Why Wheeling is the Home to Football Classic
Shawn Rine- TheIntelligencer / Wheeling News-Register - Published: Thursday, June 21, 2008

IIf you're like me - and for your sake let's hope not - you had plenty of questions about the Friends of Coal Prep Classic, which as we all know by now is an amazingly talented collection of high school football teams that will compete Monday, Sept. 1 at Wheeling Island Stadium.

But the one that sticks out most is 'why,' as in 'why Wheeling?'

Even in his all-time best game of darts, Lakeland, Fla., coach Bill Castle could not have landed on Wheeling, W.Va. Ted Ginn Sr., who coaches Cleveland Glenville, has probably heard of our little town, but he hardly figured at some point he would bus his team down here to play a game.

So what gives?

''I was fortunate two years ago to play in the Kirk Herbstreit Classic, which Ken pretty much ran the show and organized it,'' Castle said. ''What a neat event that was.

''When Ken called me to play in another event, that was a no-brainer because the organization and the job that Ken did in that, and the experience for our kids - half of our players have never been on an airplane, so to take a trip like this and come up here is just a huge experience.''

'Ken' would be Ken Halloy, a native of Bridgeport and a Bellaire St. John alum who is now the president of Halloy Boy Sports Marketing Inc., based out of Columbus, Ohio. After experiencing unprecedented success with the Herbstreit venture, Halloy recalls thinking it would be pretty cool if he could somehow figure a way to bring a similar event to the Ohio Valley.

So the wheels went in motion, and the cell phone minutes diminished rapidly.

''A couple of years ago I called a great friend of mine (The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register General Manager) Perry Nardo,'' Halloy said. ''I said 'Perry, I want to share a vision with you. I want to do a high school football event in the valley. I really want to emphasize the passion the fans in the valley has for football, but then bring in some marquee teams from around the country.

''I said 'A, will the fans come out and support it? And B, will the local community support it from a business standpoint?' ''

Halloy didn't have to wait long for a response.

''(Nardo said) 'if you can actually bring schools of that caliber to the valley and mix in some great Ohio Valley football schools you've got a home run,' '' Halloy remembered.

That was two years ago.

There were a lot of logistics that needed worked out, including getting his partner, Parkersburg native John Falgren on board. Again, Halloy didn't have to twist any arms.

''He said 'Ken, this is great,' '' Halloy recalled.

It couldn't come at a better time for the city, which has watched one business after another pick up and leave in the last 10 years. A revitilization is currently under way, and Wheeling could use an event of the magnitude as a springboard for further financial and psychological advancement.

''To bring a great event like this to Wheeling, and to bring all these famous football teams and sports personalities, (Halloy's) come to a great town at a great time,'' outgoing Mayor Nick Sparachane said. ''As a city, we're behind you. It's a great honor for our city.''

Beyond financial reasons, the event gives the Ohio Valley a chance to show off its affection and dedication to high school football. I admit I haven't been to a lot of other areas, but for a place the size of the valley, the support football gets in this region is hard to beat.

The extravaganza begins at noon with Cleveland Glenville, which is a pipeline to The Ohio State University, taking on Thomas Jefferson, the defending Class AAA champions in Pennsylvania. Last season, the Jaguars became the first AAA team in state history to finish 16-0.

The second contest, which kicks off at 3 p.m., will feature two-time, mythical national champion Lakeland, Fla., against defending Class AAAA Pa. champion Pittsburgh Central Catholic, which ended last season 16-0 and ranked No. 11 by USA Today. Halloy is hoping the game will be picked up nationally by CBS Sports.

The nightcap will pit a pair of local rivals, as Steubenville Catholic Central and Wheeling Central, four-time defending W.Va. Class A champions, square off.

Both local coaches see this as a tremendous opportunity.

''I think (fans) are going to see great football and I think it's tremendous in terms of exposure nationally - not just for football, but for the Wheeling community,'' Wheeling Central coach Mike Young said. ''It's the economy being built up a little bit with the people coming in and out. You've got the Wheeling Island Casino, you've got the Highlands, you've got great exposure.

''The way this is going to be networked. We've got people coming up from Florida to Wheeling. It's the other way around most of the time.''

Steubenville Central coach Gregg Bahen agrees.

''I think it's fantastic,'' he said. ''We're very proud of our football down here in the OVAC.

''With some of these schools playing in this game and us being lucky enough to be a part of it, I think it's going to be good for the valley and I think it's going to be good for these other school's to see how rabid and how passionate our people are, and how important football is in our valley.''