Ohio a Cut Above When it Comes to Team Unity
By SETH STASKEYEach year during the week leading up to the Rudy Mumley OVAC All-Star Charity Football Classic the teams try to come up with a way to show a measure of unity.
This year, Shadyside's Johnny Merryman - who reported for camp with a fresh mohawk - enticed the rest of his teammates to do the same.
Not all of them took the bait however.
To do such a thing, however, someone had to have a set of clippers.
River's D.J. Duke - the owner of two state shot put championships - came to camp sporting a well-groomed beard and it was realized that he had a set of clippers.
"I brought the clippers because I hate trimming this (beard) with a regular razor, so I brought my clippers from home," Duke said. "I like the new look. It's just something different to try. I know it will grow back."
Let the work begin.
Martins Ferry's Steven Woodford took the plunge and is sporting a new haircut for tonight's game.
"I kind of like it," Woodford admitted. "It was a sign of unity, but not everyone took part. But it was fun though."
Ohio quarterback Jordan Barbina was one of the guys who opted to go with the mohawk, but realized it didn't look right on him and shaved all the way down to a buzz cut.
Even a member of the Ohio coaching staff is sporting a mohawk for tonight's game.
It's Official
The Rudy Mumley OVAC All-Star Charity Football Classic isn't just an honor for the players, coaches, cheerleaders and Queen of Queens contestants.
The officials selected to work tonight's game also view the game as a reward.
Sam "Chicken" Jones - a football official of 22 years - draws his first assignment as referee in the annual summer extravaganza.
"I am fired up about this," Jones said. "I am almost as fired up as I was about working the Super Six, but this has all local teams and local players. I grew up watching this game, and it's just like a big social event to kick off the season."
Unlike regular season games, this isn't a crew which works together all the time.
The officials are selected and assigned by a formula used by football commissioner Don Zinni.
"There's a method to how it's picked, and you can only work it once every five years, so different guys have a chance to work it," Jones said.
Jones will be joined in the stripes by Joe Michaels (umpire), Lance Rice (linesman), T.J. Brancazio (line judge), Matt Young (side judge), Warren Elliott (field judge) and Mark Sperlazza (back judge).
"We plan on working this game like a regular season game, but we understand the fans aren't there to see us throw flags," Jones continued. "We'll let the kids play, but with the safety issue, we'll keep the game under control."
The honorary official for the game is Jim Sperlazza of Wellsburg.
Welcome Aboard
Parkersburg South joined the OVAC at the end of the football season last year and has been a member ever since. It took part in the spring sports championships.
Three football players and a Queen of Queens candidate are taking part in tonight's game. The players are Chanz Jarrell, James Gifford and Jordan Holliday. The Queens entrant is Kayla Morris who performaned a baton routine, which was impressive to say the least.
Jarrell had never been to the Mumley Classic let alone have any connection to it.
"I didn't realize just how big this game was," Jarrell said earlier in the week. "This has been a great time, and I feel honored to have gotten picked."
The week leading up to tonight's game has definitely left a lasting impression on him.
"I will definitely go back and tell the guys how fun this was and to honestly set their goal to get picked to play in this," Jarrell said. "I knew football was big up here, but I didn't realize this game was important to everyone as it is."
Relatively Speaking
Ten players in tonight's game, including seven on the West Virginia side have had either their dad or brother take part in tonight's game as well.
Dan Gordon - the all-stater from Wheeling Central - has followed his father (Gordon) and brother (Jonathan) to the island. John Marshall's Ryan Lewicki has heard tale of his grandfather, Raymond, who took part in the very first OVAC All-Star Game in 1948.
Others involved in the family tree include: Monroe Central's Schuyler Bondy, Martins Ferry's Jeremy Murray, St. Clairsville's Brody Call, Tyler's Nate Zills, Wheeling Park's Derek Stahl, Linsly's Nick Ohrman, Oak Glen's Doug Murray and Brooke's Mike Henderson.
Call is Made
Speaking of the Brody Call, tonight's game caps a hectic couple weeks of sports for the future Kent State Golden Flash.
Call was a key member of the St. Clairsville's Post 159 American Legion baseball team. That unit appeared to be on the cusp of advancing to the state tournament, but two losses in the district final two Saturdays ago derailed that hope.
The very next day, Call reported to West Liberty University for Mumley OVAC All-Star Camp, meaning not even 24 hours had passed and Call had traded in his baseball bat for a football helmet.
"It was a hectic few days trying to get everything ready to come up here and still playing baseball," Call admitted. "I wish I was going to be playing some more baseball (this week in the Ohio State tournament), but it didn't work out that way, so I am just going to enjoy this experience as much as I can."
Another connection for Call is his dad played in this game in 1993 and who was the coach? None other than Beallsville's Dave Caldwell.
Welcome Back
The Mumley Classic will welcome back its class of 1999 this evening to celebrate its 10-year reunion.
Confirmed to return for Ohio this evening are: Craig Bruney (Martins Ferry), Derrick Leach (Shenandoah), Ryan "Scoops" Myers (Union Local), Eric Battistel (Steubenville Central), Jayson Johnson (Shadyside), George Shreve (Martins Ferry), Seth Francis (East Liverpool), Ohio head coach Dave Bruney (Martins Ferry) and Queen Kelli Detling-Wehr (Barnesville).
The West Virginia returnees include: Jay Johnson (Wheeling Park), Derek Palmer (Magnolia), Chad Bailey (Tyler Consolidated), Greg Kobulnicky (Weir), Quincy Wilson (Weir), Klete Kutrovac (Linsly), Loren Heldreth (Wheeling Park), Andre Barnabei (Weir), head coach John Stender (Tyler), assistant coaches Rick Leach (Tyler) and Rob Caldwell (Tyler).
Charity Classic
The term charity isn't just stuck into the title of tonight's game for show. During the course of the 37 years of the game, it's donated more than 800K to charity organizations and scholarships throughout the Ohio Valley.
Queen of Queens
At halftime, the annual crowning of the Queen of Queens will be announced along with her court and Miss Congeniality. I had the opportunity to take in the show Friday evening at WesBanco Arena and it's going to be interesting to see who comes out on top. There were several talented girls taking part and being in the judge's seat would be no easy task.
McDonald's Band
More than 220 of the Ohio Valley's finest musicians have been on campus at West Liberty University since Wednesday preparing what sure will be a knock-out performance once again. Each year, it's tough to fathom how musicians from all over the Ohio Valley can come together and in just under four full days of preparation can put together a show that simply knocks people's socks off.
Come on In
Gates for tonight's game open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets at the gate will cost $10.
