Herbie Classic Schedule for 2007

[obie7661]

Teams coming in:

Mission Viejo, CA
Hoover, AL
Union, OK
DeMatha, DC
Central Catholic, PA
Long Beach Cal Poly, CA
Evangel Christian, LA

Ohio Teams:

Colerain
Elder
Dayton Northmont
Massillon
Canton McK
Clev. Glenville
Lakewood St. Eds

More will be added later on.

[austinsm11]

So who does everyone want to play?

I wouldn't mind beating another Hoover team. Tired of seeing them on tv. I believe someone mentioned on another thread we would be playing a team from out west.

Please get Charlotte Independence in this event so we can show them what real football is about. I am tired of hearing about them down here.

[BigTime]

My votes:

1. DeMatha DC
2. Union OK

Go for the Harbin cows that we have a good shot at beating. We don't want any part of Poly, Mission Viejo, Hoover or EC Louisiana in a week 2 classic arrangement. Schedule wins early in the season and then take our chances with Ignatius and our rival games down the stretch.

[austinsm11]

Good point!

[Obie Wan]

I wouldn't mind dropping out of the Herbie entirely. I would wager that a single game at PBTS would a) outdraw the Herbie at Fawcett, and b) have a higher expected Harbin payoff. The only reason to play these games is to fill the schedule. Aside from the footbal junkies, no one has heard of (or cares about) whatever OOS team we get matched up with.

As a point of comparison, we had 10,500 at PBTS for the game with Hamilton. McKinley/Hoover drew almost 13,000 at Fawcett the same night.

On a more practical note, it has been rumored that the Herbie is in dire financial shape - to the point that many obligations from this year's event have not been met. There is a reasonable chance that the 2007 event may never happen.

EDIT: Let's be blunt about this: the Herbie needs Massillon more than Massillon needs the Herbie. If the Tigers weren't playing last year, attendance wouldn't have sniffed 5,000. At the very least, we should tell the organizers that our participation is contingent upon the event returning to PBTS. We might as well make the concession money from the games (we can renegotiate that, too).

[TigerVic]

for it to have any chance of being successful, the organizers need to come up with a better ticket-pricing scheme. Most fans for the event will only show up to watch their team (some locals may come just to see the Ohio teams, especially from the area).

My guess is that to be forced to buy one ticket for all of them kept many fans away.

One suggestion: Offer a per-game rate and a discount for each additional game.

I'm not sure who I'd want to see the Tigers play. There are many "name" teams not on the list so far (both Ohio and OOS). It'd be great to get computer points out of it, as we did in '06, but to be part of such an event is an honor in itself.

[Obie Wan]

It'd be great to get computer points out of it, as we did in '06, but to be part of such an event is an honor in itself.
Yeah, at least you'd have the honor to comfort you if you sit home week 11 because you didn't get the points.

You'll get more honor from a state title than a regular season game. You can't get a title unless you're in the playoffs. You can't get to the playoffs without points. In the big picture, I'd rather have the points.

[austinsm11]

If we dropped out of the Herbie, who would we play? And who would be willing to play us?

[TigerVic]

Maybe call the Herbie "Ohio against the World" and invite North Park, Canada?

[Spize]

I agree, tell the Herbie that it is PBTS or no Massillon.

I am tired of handing money to Canton Mck. We are not the NFL, we don't need ot pay for their stadium too.

[austinsm11]

LMAO
Hey, then we could be World Champions.

[tiger#22]

At the very least, we should tell the organizers that our participation is contingent upon the event returning to PBTS. We might as well make the concession money from the games (we can renegotiate that, too).

If there is a classic for 2007 then Massillon will be playing at PBTS, there will be games at PBTS and Fawcett.

[Spize]

One thing the Herbie did was increase the argument for keeping the championship games here. They went off perfect and everyone had a good time at PBTS. In Cincy the Herbie was a nightmare. The Friday games in the Herbie were a mistake in Cincy. They were betting that the millions living in the greater cincy area could outdraw the 30k in Massillon... I think we found out which area is a better football area.

If the Herbie cuts some games, for their sake they better cut the Cincy games.

[Spize]

Maybe draw some smaller school matchups into it? Big Red would show up and put some butts in the seats as well.

[austinsm11]

I was thinking Stuebenville as well.

[Obie Wan]

If there is a classic for 2007 then Massillon will be playing at PBTS, there will be games at PBTS and Fawcett.
That would be a disaster. There simply isn't enough interest to warrant such an arrangement.

[tiger#22]

That would be a disaster. There simply isn't enough interest to warrant such an arrangement.

It all depends on who the teams are, like you said Mckinley and Hoover had 13,000 at Fawcett while the Tigers were playing at PBTS with over 10,000.
There was a conference call with the Herbie people a few weeks back and that was the discussion then, but as was said before this is way way too early to have anything set in stone.

[Banks]

Interesting as I know it, the games will be at PBTS and not in Canton with Massillon playing a SPECIAL Monday night game .

[CarlE]

I read in the USA Today on Friday while I was flying that Independence, from Charlotte, NC was also going to be in the Herbie Classic. They are currently on a 113 game winning streak. I would hope we would play them to torch THAT streak.

[Obie Wan]

It all depends on who the teams are, like you said Mckinley and Hoover had 13,000 at Fawcett while the Tigers were playing at PBTS with over 10,000.
That was McKinley and Hoover: two undefeated local teams. Compare that with McKinley and Toledo SJJ at Fawcett in week 11: 4,000.

I'd love to see the stadium(s) full of screaming fans. I just don't think it's going to happen.

Interesting as I know it, the games will be at PBTS and not in Canton with Massillon playing a SPECIAL Monday night game .
I can't imagine that anyone associated with the program would go for that.

[tiger#22]

Interesting as I know it, the games will be at PBTS and not in Canton with Massillon playing a SPECIAL Monday night game .


As I said there are going to be alot of "rumors" flying around over the winter and spring about when, where and who with regards to this event. I think we all have to remember back to last year and how long it took for them to announce who the Tigers were actually going to play etc etc.

[massillonmarine]

Any truth to the rumor that we are going to play a Utah team?

[longtimefirsttime]

On a more practical note, it has been rumored that the Herbie is in dire financial shape - to the point that many obligations from this year's event have not been met. There is a reasonable chance that the 2007 event may never happen.


Then the organizers should soon inform the teams committed to participate. It would not be fair trying to find a replacement in March or April.

[BigTime]

Interesting as I know it, the games will be at PBTS and not in Canton with Massillon playing a SPECIAL Monday night game .

That sure wouldn't put our kids in a very good position considering we would have to play Normandy at Byers field four days later.

[monte81]

I want to play Hoover! The game would be a sellout!!! They would bring a huge following to the game and we definitely would pack our side and then some!!!

[MUCSteelers5xSuperChamp]

Given my knowledge of media relations, I would keep the Herbstreit Challenge at Massillon's Paul Brown Tiger Stadium! The pressbox officials did a GREAT job with this year's classic and it should remain here! I even wrote a letter in The Repository commending the Massillon officials for a job well done!

The Herbstreit Challenge is better off in Massillon and I have more leads to back my stances, I'll discuss those later.

[CATS44]

IMO the team to play would be Evangel.

But I agree that we should be more focused on doing what is best for qualifying for the playoffs than on playing in these exhibition games.

These things have traditionally been financial disasters that dont last long. You simply can not generate enough money in 20,000 seat stadiums to pay all the travel expenses.

Years ago I proposed that we and McK work together to host a doubleheader, bringing in two traditional rivals from another league...and play it in Fawcett, which can hold 25.000. At that time I suggested Upper Arlington and another school in UAs league...or Hoover and Perry.

Of course times have changed, and McK is already in the Fed...lol.

Maybe Colerain and one of the Lakota teams.

I also suggested looking into a possible league challenge...Stark County vs the four best teams in the OAC in Franklin County, one game Fri night at PBTS and a triple header at Fawcett on Saturday. Massillon, McK, Hoover, and Perry.

But the idea I liked the best was the AAC challenge....

Massillon, McKinley, Warren, and Steubenville vs the best of the OAC or GMC. or the best public schools in Cuyahoga County....played at Dix or the Rubber Bowl.

Politics is local...and so is attendance.

But one thing any organizer has to do is avoid going up against Ohio State in a major game.

[Tiger Don]

I would like to play Jordan, Utah.

[JazzyJeff]

St. Edward dropped out of the event and is playing a local public school, Euclid, instead. I have yet to find one St. Edward fan that is upset about that decision.

Enjoy the Herbie in 2007. It may be the end of it.

[Spize]

If the herbie dies it will be the Cincinnati end that killed it.

[JazzyJeff]

If the herbie dies it will be the Cincinnati end that killed it.

Actually, I think its the two site system that will be its demise. They should have just alternated it between SWO and NEO, or picked one or the other.

[CarlE]

Actually, I think its the two site system that will be its demise. They should have just alternated it between SWO and NEO, or picked one or the other.

JJ:

I TOTALLY agree with you on that one. That's one of the first comments I made when I saw how they constructed this thing.

[MUCSteelers5xSuperChamp]

As long as they keep the Herbstreit Challenge in Massillon, it's good with me!

[JazzyJeff]

JJ:

I TOTALLY agree with you on that one. That's one of the first comments I made when I saw how they constructed this thing.

The organizers' intentions were good (i.e., allowing as many schools as possible to be included). But the logistics of having two venues with games going simultaneously in two parts of the state is too much. Too much that I am afraid that it compromised the long term future of this event.

I can't imagine they did well financially, but I don't know for sure.

[CarlE]

That's a great question. I would LOVE to know how they did financially.

[section13]

HEY Jazzy Jeff, The reason nobody up there is upset is because nobody came anyway.Good FAN SUPPORT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Scooter]

My wife and I went early and watched every game. We had a really good time watching these teams from out of state.
Frankly I'm surprised how little fan support there was.
I believe if Massillon is taken out of the Herbi it would have been a total bust.

[GrowlingTiger87]

Even though I only got to see our game, I did know some people who were there the whole day, and rather enjoyed themselves. I'd like to see it stay...at least in Massillon. Cincinnati has proven time and time again that their locals won't support these classics. How many fans did Moeller bring this year???