Football connects family

SANDUSKY — Anthony "Tony" Schaefer jokes to help people understand a lifelong loyalty to his favorite football team. "When I was born, the doctor spanked me, and I yelled, 'Go Browns,'" Tony said while laughing. "But, realistically, I've loved them ever since I was a little kid," said Tony, who retired from his family's business, Raymond J. Schaefer Construction, in Sandusky. "This is in my blood. I bleed orange." Many consider themselves big Browns fans, but few — if any — can truly lay claim to being a larger supporter than Tony. Here's a rundown of the Sandusky resident's resume to prove his diehard passion for Cleveland: • At 13, Tony — who's now 72 — attended the 1964 National Football League Championship game. It's the last title Cleveland's football team won — or, for that matter, appeared in. "Back then, you could storm the field. I remember doing it with my older brother, Raymond, who was 17," said Tony, noting his brother passed away in 1973. "He was climbing the goalpost and helped tear it down with other fans. I've been going to games since I was 7, which began with my dad, Raymond Julian." • As a season ticket holder, Tony's attended hundreds of games and, to this day, rarely misses a home contest. In fact, up until a few years ago, he traveled and showed up to many road matchups in other cities involving the Browns as well. It earned him the nickname "Mobile Dawg." "For three years, in the mid-2000s, I went to every game, home and road," Tony said. "And, in 2022, I had shoulder surgery, and even my doctor knew to schedule it around a two-week period when the Browns were on a bye week so I didn't miss a thing." • In the late 1990s, when NFL owners evaluated an application for the Browns to, once again, play in Cleveland — a few years beforehand, its former owner moved the team to Baltimore and renamed them the Ravens — Tony personally delivered an important document to executives. "I went down to Atlanta with three busloads of fans," Tony said. "We took down 1.5 million signatures that Browns fans collected. We took it directly into the NFL meetings." • For many, Tony drove vehicles — including a massive bus — directly taking fans, including local backers, to home games. He no longer drives a busload full of people but fondly recalls those days. • He named many of his dogs after beloved Browns players, including Otto Graham, Clay Matthews and Sandusky's own Thom Darden. • In 2004, for these reasons and others, Tony received an induction into the Visa Hall of Fans, the only sports exhibit honoring fans for their contributions and dedication to a team. Tony got elected, in part, for his charitable contributions tying into his Browns fandom. "I have always donated my time for a lot of things," said Tony, who today volunteers for Cancer Services in Sandusky. "It's important." Football and family But, perhaps, the No. 1 reason why Tony revels in rooting for the Browns revolves around his family. Going to games — whether as a son, brother father or grandfather — represents a highly anticipated bonding experience for Tony and his family. Tony has two children and five grandchildren. These days, three generations worth of Schaefers often take up a row in Tony's Dawg Pound season ticket seats at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Schaefers always attempt to sync up their barks and howls so they can echo in unison whenever Cleveland scores a touchdown or comes up with a defensive stop. And during road games, the Schaefers — along with other family members and friends — gather in Raymond's massive basement to cheer on the Browns. Raymond is one of Tony's children. Tony labeled this season as his favorite one ever. Here's why. For starters, the Browns clinched a playoff berth for just the third time since returning to Cleveland as a franchise in 1999. With COVID-19-related restrictions in place during the most recent appearance, 2020-21, fans couldn't attend games in droves, and people were highly discouraged from gathering in groups. And his grandchildren were either too young or not born yet to witness the 2002-03 run. But now they can actually experience what a winning football team looks like in Cleveland and properly celebrate this moment with Tony. Two of Tony's grandchildren, Luke and Anthony V, each described what this season has meant for them and their grandfather: • Luke: He's the biggest fan I've ever met in my life and ever will. When we were kids, we'd go over to his house, and he'd pay us $1 to say 'Go Browns' or boo the (Pittsburgh) Steelers. And going to the Browns game on those bus trips was something special. Watching the games with my grandpa is a family tradition. I wouldn't want to watch the games with anyone else. • Anthony: He's the biggest reason we go to the games and the reason why I'm a Browns fan, too. I know how special the Browns making the playoffs are for me. It's only times 10 for him. A lot of people don't understand the passion we have for the Browns. This means so much to our family. It's what we love, and we love our grandpa. Tony echoed their sentiments. "This year has been so special," he said. "We are winning, and my grandkids finally get to see a winner. Just making memories with them around the Browns, that is what means the most to me." Tony, Luke, Anthony and other family members plan to huddle up for Saturday's playoff game against the Houston Texans (4:30 p.m. NBC) at Raymond's home. So How does Tony think the team can fare, needing to win four successive games to secure the franchise's first-ever Super Bowl? "I'm not sure, but that would be the ultimate thing. I couldn't describe it," Tony said. "All I know is, if it happens, I'll be there, at the actual game, and then I'll celebrate with my family."