panther power
06-21-2005, 11:48 PM
The state of Ohio wants to beat Texas in high school football - badly.
According to Robert E. Lee head coach Mike Owens, that was the common theme of Saturday's news conference held as part of the 60th Annual Ohio North-South Classic at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Owens was featured with Cincinnati Colerain head coach Kerry Coombs and the coaches from Westerville North and Westerville South.
All will take part in the first Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge Sept. 9, a high school football doubleheader, at Crew Stadium. State rivals Westerville North and South will battle one another in the first game with Lee and Colerain - both defending state champions - meeting in the second game.
"I know this, they want some of us, big time," Owens said. "It's just like the title said. It's Ohio vs. the nation, and we just happen to be the one they are versus. That was made clear at the press conference."
Owens said the Westerville coaches got into the act, and they aren't even playing Lee.
"They are playing each other, and all they could talk about was our game and this is a chance for Ohio to prove it's the best football state," Owens said. "This will definitely be a hostile environment. It will be 24,000 people, and 20,000 of them will be Ohio people, but I am looking forward to it."
Lee is scheduled to meet Colerain at 9 p.m. EST, and pending UIL approval, the game will be televised nationally on ESPN-U.
Owens spent Friday and Saturday in Columbus, viewing Crew Stadium and the facilities at Ohio State University while also meeting Buckeyes head coach Jim Tressell.
"It's a great venue," Owens said of Crew Stadium. "It looks (like it can hold more than) 24,000 people.
"It's a good stadium because all the seats are right down on top of you."
Owens said he was also impressed with Ohio's All-Star game, saying it was "very different" from the Texas High School Coaches All-Star Game.
"They play a real all-star game, picking the best players in the state, regardless of classification or school," Owens said. "In our game, we can only have one player from one school, and each region and classification has to be represented."
Lee earned a No. 3 ranking in Class 5A in the recent preseason rankings by Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Owens said he is honored by the ranking, but added they are usually based on past history.
"It's a nice respect deal, but it's where we are 15 weeks later that matters," Owens said.
Notes: Colerain head coach Kerry Coombs also addressed the media at the news conference, heaping more of the same praise on the Lee football team and Texas football that he did in Tyler ... ESPN-U is a premium sports channel that can be purchased by calling Cox Cable or your local satellite provider.
According to Robert E. Lee head coach Mike Owens, that was the common theme of Saturday's news conference held as part of the 60th Annual Ohio North-South Classic at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Owens was featured with Cincinnati Colerain head coach Kerry Coombs and the coaches from Westerville North and Westerville South.
All will take part in the first Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge Sept. 9, a high school football doubleheader, at Crew Stadium. State rivals Westerville North and South will battle one another in the first game with Lee and Colerain - both defending state champions - meeting in the second game.
"I know this, they want some of us, big time," Owens said. "It's just like the title said. It's Ohio vs. the nation, and we just happen to be the one they are versus. That was made clear at the press conference."
Owens said the Westerville coaches got into the act, and they aren't even playing Lee.
"They are playing each other, and all they could talk about was our game and this is a chance for Ohio to prove it's the best football state," Owens said. "This will definitely be a hostile environment. It will be 24,000 people, and 20,000 of them will be Ohio people, but I am looking forward to it."
Lee is scheduled to meet Colerain at 9 p.m. EST, and pending UIL approval, the game will be televised nationally on ESPN-U.
Owens spent Friday and Saturday in Columbus, viewing Crew Stadium and the facilities at Ohio State University while also meeting Buckeyes head coach Jim Tressell.
"It's a great venue," Owens said of Crew Stadium. "It looks (like it can hold more than) 24,000 people.
"It's a good stadium because all the seats are right down on top of you."
Owens said he was also impressed with Ohio's All-Star game, saying it was "very different" from the Texas High School Coaches All-Star Game.
"They play a real all-star game, picking the best players in the state, regardless of classification or school," Owens said. "In our game, we can only have one player from one school, and each region and classification has to be represented."
Lee earned a No. 3 ranking in Class 5A in the recent preseason rankings by Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Owens said he is honored by the ranking, but added they are usually based on past history.
"It's a nice respect deal, but it's where we are 15 weeks later that matters," Owens said.
Notes: Colerain head coach Kerry Coombs also addressed the media at the news conference, heaping more of the same praise on the Lee football team and Texas football that he did in Tyler ... ESPN-U is a premium sports channel that can be purchased by calling Cox Cable or your local satellite provider.