Davidson in spotlight for Herbstreit's event
Steve Blackledge
Sep. 15, 2006--
Being selected to play in the McDonald's Kirk Herbstreit Challenge this weekend is undoubtedly an achievement for Hilliard Davidson.
Never mind that Davidson's invitation was based largely on its success in 2005, when the team went 13-1 and advanced to a Division I semifinal.
"We're kind of riding the coattails of last year a little," coach Brian White said. "I don't know if we're anywhere near the same caliber team we were last year or even the year before.
"Sure, it's a tremendous honor to play in such an elite event. It's a good opportunity for the kids to get some exposure and to see where we stack up against one of the elite programs in the country. Representing our school, our town, central Ohio and the state is sort of daunting, to tell you truth. I hope we can live up to the expectations people have for us."
Davidson (3-0) will face Philadelphia St. Joseph's Prep (1-1) at 2 p.m. Saturday in Massillon as part of a ninegame lineup in two venues pitting nine Ohio teams against nine national powerhouses.
In the inaugural event last year, which was founded by Herbstreit, a former Ohio State quarterback who now is a television analyst, Cincinnati Colerain defeated Tyler, Texas, 27-12 in Crew Stadium.
This year, seven of the top 25 teams in the USA Today rankings are taking part.
"Our mission was to see how well Ohio's best would fare against the marquee programs from around the country," Herbstreit said. "We're certainly going to find out, as I couldn't be more thrilled with the list of high-powered matchups we've established."
Recruiting analyst Tom Lemming estimated that more than 100 players competing in the two-day event in the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium and Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon will go on to play Division I college football.
"Never have so many incredible programs and players from throughout the country been brought together in a single event like this," Lemming said. "This is by far the best high-school event ever staged."
Davidson, winner of 22 straight regular-season games, will face a powerful St. Joseph team coming off a 31-28 loss last week to another Eastern power, Don Bosco Prep of Ramsey, N.J.
"We copied the game from ESPNU, but other than that we don't know a whole lot about St. Joseph's," White said. "They're a formidable team, that's for sure. They outplayed Bosco in that game.
"In terms of talent, I'd say they're very similar to Cincinnati St. Xavier's team of last year. They play tough, hardnosed, Catholic-style football. Nothing really flashy; they just line up in the pro-I and come at you."
In 2004, the Wildcats lost their opener to Brother Rice, a suburban Detroit school that reached the Michigan title game. Last season, they fought eventual state champion St. Xavier before falling 17-10 in a state semifinal.
Not one to tout his team, White said he hopes the St. Joseph game can serve as a measuring stick.
"Playing in this game might suggest to some people that we're the elite team in central Ohio, but I'm not sure we can live up to that," he said. "We're probably somewhere in the neighborhood of fourth, fifth or sixth.
"But I hope this group uses this experience to make us a better football team so we can compete with the better teams in our conference and in Ohio when that times comes."
Sep. 15, 2006--
Being selected to play in the McDonald's Kirk Herbstreit Challenge this weekend is undoubtedly an achievement for Hilliard Davidson.
Never mind that Davidson's invitation was based largely on its success in 2005, when the team went 13-1 and advanced to a Division I semifinal.
"We're kind of riding the coattails of last year a little," coach Brian White said. "I don't know if we're anywhere near the same caliber team we were last year or even the year before.
"Sure, it's a tremendous honor to play in such an elite event. It's a good opportunity for the kids to get some exposure and to see where we stack up against one of the elite programs in the country. Representing our school, our town, central Ohio and the state is sort of daunting, to tell you truth. I hope we can live up to the expectations people have for us."
Davidson (3-0) will face Philadelphia St. Joseph's Prep (1-1) at 2 p.m. Saturday in Massillon as part of a ninegame lineup in two venues pitting nine Ohio teams against nine national powerhouses.
In the inaugural event last year, which was founded by Herbstreit, a former Ohio State quarterback who now is a television analyst, Cincinnati Colerain defeated Tyler, Texas, 27-12 in Crew Stadium.
This year, seven of the top 25 teams in the USA Today rankings are taking part.
"Our mission was to see how well Ohio's best would fare against the marquee programs from around the country," Herbstreit said. "We're certainly going to find out, as I couldn't be more thrilled with the list of high-powered matchups we've established."
Recruiting analyst Tom Lemming estimated that more than 100 players competing in the two-day event in the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium and Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon will go on to play Division I college football.
"Never have so many incredible programs and players from throughout the country been brought together in a single event like this," Lemming said. "This is by far the best high-school event ever staged."
Davidson, winner of 22 straight regular-season games, will face a powerful St. Joseph team coming off a 31-28 loss last week to another Eastern power, Don Bosco Prep of Ramsey, N.J.
"We copied the game from ESPNU, but other than that we don't know a whole lot about St. Joseph's," White said. "They're a formidable team, that's for sure. They outplayed Bosco in that game.
"In terms of talent, I'd say they're very similar to Cincinnati St. Xavier's team of last year. They play tough, hardnosed, Catholic-style football. Nothing really flashy; they just line up in the pro-I and come at you."
In 2004, the Wildcats lost their opener to Brother Rice, a suburban Detroit school that reached the Michigan title game. Last season, they fought eventual state champion St. Xavier before falling 17-10 in a state semifinal.
Not one to tout his team, White said he hopes the St. Joseph game can serve as a measuring stick.
"Playing in this game might suggest to some people that we're the elite team in central Ohio, but I'm not sure we can live up to that," he said. "We're probably somewhere in the neighborhood of fourth, fifth or sixth.
"But I hope this group uses this experience to make us a better football team so we can compete with the better teams in our conference and in Ohio when that times comes."