WHEELING — The year was 1972!

Richard Nixon was in the White House, the Dallas Cowboys were Super Bowl Champions and a postage stamp cost six cents.

Life was pretty good.

For guys like Shadyside grad Larry Falbo and Magnolia grad Rob Rothlisberger, life was really good. They had not only just graduated from high school, but 50 years ago they were preparing to play their final high school football game as part of the Ohio-West Viginia All-Star Game, which is now known as the OVAC Rudy Mumley All-Star Football Game.

Falbo and Rothisberger are two of the players who will be on hand at this year’s OVAC game, taking part in the 50-year anniversary of their appearance in the game, which was a 24-6 Ohio victory in a game that was played at Martins Ferry’s Purple Rider Stadium due to flooding at Wheeling Island.

“We destroyed (West Virginia),” Falbo, a retired educator and school administrator at Shadyside, recalled. “We had some studs on our team. Just monsters all over the field it seemed like.”

The other Ohio players returning are Mike Bilica (Bridgeport), Chuck Fillipovich (Adena), Dick Frizzi (Bellaire), Gary Kish (Smithfield), Rick Link (St. John Central), Jim Murad (Bridgeport) and Tom Rice (Steubenville Central).

“I hadn’t been keeping track (of the years) and when I got word of the reunion for the 50 years, I thought, “oh my gosh! It can’t really be 50 years already?,” Falbo said. “I am going to really enjoy this. It’s going to be great to see the guys again.”

Rothlisberger, went on to become the Director of Pharmacy at Wetzel County Hospital in New Martinsville, unfortunately remembered the score, but it didn’t affect his feelings of the event.

“To be picked for that game, you had to be a pretty good player and when you’re in that type of game, everyone is a winner,” Rothlisberger said. “I enjoyed the camaraderie, spending two weeks on a college campus because it was the longest I’d been away from home at one time and just the opportunity itself.”

“I think these reunions are wonderful,” Rothlisberger said. “Many of us returned for our 10-year reunion and I remember they had a reception for us at the Shriner’s Temple, but to come back 50 years later is even sweeter. It’s going to be great to see the guys again.”

Other West Virginia players expected to be on hand are Mark Bishop (Triadelphia), Chad Defede (Linsly), Rick Markonich (Bishop Donahue), Tom Meeks (Paden City), Ralph O’Neil (Magnolia) and Thad Podratsky (Wheeling Central).

Two Queen of Queens from that 1972 game are also expected to be back. They are Janice Yandora Bell (Yorkville) and LuAnn Torok Harms (Smithfield).

As has been said before, when the all-star players reported for camp in this era, they went there even more big-eyed than kids today. Not because the game means any more or any less, but because of the opportunity to meet new people and forge relationships with rivals and people they’d competed against throughout their careers.

“We knew some of the names, but it’s nothing like it is now,” Rothlisberger. “I remember Ralph (O’Neil) and I went up to camp at West Liberty and we were wondering how it was even going to work. We didn’t have any idea what to expect other than we were going to play football. I know I didn’t meet anyone (in the event) that I didn’t like.”

The same can be said on the Ohio side. Falbo, who played defensive back, said not only did he not know many of his Ohio teammates personally, but they’ve not kept in touch since the game ended nearly as much as players today will be able to do.

“I can’t even remember all of the guys on the roster,” Falbo said. “It was a great experience and meeting so many great guys was the best part. Everyone goes their separate ways after the game and I’ve really not crossed paths with many of them since that night, so that’s what makes these reunions even nicer.”

One aspect of the game that’s not changed over the course of time is both state’s desire to win. Many all-star games — at all levels — are played more like the exhibitions that they are, but as it pertains to the OVAC Game both teams want to win in the worst way.

“Absolutely, we wanted to win,” Falbo stressed. “We didn’t have hardly any interaction with the West Virginia team. We would pass each other on the way to the dining hall, but that was about it. There was no mingling or anything social between the two teams.”

Both Falbo and Rothlisberger were aware of and pointed out an incident that occurred in a stairwell in the dormitory between a member of the West Virginia coaching staff and an Ohio player.

However, both also claimed their memories were too foggy to be able to share many more details.

“I remember that incident and then no one would talk about it (when people questioned us),” Falbo explained. “Other than that, it was like we stayed on our turf and they stayed on their turf type thing.”

Obviously while the game was still in relative infancy, being picked for the OVAC Game wasn’t something that Rothlisberger had on his radar prior to or during his final season with the Blue Eagles.

“I remember Louie Nocida was our coach at Magnolia and he called me into his room just before graduation and asked if I’d play and I said, ‘sure,’ Rothlisberger recalled. “I didn’t know anything about the game. I thought about playing after college, but that would have been as a walk on at WVU. I never thought about the all-star game.”

Once they got to the two-week camp, both players realized that there was going to be more to it than just showing up and running a few plays.

“I had just turned 18 years old and was in the best shape of my life,” Falbo said. “Coach (George) Strager was our coach and he had us working like it was boot camp. I played one season at West Liberty and it was no comparison to what Strager put us through.”

Both Falbo and Rothlisberger said if they had a chance to address this year’s teams, their message would be simple … enjoy the experience!

Staskey can be reached via email at sstaskey@timesleaderonline.com or at twitter.com/TLSportsSeth