MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The annual North-South all-star football game is on the move.
The contest was originally scheduled for June 13 but due to the pandemic, the new date is Friday, July 10. The game will kickoff at 1 p.m. and is set to be played at South Charleston High School, pending completion of the new artificial turf installation at the stadium.
The game will only be played with clearance from the Governor’s office and state and local health officials. West Virginia will enter Phase 3 of the state’s reopening process on May 11.
“We are working to get to Phase 6,” game director Bob Mullett said. “And they said that June would not in any way be open to have an activity of this nature. So we had to go to July.
“This kids are calling us everyday because they don’t want us to cancel. The parents and the kids are excited. And we want to give them something to look forward to. We still want to try to do this for them.”
The North-South boys basketball will likely be rescheduled to July 10 as well, creating a day-night doubleheader of games.
Traditionally, football players have been housed in residence halls at West Virginia State University. However, the WVSU campus will not be open until later in the summer. The new plan calls for players to be housed at the Holiday Inn in South Charleston. Practices will be held at Oakes Field and Little Creek Park. Players will arrive on July 6.
“I do need to reach out to get our sponsorship up,” Mullett said. “The big thing besides paying for camp, which is a very large fee, is you have to pay for the scholarships. We have given over $70,000 in scholarships in ten years.
“I am all in for the July 10th date. That is our last shot. Right now we are excited about the opportunity that we think we have. It is all contingent upon the Governor, and the Kanawha County Health Department with the things that have to unfold. We have been believing with the phases, they’re talking about letting Little League Baseball play, that we’ll be okay to go with it.”