Masso at tighthead in the 1986 Michigan Cup match versus Grand Rapids
We honor Dan “Masso” Mascellino this month. Masso is known by all Michigan Rugby men, especially those still in the Ann Arbor area. Dan is a loud and loving front rower who is hard to miss. Masso will still get on the field for the occasional game or participate in summer touch to show off the famous Masso dummy and spin move combination. When not around the rugby pitch, Masso is likely away hunting or fishing any month of the year. All with the intent of sharing his catch with his former teammates at the next function.
When did you play?
I started playing for the U of M team in the fall of 1979 as a wing forward. In my third season they asked me to play Prop where I played for the next 30 or so years and still play today as an Olde Boy. I played through 1996 when the game changed as we knew it to be. Back in the day, we all played together, students and non students together. We felt this helped us new players learn more quickly as we had the old guys on the pitch to shepherd us less experienced players during the game. Fellow team mates helped teach me the game. Dave Weber was the captain back then and he lead U of M for several seasons. Greg Rose, Jack Atkinson(aka. Hacksaw), Ian Chapman, Pete Schwarts, and Joe Kreder were some of my closest friends back then. We went on many weekend road trips around the Midwest. I played on many a B side teams and remember not wanting to leave the “Killer Bee’s” when I was first given the chance to play on the A side. Back then we were asked to fill in on the B and C side teams playing 2 or 3 game a weekend to help field the teams. This was great fun as they would always lure us forwards in the extra games by letting us play out in the backs.
As the likes of Jeff Hagan, Tony Menyhart, John Hartman, Dale Tuttle, Dave Perpich, Arnold Cowmeadow, Curt Small, Tommy Mac, Ken Hawk, Jim Hagerman, Scott Crisler, and Jeff Sterns joined the team, I knew I was hooked for life. Arnold Cowmeadow would referee and always seemed to penalize me for “giving the Tusk” to too many opponents. He gave me the book back then titled “Why the Whistle Went” to try and stop my illegal straight arms as well as many more of the rules I had not yet learned. John Wooley and I played many a games as bookends in THE FRONT ROW, John at Loose head and myself at Tight Head. It really helped when I bought my first house in 1983 and Dale Tuttle, John Wooley and Carlos Mantus roomed together, living and breathing rugby. I cannot name all the ruggers that lived with me in this house but all are brothers for life. We started the Rambo Run at the Arb and Dale Tuttle and Ian Chapman made up the course and the work out as they went along.
I started to help out coaching in 1995 or 1996 when Jim Hagerman was the coach. After that it was Tom Stulberg and I, that coached the team with Tom leading the backs and myself as the forwards coach. Adam came over from England and he and I were proud to lead the 2004 team to MRFU & MWRFU CHAMPIONS that year. The team went to the National Championship and Tom Stulberg came back to help lead the team. After that Dave Perpich and I coached until 2011 when we turned it over to Matt Trenary, the current coach. We all are proud of the fine job Matt is still doing today.
Favorite Memories?
Some of my favorite memories are being the Social Chairman for more years than I can remember. Curt Small joined me as co-social chairman and I passed the title on to him.
Any special honors?
I played on several Michigan select sides once the team started to participate in this tournament. We won so many Big Ten Tournaments through out the Late 80’s and 90’s that I do not remember them all. I even got to run with and suit up for the Midwest team up in Canada one year by just showing up to watch Dave Weber, Jeff Hagan, Dale Tuttle and other U of M Midwest players make the team. Thank God they were light in the prop position. It was my highest honor! All that being said I still feel that playing for the Church Street Barbarians was my best accomplishment as a rugby player!
Anything else you’d like us to know?
I know I’ve said way to much and could probably write a book on all the great times and places U of M has afforded me to play and visit. As for the U of M Olde Boys, playing in Ireland and beating them 45 to 5 was the best road trip I was ever on. Taking the Under Grads to England was way more fun that I ever had on that island. God Bless U of M Rugby and “Go Blue”!
