Super Six Notebook
Sunday, December 18, 2005
By NICK BEDWAY - The Intelligencer & Wheeling News-Register
The Wheeling Super Six Committee made it official last week by submitting a bid to continue as the host for the state high school championship football games.
Wheeling is seeking a seventh consecutive two-year contract from the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission to hold the state Class AAA, AA and A finals at Wheeling Island Stadium. If successful, the championship contests would remain in the Northern Panhandle through 2007.
"Our committee is just as enthusiastic and willing to do the job as we were when Super Six first came to Wheeling in 1994,'' stressed Wheeling businessman Howard Corcoran, one of the local group's co-chairmen.
Only Charleston had submitted its bid by Friday's deadline. However, bids postmarked by that date would also be accepted.
It is expected that Huntington would join the fray and be part of the selection meeting to be held on January 25 at the SSAC office in Parkersburg.
Two years ago, Wheeling, Charleston, Huntington and Parkersburg all had representatives appear before the Board of Directors of the state's athletic governing body. Wood County and the City of Parkersburg won't be there this time.
Bill Niday, superintendent of Wood County Schools, was quoted in the Parkersburg Sentinel last Thursday as saying Parkersburg was not in a position to bid because of the construction at Parkersburg High School that is expected to take two years to complete.
Under construction at the Parkersburg High campus, adjacent to Stadium Field, are a science wing and auxiliary gymnasium. Also under way is a project at Parkersburg South High School.
However, Niday, a key member of Parkersburg's Super Six Committee two years ago, promised that the Wood County group would be returning with a very competitive bid in 2008.
That same article in last week's paper also included comments by Mike Christman, publisher of the Parkersburg News & Sentinel. Christman gave Wheeling a strong pat on the back.
"If not in Parkersburg, then Wheeling is a well-deserving spot,'' he said. Christman pointed out that the Northern city had done a great job in the past and provides a great atmosphere for the games.
With Oglebay's Festival of Lights also available for the visiting state high school football flans and dignitaries to tour, the city offers more than just a football weekend. The Super Six Committee also takes great pride in holding the State Academic Achievement Awards Brunch the morning prior to the Class AAA championship game. This event, which annually honors some 300 scholar athletes from throughout the state, is hosted by the Wheeling Island Race Track and Gaming Center and State Farm Insurance. The gaming facility also offers free parking in its giant lot for the football fans.
Mike Hayden, the SSAC's executive secretary, has been steadfast in complimenting Wheeling for having set the benchmark not only for hosting the football finals, but for the other championship events taking place throughout the state.
Over the years, the Friendly City has lived up to its nickname when given the opportunity to host state high school finals in soccer, golf and wrestling as well. Just recently, Wheeling and the folks at Oglebay Park were awarded another two-year contract to continue to holdthe Mountain State schoolboy golf championships at the Speidel Golf Club.
"It's all about community pride,'" stressed Corcoran, in offering one of the major reasons why Wheeling has been successful in putting on state championship tournaments over the years. "We have 110 percent support of our sponsors, the city, county and the board of education.
"Also, we haven't changed our mission statement put into action by the late Samuel Mumley, a founding father of the Super Six football committee, more than 12 years ago. It was all about the kids and doing what is best of them. It's the same now ,'' added Corcoran.
Holding the Super Six championships in Wheeling has become a rewarding marriage for both the SSAC and the Ohio Valley. Since 1994, more than $1.1 million has been dispatched to the SSAC to run its youth programs not only for football but in all the other sports.
The businesses in the Friendly City and surrounding communities have also benefitted financially from having thousands of visitors come out of every corner of the Mountain State to attend the state finals. Having Super Six in our area was mainly responsible for having a Pro-Grass field installed atWheeling Island Stadium.
Before the new surface became a reality, the Island ballfield normally hosted 13-15 events a year, mainly home football games by the Wheeling Park High and Wheeling Central Catholic varsity squads. Last year, according to WPHS Athletic Director Bernie Dolan some 88 events took place at Wheeling Island Stadium. It's likely that number will climb near the century mark by the time the 2005-2006 school year is completed as Wheeling Jesuit University has reached an agreement with the Ohio County Board of Education to use the facility as a site for its home Lacrosse games.
While not revealing all of the contents of this year's Super Six Committee bid, Corcoran did promise that a few more surprises would be included in the package. In 2005, the bombshell that Wheeling Island Stadium would be getting a Pro-Grass Field proved to be the golden egg in the basket that clinched the bid.
Once again, Wheeling will be offering such things as no cost to the SSAC for the administration of the games, meaning that all proceeds will be turned over to the commission.
The package also includes the usual things such as free lodging in local motels and hotels for the teams traveling more than 150 miles. A first class meal is given the players and coaches at Undo's Restaurant, compliments of the Sparachane Family Restaurant chain.
Domino's Pizza and Pepsi products are provided. Cheerleaders also receive housing, if needed, and one meal compliments of Perkins.
Cabela's, a major Super Six sponsor, contributes Super Six hats to each player, coach and trainer representing a competing team. The participants also receive team bags and Super Six shirts.
Above are just some of the items in Wheeling's impressive package. We didn't even mention the Kick-Off Dinner held on the eve of the Class A championship game each year. Medical assistance is available at each game to see that injured players are taken care of properly. We could go and on, but I think you get the idea.
There's nothing the Wheeling community wouldn't do to assure that the games will be successful for as long as the SSAC agrees to keep them in the Friendly City.
The decision, once again, will be in the Board of Directors' hands on Jan. 25.
To me, as usual, it's a no-brainer.
Nick Bedway is the retired executive sports editor of The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register
