OVAC Game

Another Rudy Mumley OVAC All-Star Charity Football Classic has come and gone. For me personally, it was another great event. The pageantry, the game, the relationships formed, the band, the queens and the reunion are all part of the Classic, which make it more of an extravaganza than just a football game.

People argue that the game takes too long. Well, it probably does in all honesty, but all of the extra things that go along with the game are what separates the game.

Obviously some of other all-star games have better players or talent, but none of the games have the natural rivalry that the OVAC Game does. When you take Ohio kids and West Virginia kids it's all about playing for pride and the desire to prove their state is the best. The game means so much to so many people, and it's a shame that it can't be more competitive.

However, that's not the OVAC's fault and it's not the game's fault. It's really no one's fault, it's just Ohio's got better players and want to win the game more. Ohio went through triple sessions whereas West Virginia practiced just once on a few days. The desire to win the game is great on both sides, but Ohio had a passion to do it because each year the Buckeye team doesn't want to be the group to let the remainder of the state down.

West  Virginia's got the motivation and its players were focused all week and have the chip on their shoulder to end the streak, but the mental approach isn't enough. Players just aren't good enough, and that's not a knock on them, but it's a fact.

Regardless, the format is fine. Ohio and West Virginia is the way to approach it, gives people a rooting interest. The McDonald's All-Star Band has fight songs to play and everyone's excited.