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StumbleuponMomentum gaining for Herbstreit Series
T-M, Wayne players get a 'great experience' in nationally-televised football competition.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
When it comes to high school football in Ohio, too much is never enough.
At least, not yet.
"One thing about America, if something's good, we overdo it," Jim Herbstreit said in July while promoting his son's Kirk Herbstreit Football Series. "If it starts popping up all over America, where we have 15 events on Labor Day, I suspect that wouldn't necessarily be good."
The event, which started with a Tyler, Texas, team battling Cincinnati Colerain in Columbus Crew Stadium, has grown into 15 games at three sites in two states over two days.
"It started with the idea of maybe just having a few games, and it's obviously grown in the past few years," Kirk Herbstreit said at that press conference. "We're not looking to make money out of this. We're just looking to pay bills so we can bring in great coaches and great teams to this state."
Plus, there is talk of expansion to either Florida or California in the next couple years.
"At some point, you'd probably call (expanding) off," Kirk Herbstreit said. "I think four or five (states), that would be about it."
Trotwood-Madison (0-1) plays Arlington Bowie (0-0) at Texas Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 30. Wayne (1-0) plays East St. Louis (0-0) on Sunday, Aug. 31, at Paul Brown Stadium.
The Rams opened last Friday with a 27-25 loss to Marian-Franklin. Wayne beat Lakota West 20-17 last Thursday.
Interest in high school football has gone from regional to national with scouting Web sites, recruiting message boards and mythical national titles from nationwide polls.
And while a loss to rugged out-of-state teams hurt Ohio schools' playoff chances more than others, teams are lining up for exposure. Trotwood is connected with the event for a second straight year. But this time, the Rams will travel to Texas.
"It will be exciting for those kids," Trotwood coach Maurice Douglass said. "We're trying to get them pepped up for it. It ain't taking too much to get it done, but we're excited about the opportunity."
As more and more high school games hit national TV networks and $30,000 contracts go out to schools to cover expenses, the ESPN college football analyst said he wasn't worried about the game's over-commercialization.
"No, not really. I think it enhances the high school experience," Kirk Herbstreit said. "In fact, ESPN is going to be spending more and more time on the grassroots of America with high school football and other high school sports.
"We're not trying to take advantage of like, LeBron James. We're just putting an event on. We're trying to give these kids a great experience."
Contact this reporter at 225-6951 or mgokavi@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Football Series
All times EDT
Fawcett Stadium, Canton
Saturday, Aug. 30
11 a.m. — Warren Howland vs. Klein Forest (Houston, Texas)
2 p.m. — Canton McKinley vs. Cathedral (Indianapolis)
5 p.m. — Youngstown Mooney vs. Covington Catholic (Park Hills, Ky.)
8 p.m. — Massillon Washington vs. Jordan (Sandy, Utah)
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati
Saturday, Aug. 30
11 a.m. — Cin. Elder vs. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
2 p.m. — Middletown vs. Warren Central (Indianapolis, Ind.)
5 p.m. — Cin. Colerain vs. McKeesport (Penn.)
8 p.m. — Cin. St. Xavier vs. Prattville (Ala.)
Texas Stadium, Irving
Saturday, Aug. 30
Noon — Mansfield Timberview (Arlington, Texas) vs. Buford (Ga.)
3 p.m. — Cedar Hill (Texas) vs. Cin. LaSalle
6 p.m. — Justin Northwest (Texas) vs. Woodland Hills (Pittsburgh)
9 p.m. — Arlington Bowie (Texas) vs. Trotwood-Madison
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati
Sunday, Aug. 31
Noon — Cin. Moeller vs. Montgomery Bell (Nashville, Tenn.)
3 p.m. — Wayne vs. East St. Louis, Ill.
6 p.m. — Lakota West vs. St. Rita (Chicago)
Online: herbstreitfootballseries.com
