set on Notre Dame,"Gladieux said. "If Notre Dame had waited any longer, I probably would have played at Ohio State". Like all freshmen in his day, Gladieux spent his first year on the scout team, trying to balance academics and athletics. His entire sophomore season and the first eight games of his junior year were devoted mostly to special teams.Gladieux's first start came when all-American Nick Eddy slipped getting off a train and injured his shoulder. The start came on national television. Called the "Game of the Century," Notre Dame and defending national champion Michigan State both came in 8-0. Television then limited each school to two national appearances per season. The Irish already had met their quota, but the clamor around that match up forced a change.” That was so big back then," Gladieux said. "They only showed one game a week, and we assumed it wouldn't be us. But there were people we didn't know on our sidelines, on our bench. The attention paid to this game was unprecedented".Gladieux caught a 46-yard pass for Notre Dame's only TD in the 10-10 tie. Notre Dame retained the No. 1 spot the rest of the season.” That touchdown. That's kind of been my nitch in South Bend," said Gladieux, who still lives there, running his own travel agency. "It was a memorable game, maybe more memorable for how it ended, in a tie. If somebody had won - we missed two field goals after all - I don't think people would have put the emphasis on it that they did.” With Eddy's graduation, Gladieux took over tailback duties the next season. He ran for 713 yards and 12 touchdowns, and caught 37 passes for 442 yards and two more scores. But the Irish lost two of their first four games that season, ending any hopes of repeating as national champs.

What followed were seven forgettable years in professional football. The Boston Patriots of the AFL drafted Gladieux in the eighth round, and he thought he would start on special teams as a rookie. He even called his family to tell them about it. But just days before the opener, he heard on the television he had been cut. A trip to the coach’s office the next day confirmed it.” Unfortunately, I went to an organization that wasn't very stable financially. They would cut people about to make either performance or roster incentive bonuses". Said Gladieux, who was resigned the next day and played out his rookie season with the Patriots. "For the first time in my life, I was on a team that wasn't playing to win. We were playing to survive”. Cut in the final days of camp the next year, Gladieux attended the Patriots opener as a spectator, until he heard his name over the loudspeakers.” I sat down while some buddies went to get hot dogs and beer when the announcer told me to come to the locker room". Gladieux said Management took John Charles, the No. 1 pick from Purdue, back to the locker room after warm-ups, and they were trying to get him to sign a new contract five minutes before the game. He wouldn't sign, so they cut him and came looking for me.” I figured, hey, I might as well be paid for showing up."Gladieux doesn't remember those times when he reflects on his playing days. His years in Louisville and South Bend come back easier. He also is grateful that people remember him fondly.” I think of all the great players who just played when I did, and all the great players before and after, and this is just such an honor" Gladieux said. "I was hoping to be in that inaugural group, and now I'm looking forward to coming home in June.”I've already heard from friends in Louisville, and look forward to seeing everyone again".

Article written by Joe Frollo Jr.Repository assistant sports editor Saturday Feb. 2, 2002 Reprinted with permission from The Canton Repository 2006