O-D Selects Elite 11 to Play in Prestigious Bowl
By Terry Massey
Myrtle Beach became the focus of high school football world with the recent Offense-Defense Elite Camp, and it will again enter the national spotlight with the 2010 O-D All-American Bowl at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium.
Almost 100 players were invited to attend the exclusive camp at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium to try out for a spot in the O-D Bowl, which also will be held on Jan. 2, 2010.
``This was our first time to hold it in Myrtle Beach and it couldn't have gone any better,'' said O-D Sports President Rick Whittier. ``The players and coaches were top-notch, the facilities were first-rate. We are excited about the possibility of holding our bowl here.''
For the 97 players who attended Elite Camp to audition for a chance to play in the bowl, they are less concerned about the location than getting an invitation. The fourth annual O-D All-American Bowl is nationally televised on Fox Sports Net and an honor for players.
``I remember watching last year's (O-D All-American Bowl) on television and I never dreamed I would have a chance to play in it,'' said Clower, a senior quarterback from Tampa, Fla. ``Now that I'm here and I have the opportunity, I can't wait to come back.''
Clower was among the lucky, chosen few, as only eight were invited to play in the bowl at the end of camp. Several other players will be monitored during their senior seasons.
Other on-the-spot invitations were handed out to running back Derek Cole of Garden City Park, N.Y., linebacker Gino Culotta of Brussells, Belgium, defensive back Martinez Davis of Atlanta, Ga., Josh Gephardt of Fairburn, Ga., offensive lineman Kevin James of Augusta, Ga., wide receiver Clifford Morgan of Lake Wales, Fla., linebacker Tyler Owens of Atlanta, offensive lineman Roy Parham of Atlanta, tight end Caleb Southworth of Piketon, Ohio and offensive lineman Caleb Farris of Fairfield, Va.
``I've had a great experience at Elite Camp this week with the coaches and competition,'' said Farris, a Virginia Tech commitment. ``I'm looking forward to playing in the bowl.''
All 97 players went home with much more than they came with, chiefly a three-day crash course in football from some of the best in the business. Coaches included veteran NFL and college coaches Artie Gigantino, Ray Isaac, Bill Urbanik, Ron Hudson, Tom Pratt, Bill Schmidt and former NFL players Nate Newton, Lorenzo Bromell and Vernon Dean.
The 97 Elite campers were chosen from more than 300 players who attended O-D Select Camps during the summer. Select Camps are specifically designed for high school players who have the desire and the potential to play college football after graduation.
With the top 11 players picked out of Elite Camp, O-D will continue the selection for the O-D Bowl throughout the fall until it reaches a total of 88 - 44 from the East and 44 from the West. They will spend a week in Myrtle Beach practicing and seeing the sights of the Grand Strand before squaring off in the nationally televised game live at Shaw Stadium.
``After spending three days there for Elite Camp, we believe Shaw Stadium would be the ideal place to host the game,'' Whittier said. ``Not only is it a great resort town, but it's our home town and we want to show it off to the world and hopefully help promote Myrtle Beach as a sports tourism destination. It's going to be another great O-D Bowl.''
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