U.P. Football All-Star Game info

Courtesy of XCEL

MARQUETTE, MI – The U.P. Football All-Star Game has finalized the schedule and teams for this year’s event.  The teams will again be split into East and West.

The game will be played in Marquette at the Superior Dome, on Saturday, June 29, 2013.  Game time is set for 3 PM, with the doors opening at 2 PM.  Many activities are planned throughout the week for the players and coaches.

Monday, June 24, the players and coaches check in at Meyland Hall on NMU campus, and there will be a food drive for the Beacon House food pantry at the check-in location.

Tuesday evening, June 25, will be the team and individual pictures, as well as media day.  Players and coaches will be available for interviews from any media that are present.

Wednesday afternoon, June 26, will be the Players Skills Challenge. The players will compete for the titles of Fastest Man, Strongest Man, Receiver, Quarterback Challenge, Kicking and Punting Challenges.  The coaches will get the afternoon off to watch the players compete in the skills competition.

Thursday, June 27, the players and coaches will be visiting Bay Cliff Health Camp.  Bay Cliff is a summer camp for children with physical disabilities and the all-star players will spend time with the campers, showing them football drills, and finishing the day by having
dinner with the Bay Cliff campers and staff.

Friday, June 29, is the All-Star Banquet, with the guest speaker Jeff Olson, Ishpeming Head Coach.  Coach Olson had to deal with the personal tragedy of losing his son, Daniel, then lead his team and community to a MHSAA Division 7 State Championship that same year.  He will have a great message for everyone in attendance.

Saturday morning, June 29, there will be three youth football games prior to the All-Star Game.  The games will take place at 8:30 AM, 10:15 AM, and Noon.  Admission is free to all who want to attend, and the players will get in free to the All-Star Game if they wear their jersey.  These youth games will replace the Underclassmen Combine held in previous years, and represents the only major change in the itinerary from last year.

The U.P. Football All-Star Game will also be donating proceeds to the following U.P. charities: Beacon House, The U.P. Sports Hall of Fame, as well as two individual U.P. high schools to be determined.  A lottery drawing will be performed to select the two schools, and donations will be made directly to the football program of those schools chosen.  Each year, new schools will be chosen until all U.P. schools have received benefits from the game.  Several other schools will also receive donations in the form of All-Star Game equipment, including practice jerseys and footballs.

2013 U.P. FOOTBALL ALL-STAR GAME ROSTER