Big Day Prep Showdown Expands to Two-Days

YPSILANTI, Mich. – The addition of three Friday games and a new student scholarship program will highlight the 2007 Big Day Prep Showdown III presented by Comcast Local as announced today by the Detroit Metro Sports Commission (DMSC).

Since 2005, the Big Day Prep Showdown (BDPS) has been the premier opening weekend high school football event in the state of Michigan. As a showcase of high school football, the 2007 event will include three games on Friday, Aug. 24, and four games on Saturday, Aug. 25 at Eastern Michigan University’s Rynearson Stadium. In addition, a full slate of BDPS III Game Week activities is scheduled to include a V.I.P. preview and player visits to local hospital pediatric centers.

“Our goal for the Big Day Prep Showdown has always been to expand the event to a blend of not only exciting high school football, but also a celebration of the school communities,” said Dave Beachnau, DMSC executive director. The growth in 2007 to seven games on two days along with the new scholarship program continues the evolution to our long-range vision for the event.”

Match-Ups

Friday, Aug. 24^th Saturday, Aug. 25th

2 p.m. Fraser vs. Warren Cousino 11:45 a.m. Chelsea vs. Ypsilanti

5 p.m. Allen Park vs. Detroit Finney 2:30 p.m. Belleville vs. Plymouth

8 p.m. Westland John Glenn vs. Livonia Franklin 5 p.m. Canton vs. Toledo Central Catholic

8 p.m. Milford vs. Walled Lake Central

“The 2007 Big Day Prep Showdown will again feature an exciting blend of traditional high school powers and emerging programs including seven 2006 MHSAA playoff teams from teams in four local counties and Ohio,” said Beachnau. “We are also very pleased to have several schools who very much wanted to return to the event including Allen Park and Chelsea who have been a part of the event from its inception.”

The Big Day Prep Showdown III will include a new student scholarship award program in partnership with Detroit Lions Charities. Awards in the amount of $500 will be provided to one student from each school based on a blend of academic, civic and extra curricular activity. Judging for the awards will be conducted this summer by a panel of local civic and educational experts and announced at half-time of each game on Friday, Aug. 24, and Saturday, Aug. 25 at Eastern Michigan University’s Rynearson Stadium.

“This scholarship program is an exciting addition to the 2007 Big Day Prep Showdown,” said DMSC Chairman Robert Porcher. “The vision is to celebrate not only football, but to acknowledge the tremendous academic and civic accomplishments of students from the participating schools who excel in their own pursuits.

Another exciting element of the Big Day Prep Showdown III will be a Comcast Local contest for students from the fourteen participating schools to win an opportunity to be a sideline reporter on Saturday, Aug. 25, at the Big Day Prep Showdown, according to Amy Lamphier of Comcast Local.

Big Day Prep Showdown Game Week activities will include a V.I.P. preview for coaches, players and sponsors on Monday, Aug. 20, at Cubs A.C./Colonial Lanes in Ann Arbor. In addition, coaches and players from several Big Day Prep Showdown teams will visit the Beaumont Hospitals’ pediatric care unit on Tuesday, Aug, 21.

Tickets to the Friday, Aug. 24 games for all ages are $6 in advance and $7 on the day of the event. Advance one-day tickets for the Saturday, Aug. 25 games are $9 for adults and $7 for students and provide admission for all games that day. Children age five and under are free on Saturday, Aug. 25. All one-day/game-day tickets for Saturday, Aug. 25 are $10 at the gate and are also good for all games that day.

Big Day Prep Showdown III sponsors are Comcast Local; Comcast; 1270 ‘XYT The Sports Station; Beaumont Hospitals; Community Bowling Centers; and the U.S. Army.

For more information on the Big Day Prep Showdown III, visit www.bigdayprepshowdown.com.

The Detroit Metro Sports Commission is a subsidiary of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau that was formed in 2001 to bring regional, national and international amateur sporting events to metro Detroit.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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