As humans we often try to simplify things by looking at nothing but the basic facts and ignoring the peripheral. If one does that in the case of the OVAC Rudy Mumley OVAC All-Star Football Classic, which will present the 75th edition at 7:15 on Saturday night at Wheeling Island Stadium, the entire point could get overlooked.
Just ask former Bellaire quarterback Nate Davis, who played in the event in 2006 before starring at Ball State University and in the indoor football game.
“Going into it I thought the same thing. As I have grown up, I recognize that helps you get ready for college,” Davis said Thursday night. “I thought the best part was getting to be with guys from other teams and making different relationships. You get to stay in a college dorm and you’re away from mom and dad really for the first time, so it teaches you what it’s going to be like to be a man.”
In fact, just about everyone who has participated in the event whether that be as a player or coach, agrees. Yes, there are bragging rights at stake and everyone shows up for that week of camp with victory at the forefront of their collective mind. But the entire experience is so much more than what takes place for a few hours on the artificial turf on Wheeling Island.
“There are so many kids and some of the other kids that didn’t know much about the little schools, so we kind of wanted that mix,” said John Durdines, who coached at now-defunct Bishop Donahue and led West Virginia to its last victory in the series, in 2017. “We wanted them to experience the whole thing so we put the linemen all together and the receivers together so they can study, but also I didn’t want four Wheeling Park kids in a room together because that’s not the experience. They have already been with their teammates.
“I still text and talk to a lot of kids that were on that team. It’s a quick bond, but some of them were sending pictures of kids from three different schools all on vacation together. I get texts at Christmas from some of the kids that weren’t my kids at Donahue. That’s what it’s really about.”
For Indian Creek coach Andrew Connor, who led Ohio to victory in 2019, it was all of that and so much more. “First it was just an honor to be selected and to be a part of the legacy of the game,” he said.
“The OVAC is a first-class organization and this game is a big part of the Ohio Valley. The whole idea of this week is to make as many friends as possible.” Connor continued, “Shortly after it was over I found out it had worked, because the kids had a get together and they were still talking about it. They had card games going on in one room, Xbox games in another. Having the opportunity of doing it was something special. I coached the Ohio-Penn game twice and when this opportunity arose — you don’t know how many chances you’re going to get. I have no regrets in doing it.”
“When the game was over it was special because our kids didn’t run out of the locker room afterward. We sat and talked.” Conner said in reminiscing, “It will be different going down there Saturday not just to watch, but knowing that you’re now a part of that history.”
Quincy Wilson, a Kennedy Award winner at Weir who went on to play at both West Virginia University and in the NFL, had nothing further to prove by the time he arrived at the all-star game, but that’s not the way he approached that 1999 showdown with Ohio.
“Next to winning the state championship, that was the biggest thing for me,” said Wilson, who currently serves as the associate head coach and running backs coach at West Virginia State. “Nowadays a lot of kids have to be in their college programs doing summer workouts when the game is being played, but I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.
“When I played it was back in pre-social media so a lot of the guys you had only heard of or seen highlights of on the news. It’s a cool event and you get to meet a lot of guys from different backgrounds. It’s guys you would probably walk by 10 times in the mall and not know them, but now you’re teammates.”
Some have said the game isn’t much of a rivalry, thanks to the lopsided series advantage that Ohio holds, as well as the fact Wilson alluded to, that kids all pretty much know one another and are friends despite going to rival schools.
Don’t tell that to Davis, because he’s not buying it.
“I wanted to represent my state and you know a bunch of those West Virginia guys were always talking that smack,” Davis, who noted watching his brother, Jose, play in the game was a factor in his wanting to participate, said with a laugh. “My college coaches were against it and didn’t want me to play because they said it was a waste of time, but I wasn’t going to miss it.” Davis continued on, “of course there is a rivalry and you want to prove yourself. I proved myself during high school, but all these guys are all-stars and you want to prove yourself against the best.”
All parties agree that the all-star game is one of their fondest athletic memories. In fact, they said, being on the field again Saturday night would be a no-brainer.
“For me being that when our staff was able to do the all-star game, two months prior we found out our school was closing, it made it more special for all of us,” Durdines said. “You’re there to have fun, yes. But I’m a competitor. I went to Donahue when they were 0-33 and I didn’t go there just to coach football. I want to win.”
Connor said that as a coaching staff, it’s not all that difficult to implement a system, despite the time constraints of only being together for a week.
“It’s a regular week and you put in something you do. Do what your kids know and unless they come from somewhere that does something that is way out of the ordinary, it’s easy to do,” Connor said. “One thing we had done, we emphasized being physical and in shape. Kids have to realize they are still at work. They have to get ready to go play football.”
Wilson and Davis would be ready to go at a moment’s notice, if possible.
“I remember Mom dropping me off and saying ‘I’ll see you Sunday,’ ” Wilson said. “The teams that come together the quickest usually win those games.” When asked if he would do it again, Wilson answered empathetically “Absolutely I’d do it again.”
Davis agreed.
“I would do it again,” he said. “It was a great atmosphere and how they treat you is amazing. It all starts there.”
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