"Roaring Tigers: The History of Southern Columbia Football, 2nd Edition" Author Merrill Shaffer on the Sunbury Press Books Show Artwork

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"Roaring Tigers: The History of Southern Columbia Football, 2nd Edition" Author Merrill Shaffer on the Sunbury Press Books Show

October 17, 2025

Football has ingrained itself into Pennsylvania's history since the late 19th century, and at the high school level, one program stands out for its enduring success. Established in 1962, the Southern Columbia Tigers, based in Catawissa, PA have seen hard times in its past which nearly caused its end. Since 1979, however, there has been one head coach, Jim Roth--more than 500 regular season victories and 14 PIAA state championships later, the Tigers have never known a losing season.

Author Merrill Shaffer chronicled the history of this team, its coaches and players through the first edition of "Roaring Tigers." Now, a second edition has been released, and Shaffer returns to the BookSpeak Network to tell more tales of the Tigers.

Speaking with host Lawrence Knorr, Shaffer discusses how Roth and the Tigers developed a no-nonsense, efficient style of football, which plays for the long haul. Numerous former players went on to play in college, and some even made it to the NFL. More importantly, Shaffer notes how many players went on to be successful in life.

A retired law enforcement officer, Merrill Shaffer is an avid football fan who has also written "A Super Steelers Journey," which coincides with another favorite club. He is a student of sports history and attends several games every fall. He lives with his family in Palmyra, Pennsylvania.