Cass Tech to Face Brother Rice in Champions Showdown in 2012 Detroit Sports Commission Prep Kickoff Classic

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

The name has changed, but the quality of competition hasn't.

The Detroit Sports Commission has announced that its changing the name of the Big Day Prep Showdown to The Detroit Sports Commission Prep Kickoff Classic.  In addition to the name change, event officials are moving the game to Detroit on the campus of Wayne State University.  The first seven Big Day Prep Showdowns were played at Eastern Michigan University.

Highlighting this year's two-day event will be a showdown between defending 2010 Division 1 champ Cass Tech and defending 2010 Division 2 champ Brother Rice.

“The Detroit Sports Commission Prep Kickoff Classic will provide an electric, bowl-game like atmosphere for high school football in the city of Detroit,” said Dave Beachnau, Detroit Sports Commission executive director and organizer and founder of the event. “We believe that the setting in Midtown Detroit at Wayne State will create a unique and memorable experience for the players and fans of high school football and support the mission of Detroit Sports to bring sporting events, and visitors to the area.”

Here are the match-ups that have been confirmed so far.

Southgate Anderson vs. Woodhaven
Dearborn vs. Clinton Twp. Chippewa Valley
Detroit Crockett vs. Oak Park
Port Huron vs. Utica Eisenhower
Southfield vs. Detroit Martin Luther King
Birmingham Brother Rice vs. Detroit Cass Tech

This year's event will be played August 24th and 25th.

Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Announces Rosters for 32nd Annual All-Star Game

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

The Michigan High School Coaches Association has released the names of the 88 players that will take part in the 32nd annual MHSFCA East-West All-Star Game in June.

The West squad will be coached by Jerry Rabideau of Spring Lake, while Mike Giannone of Dakota will lead the East stars.

This year's game will be played June 30th at Kelly-Shorts Stadium at Central Michigan University.

Click here for the East Roster

Click here for the West Roster

High School Football America Names Brother Rice's Fracassa National Coach of the Year

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

With over 50 years coaching experience and 400+ victories, it's hard to say if Brother Rice's Al Fracassa could say one season is better than the other.  But, there's no doubt that 2011 has to rank high on his list.

After a 4-4 start, the state's all-time winningest head coach went on a six-game win streak to capture Michigan's Division 2 state championship.  That championship, his seventh overall, coupled with winning his 400th game led to Coach Fracassa being chosen as High School Football America's 2011 Coach of the Year.

Fracassa is the tenth coach in America to win 400 games.

Fracassa was selected over finalists Bob Beatty of Trinity (Kentucky) and Hank Carter of Lake Travis (Texas)

Before the start of the 2011 season, I spoke with Coach Fracassa on the High School Football America radio show.  Click here to listen to that interview.