From staff reports

sports@joplinglobe.com

MIAMI, Okla. — Again this year, the Oklahoma Eight-Man All-Star Football Week is coming to northeast Oklahoma.

The Green vs. Gold Showdown is set for Saturday, July 19, at the Commerce High School Field. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Eighty players from across the state will arrive in Miami on July 15 for a week of activities before the game. Twenty coaches representing the Oklahoma Eight-Man Football Association will work with the players throughout the week.

The Gold team roster includes Justin Fulton of Bluejacket and Rashad LeFore and Ladelle Tyler of White Oak. Bluejacket’s Ronnie Simmons and White Oak’s David Bowen are part of the Gold coaching staff.

The day before the game, Richard Grady will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Grady, now the assistant superintendent at Blanchard, was executive director of the OEMFCA from 1999-2005 and helped move the eight-man all-star game from Alva to Miami in 2002.

The awards banquet and induction will be held at the Carter Student Union Ballroom on the NEO campus, and University of Tulsa head football coach Todd Graham is the guest speaker.

The all-star game, hosted by the Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and the coaches association, provides scholarships for the players.

“In 2007 we were able to present 10 scholarships for a total of $10,000,” Stacey Satterwhite, chairman of the local 8-Man Week Planning Committee, said in a press release. “This happens because of the continued support of corporate sponsors and the commitment of the local community and volunteers who work to make this event successful.”

“Eight-Man Week is an exciting time for the city of Miami,” said Amanda Davis, program director with the Miami CVB. “We look forward to welcoming the players and coaches into our community and invite fans from everywhere to join us at the game.”

A record crowd of almost 3,000 fans attended last year’s game, and organizers hope for a larger turnout this year.

“The Four-State Area loves football,” Davis said, “and this event gives everyone an opportunity to experience the game at its best before the official football season fires back up this fall. It is a great event for fans of all ages.”

Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for students. Gates at the Commerce High School field will open at 5.

More information can be obtained by calling the Miami CVB, (918) 542-4435.