Shoe Bowl goes on road to BGSU

7/31/2008

The annual Shoe Bowl football classic is a preseason showcase - with a cause.

The latest installment - featuring five schools, including four from the City League - will occur Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. at Bowling Green State University's Doyt Perry Stadium.

"The Shoe Bowl is an excellent kickoff to the start of the high school football season as well as a reminder to the community of what the Old Newsboys are about as a charitable organization," said Laurie Renz-Gast, this year's Old Newsboys Goodfellow Association president and the third member of her family to hold the position.

"We are extremely proud of the tradition that the Shoe Bowl represents and are thankful to BCSN and Columbia Gas for their leadership roles in making this event the success that it is."

Start, Woodward, St. John's Jesuit, Scott and Northwood are competing in this year's offering, which will be held for the first time at BGSU. The pairings are Start-Northwood, Start-Woodward, Northwood-Woodward and Scott-St. John's.

As in previous years, each game will last one 15-minute quarter.

Normal game rules will be in effect and the only adjustment to the rules is the defensive units will not be allowed to rush the kickers or punters.

The Old Newsboys, which was founded in 1929, is one of the Toledo area's longtime charitable organizations. Its focus is to provide shoes and coats for children in need.

The Old Newsboys have raised $7 million for kids and families in need in northwest Ohio.

The Shoe Bowl has been an annual high school event dating to 1942. After roughly a 15-year lapse without hosting the event, the Old Newsboys resurrected the Shoe Bowl three years ago as a preseason affair.

"The Shoe Bowl, along with our annual high school football player of the year award and girls high school basketball player of the year award, is a great opportunity for us to generate awareness for our organization while recognizing some of our area's athletes for their accomplishments in their sport," said Jay Gast, co-chairman of this year's event.

"High school sports are so popular in our community and the Old Newsboys sponsorship of these types of activities allows us to get the message out about our charity relief efforts as well as attracting new membership."

Admission is free, but donations will be accepted at all entrances to the stadium.

- Donald Emmons