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Big 33 Game 2004

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jon skinner article

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=12415411&BRD=2311&PAG=461&dept_id=482259&rfi=6

MCA graduate Jon Skinner to take part in annual All-Star football game

By Randy Maynard , Sports Writer 07/21/2004

[email protected]
HERSHEY — At a gargantuan 6-foot-5, 295 pounds, offensive lineman and Mount Carmel Area graduate Jon Skinner is big.
The line he’ll play on Saturday night is big.
He’s signed and ready to play this fall for the Ohio State Buckeyes, one of the nation’s biggest Division I college football programs.
Those things being said, you can’t help but chuckle at this — the aptly-named “Big” 33 Football Classic — being Skinner’s final curtain call in what’s been an outstanding high school career.
The contest, once again staged at HersheyPark Stadium, is to be played Saturday at 7 p.m. Soon after, he’ll officially leave the coal region for Columbus having helped the Red Tornadoes to two PIAA Class AA state titles (2000, 2002).
“It’s a great time out here. We’re having a lot of fun,” said Skinner Tuesday from Hershey High School, site of the Pennsylvania team’s camp.
“Everybody wants to get (to the stadium) and, instead of hitting each other, hitting some Ohio kids.”
Played annually, the Big 33 pits graduated senior All-Stars from Pennsylvania against those from Ohio. Ohio is coming off a 38-7 win a year ago, a victory that snapped a three-game Pennsylvania winning streak.
Skinner was added to the Pennsylvania roster in March.
“I just want to give these kids a chance to win,” said John Harris High (Harrisburg) coach George Chaump, who will guide the Keystone State. “If you work hard and do the right things, you’ll have a chance.”
Skinner formally signed to play for the Buckeyes in February and was in Columbus as recently as last week for conditioning. He is to leave again Aug. 3 for orientation, with the reporting date for preseason camp being Aug. 9.
“It’s a great program, and coach (Jim Tressel) is a great guy,” said Skinner. “They always go to Bowl games every year and are competing for a national title.”
Skinner will begin his Ohio State education undeclared, although he said he’ll probably lean toward a business major. That decision will be made in time, as will Tressel’s regarding Skinner’s playing time.
“We won’t really know about that until camp starts and everybody has pads on,” said Skinner. “There are a lot of good players there.
“I didn’t really learn too much about their offense. I was only out there a week. But being a lineman, you don’t really worry too much about it. You just go out there, try to block and help your team out.”
That’s pretty much the philosophy for Saturday, too.
“Jon’s a good football player,” said Chaump, who got his first head coaching job at Shamokin in 1961.
Skinner will notice a difference when he takes the field Saturday. His size will simply be ordniary rather than an oddity.
Pennsylvania’s offensive line will average 289 pounds, music to any quarterback’s ears. It’ll need every ounce of it, as it goes against an Ohio defensive unit that weighs in at a 281-pound average.
Protection, not to mention opening up holes for the running backs, will be key, at least if there’s to be the shootout that some expect.
“We’ll play a man-to-man, standard defense,” said Chaump. “Both sides will have a great attack.
“It should be, if things go right, a real high-scoring game, a lot of points. I think that’s what fans like. It’s just like a baseball game, you want to see a lot of home runs and a lot of hits. Nobody likes to see shutouts.”
Just who Skinner will be protecting isn’t immediately known. Pennsylvania has two quarterbacks on its roster: Michigan-bound Chad Henne (Wilson High School) and Penn State recruit Anthony Morelli (Penn Hills).
“Maybe we’ll flip a coin Saturday night,” said Chaump.
Whoever it is, there’s not much doubt he’ll be protected.
“We like Jon. He’s doing a good job and we’re very happy with him,” said Chaump. “He’s a great young man. We’re glad to have him.
“I’m certainly getting a kick out of coaching (the players). I really am. They’re all starters. They’ll all play ... it’s just a matter of when we put them in.”
Chaump was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame on Nov. 15. Also going in was Mount Carmel Area graduate Dr. Mike Diminick.
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short trip for you to the game then...at least you got that goin for ya.....which is nice.

thats the only reason im going this year. i figured way back in feb that i would be down there during the summer so i could just jump on over to hershey and watch the game.
 
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http://pennlive.com/sports/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/1090574407232020.xml

http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/9221577.htm

http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/sports/highschool/s_204794.html

http://www.1460thefan.com/tf.php?story=dispatch/2004/07/23/20040723-F11-00.html

Players like Big 33 approach
Haw, Welch psyched for game, enjoying week’s festivities
Friday, July 23, 2004
Steve Blackledge
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

The Big 33 Football Classic is not just another all-star game.

Just ask the players, who have practiced 8 to 10 hours a day in the blistering heat all week in preparation for the game at 7 p.m. Saturday in Hershey, Pa. The game pits a team of Ohio’s top recently graduated highschool seniors against one from Pennsylvania.

Or, ask the folks of south central Pennsylvania who refer to the game as the "Super Bowl of High School Football" and go all out to make it a lavish weeklong carnival.

"The people back home don’t understand how much they get into this game out here," said Ohio State-bound defensive back Sirjo Welch of Beechcroft. "It’s a real serious thing, not just the game itself but the way they get the whole community involved."

Upon arriving in Hershey, players from both teams are matched with a "buddy" — a local youngster with exceptional needs. Several activities are scheduled for the pair, capped by their pregame introduction.

"Hanging out with my buddy all week really opened my eyes to how blessed I am," said Ohio State recruit Erik Haw, a running back from Independence. "I got paired with a boy with Down syndrome, and I learned that except for his handicap he’s just like anybody else. He’s taught me all kinds of stuff about astronomy I didn’t know a thing about. It’s been an experience I’ll never forget."

The players also visit local hospitals and participate in youth clinics and charity events. They are housed by local families.

Welch and Haw, who lived on a farm all week, felt as if they walked into a scene from the reality show The Simple Life.

"I’d never been on a farm before; it’s really different," Welch said. "They let me drive these four-wheelers all over the place. I’ve done all kinds of stuff out here I never dreamed I’d do in my whole lifetime."

Haw, who shined in the Ohio North-South All-Star Classic, said the atmosphere in Hershey is altogether different.

"For starters, you smell chocolate in the air every place you go," he said. "I’m out there on the practice field and I can’t concentrate because I’m so hungry.

"The way the whole game is set up, with all the activities — living with your family, hanging out with your buddy, going to all these banquets — it makes you feel privileged to be part of this."

By the way, there is a football game to be played, as well, and Ohio vs. Pennsylvania has developed into quite a rivalry.

"The fact that we’re here representing Ohio makes the game more significant," said Ohio State-bound defensive end Alex Barrow of Dublin Coffman. "A lot of us know each other from practicing together in the North-South game. I think we’ve got a really outstanding defense and a whole lot of big-play guys on offense. We’ll be hard to beat."

Haw said two- and three-aday practices in 90-degree heat have become rather intense.

"We’ve had a couple of fights and arguments, but that’s not all bad because we’ve become such a close-knit family," he said. "We’re prepared to go to battle together and win one for Ohio."
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BN27--Don't know if anyone else caught it, but I love the Caddyshack quote. I almost spit coffee all over my keyboard. Don't know why, you just caught me off guard. Kudos.
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thank god. i might not allow myself to frequent a board that doesnt get a caddyshack quote.

im psyched to get to this game. i got teddy ginn wearin my number and ill be sportin my erik haw (mike doss) jersey.
 
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