Michael Bradley wants to make sure you highlight Aug. 13 on your calendar.
The New Hope High School football coach and five other local coaches will come together at Mississippi State”s Davis Wade Stadium on that Saturday to provide one final appetizer before the start of the Mississippi High School Activities Association regular season.
The events will provide a tempting treat.
Two-time defending Class 5A champion West Point will kick off the five-game jamboree at 11 a.m. with a game against Louisville. Aberdeen will take on Morton at 1 p.m., followed by McComb vs. Starkville at 3 p.m., Noxubee County vs. Columbus at 5 p.m., and New Hope vs. Philadelphia at 7 p.m.
Each game will feature two quarters of varsity action and one quarter of junior varsity play, much like last year when New Hope helped organize the inaugural event.
Bradley, who is in his sixth season at New Hope, said the 2010 jamboree went “better than I would have hoped,” and he expects for an even better showing this season.
“We learned a lot of things to do and not to do,” Bradley said. “For example, we learned we didn”t have near enough support personnel. We worked some folks harder than we should have, so this year we hope to have a greater number of parents and supporters help us make this as good an event as it can be.”
Bradley praised the help of Mississippi State, which proved to be a generous host. He said he would like to hold the five-game event every year and will continue to help organize it as long as MSU will have the teams play at Davis Wade Stadium.
“We”re looking for another outstanding Saturday of football,” Bradley said.
New Hope, Columbus, Starkville, West Point, Noxubee County, and Philadelphia participated in the jamboree last year. Louisville, Morton, McComb, and Aberdeen replace West Lauderdale, Jackson Callaway, Brandon, and Itawamba Agricultural.
Bradley said his goal always would be to get as many local teams involved, in part to show off the caliber of football in this part of the state. He said he received a lot of positive feedback from everyone involved in the inaugural event. He hopes all of the planning this year will result in a solid day”s worth of football that is well worth the $5 price of admission for a day packed with football.
“All of our kids enjoyed the experience last year, and they”re all looking forward to it this time,” Bradley said. “They know that it is going to be an opportunity for them to showcase the talents they have. All of the kids enjoy an opportunity to play on a college field. It is a good environment and an exciting way to kick off the high school football season. We appreciate everyone at Mississippi State for allowing us to have it there.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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