BY MIRIAM SMITH
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MASSILLON -- Brian Linz bolted from the parking lot with a big blue and white 'X' flag streaming from his back Saturday night, a boisterous caped-crusading Bomber of sorts who couldn't wait to meet up with other fans.
He and his father, Joe Linz, were among the busloads of fans making the nearly four-hour trek from Cincinnati to Paul Brown Stadium to cheer on St. Xavier in its first championship game since 1992. St. X lost to Canton McKinley, 33-10.
Joe Linz, a 1969 graduate, tried to count how many family members made it to the game. He rattled off uncles, sisters, their husbands and two cousins playing in the game. All told, 23 or 24. And that doesn't count the 18 members of the two generations of his family who attended St. X through the years. His son is a 1994 graduate.
"It's a very strong tradition in our family," he said.
Judging from the bear hugs and hollers of recognition from a mob of fans gathering in a parking lot, it also was a reunion.
Michael Lottman, class of '65, talked with Doug Lange; they met each other through their sons, who, true to form, also went to St. Xavier.
"St. X is something special," Mr. Lottman said. "The friendships that you make here . . . you have for life."
A busload of about 45 fans had plenty of time to bond on the drive north. After pulling into the stadium lot, they assembled a buffet table, and the celebration began.
"I think it's out of respect for the team, respect for the school," said Cameron Cahill, 21, a St. X alum. "They (the team) represent not only themselves, but everybody who graduated from St. X. That's why we're here and there's such a large alumni base."
There was no turning back these fans, some of whom said they would have battled even the cruelest of elements to root for the Bombers. As it happened, it was a balmy December evening.
"It's exciting. It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing," said Kim Kupper of Fairfield.
"It could have been freezing cold, a blizzard, we still would have come up here. St. X is where it's at this year."
Brian Linz cheered the St. X faithful to the end.
"We didn't get all the way here for nothing," he said after the game.
"It's still all about tradition," his father added.
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