WEST LIBERTY - With the 64th-annual Rudy Mumley Ohio Valley Athletic Conference All-Star Football Charity Classic just around the corner, both teams and coaches gathered at West Liberty State College Monday.
Although each side has only taken part in two practices, the coaches had plenty to say about this year's participants.
On the West Virginia side, Madonna head coach Bob Kramer will be manning the sidelines.
"Right now, I'm really pleased with the way things have gone," Kramer said. "We have looked at the kids and I think that what I like most is the balance between running backs and quarterbacks and wide outs. We have some very good wide receivers that can run and catch the ball. We have some running backs that are quick and elusive and then we have some strong running backs who run hard."
Kramer is also pleased with what he has seen out of his offensive line.
"We have a line that is starting to come together. They're athletic and we have decent size, because that is the way that we picked them. We wanted kids that could move well, but still have enough size so that they don't get overpowered at the line of scrimmage. We have what we consider two full lines that we can put out there," Kramer explained. "That is a big plus in a game like this, because the kids will get hot and tired.
"We are in a position right now where we feel that we can give any kid a break at any time and not lose anything. That's a good feeling."
This marks the first time that Kramer has coached in the event.
"I haven't done this too much, so I don't know exactly what to expect," he said. "But, I'm really pleased with the effort that the guys are putting in. We've broken up into groups and all of the coaches tell me the same thing. I told the guys that they are supposed to be the best of the best and they need to play and act like it. So far, they have."
On the Ohio side, Beallsville head coach Dave Caldwell is making his fifth appearance as head coach. Caldwell is still working out where his personnel is best suited, but he is excited about the talent that he has seen.
"We have a lot of athletes and good athletes," Caldwell said. "I evidently don't have them in the right places yet, because we don't look as good as we should. So, it is up to me to get it fixed and I'm going to do that.
"We're going to move some kids around and try to get this thing to work to where we look like a fine-tuned machine."
While all-star games can often present problems with players from different programs attempting to assimilate and work into the same system, Caldwell does not see these as major hurdles.
"I try to keep our offense pretty simple. The kids all come from good programs and they all understand the game of football," Caldwell explained. "I just have to tell them once and they get it.
"Defensively, we're just going to play a base defense and we are going to get after them. Our kids will do a good job there. It is going to be athlete on athlete and hopefully it will be a good game."
Kramer agreed with Caldwell's remarks.
"They seem to be getting along real well. I know that, as a group, they go at it tooth and nail on the practice field and then they all walk off the field together," Kramer said. "That's a great sign and it is a great privilege to be around kids like that.
"Win, lose, or draw, I think it will be a great experience," he continued.
"Hopefully, it will be a good football game and an enjoyable game for people to watch. We're not going to go three downs just trying to pound the football. We want to open things up and we'll try to do a little bit of everything to keep them as off-balance as possible. I think we have the kids to do that."
The game will take place at Wheeling Island Stadium with kickoff set for 7:15 p.m., Sunday.
(Newman can be contacted at anewman@heraldstaronline.com)
