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Sports TwitterHerbstreit steps back from Ohio vs. USA Challenge
Former Centerville star has taken name off of high school football event.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Don't look for the four-story mural of Kirk Herbstreit at the Ohio vs. USA Challenge this fall.
The massive billboard adorned the back of the end zone at the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium. Herbstreit, an ESPN and ABC college football analyst and former Centerville High School standout, has backpedaled, taking his name off the third annual high school football event that he founded.
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"I still support it," Herbstreit said at the recent Sonny Unger Foundation Dinner in Dayton. "I love high school football. But there was behind-the-scenes turmoil. It (event) almost went away.
"For the fans, coaches and players, it was the best event. I got e-mails and calls about it all the time. It was awesome. A lot of kids who played in the event are being recruited by the Ohio States of the world and a lot are not, but they all loved it."
The unprecedented event will consist of 11 games this fall, down from 18 last year. There were financial problems in paying off various vendors, organizers said.
"I wanted it to become something run professionally and run the right way," Herbstreit said. "We need to fine tune it to a handful of games."
Centerville played in the event in 2006 (a 21-0 loss to Eastern powerhouse Don Bosco of Ramsey, N.J.), but will not participate this fall because of scheduling conflicts. The Elks will host nationally-ranked Byrnes of Duncan, S.C., in September in what should be a top draw.
"We had a great experience," said Centerville football coach and athletic director Ron Ullery. "Our players enjoyed it and it was great exposure for our program. It helped. I'd be glad to put our name and resume in the hopper every year and be considered."
Herbstreit and partner Josh Johnston ran the event. They remain friends.
"We're doing it for the right reasons," said Johnston, the event president. "High school football is near and dear to our hearts and it's important. We strive to keep it for the players. ... It's true some of these events are getting out of control."
Some teams like Hoover (Ala.) have more national visibility than a mid-major college team. Hoover was featured in MTV's reality show Two-A-Days.
Hoover will play Cincinnati football juggernaut Colerain in the Challenge. The Labor Day weekend matchup will be aired live on ESPN2 at Nippert Stadium. The Alabama High School Athletic Association stepped in and ruled that Hoover cannot play on a Sunday.
"We're finalizing possible television deals with cable companies and times, and still ironing things out," Johnston said.
The football extravaganza will provide a Dayton flavor again with Trotwood-Madison playing Kentucky standout Highlands and Northmont playing national power DeMatha (Md.). They will play in the seven-game South Event at Nippert. There will also be a four-game North Event at Fawcett Stadium in Canton.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2478 or rjackson@DaytonDailyNews.com. Marc Katz contributed to this story.
