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Players report to Bethany College for week of OVAC football camp

SHADYSIDE’S Jordan Joseph arrives at Bethany College to move in for camp leading up to the OVAC All-Star Game, which is scheduled for Saturday at Wheeling Island Stadium.

BETHANY — It’s officially game week for the 75th OVAC Rudy Mumley All-Star Football Game.

After a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the summer sporting spectacle will return on Saturday evening with kickoff slated for 7:15 p.m. at Wheeling Island Stadium.

Players and coaches for both Ohio and West Virginia reported to their home for the upcoming week Sunday at Bethany College to begin preparations.

All told, 73 players checked in and were on the practice field during the evening.

“It’s nice to finally be here,” Ohio and Fort Frye head coach Eric Huck said. “I am excited to meet the players and get started. I know we’re looking forward to the week, and I am sure the players are, too.”

West Virginia is being led by Linsly’s B.J. Depew who arrived at Bethany College at 11 a.m., which is an hour before the players are scheduled to arrive. He was actually in the middle of the line among players and other coaches who itching to get going.

“It’s great to be here and I am ready to get started,” Depew said. “We had a meeting (Sunday afternoon) and really got to meet the guys and that was neat. It’s going to be a fun week for everyone.”

Getting to this point was a challenge for both coaches.

Between the two teams, upwards of a dozen players, who had originally committed to the game were needed to be replaced after they elected not to participate for one reason or another.

“The (changes) weren’t as bad as it may have sounded because the kids who ended up being asked to play were all excited,” Huck said.

“I think we have 37 darn good players.”

Game Director Dirk Fitch was working the phones diligently attempting to fill in roster spots, but once camp opens the OVAC no longer permits replacements.

“(The roster) is a stressful part,” Depew laughed. “Off the top of my head, I can think of seven or eight changes for sure. There are a lot of changes for a variety of reasons, but, ultimately, the guys who are here are the guys we want because there as excited to be here as we are.”

West Virginia actually has one less player on its roster because Cameron’s Deacon Carmichael informed Depew via email Sunday morning that he was sick and wouldn’t be reporting.

On the other side, Huck and his coaching staff greeted many of his players at the top the steps as they trickled in with their families.

“It’s nice to finally meet the players,” Huck said. “You see them on film and you really don’t their size and physicality or that kind of thing. But, you see them in person and see them with pads on and practice it’s exciting.”

Once the players settled into their rooms, they had team meetings, ate dinner and were on the practice field for the first time.

Neither coach was about to let any time go to waste.

“We’re going to work right away,” Huck said. “We have to get (the offense and defense) installed. We’re going to get our base stuff in on both sides of the ball as well as plays and our defensive scheme.”

Depew and his staff wanted to get their “systems installed right away” with the hopes of having basically the entire system in place before Tuesday.

“We don’t have guys pinned down to positions, even offense or defense in some cases, but the guys will play themselves into their roles,” Depew said.

Both teams will have a busy day today.

Ohio and West Virginia are both scheduled to practice three times today and they’ll also both take part in media day activities.

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