39th Kansas Shrine Bowl Set for July 28th

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

The state's premiere all-star football game returns to Emporia State University on July 28th.

“Emporia and Emporia State have been key to the success of the Kansas Shrine Bowl," said Executive Director Emeritus Dave Mize. “Emporia State and the city of Emporia have done a terrific job of hosting the game three times, and we’re excited about returning for this year’s game.”

“People tell us how friendly our community is”, said Betty James, Director of the Emporia Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We have so much to offer, and this gives us the chance to roll out the red carpet for many people visiting the city for the first time.  After the 2008 Shrine Bowl, we estimate that the game brought in about $1.3 into the community."

The East squad has won two of the three previous games played in Emporia with the West winning the last game there in 2008 by a score of 29-28.

All Shrine Bowl events are produced and presented to benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children that is a health care system of 22 hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care, innovative research, and outstanding teaching programs for medical professionals.

For more info and to see the rosters for the game, go to www.kansasshrinebowl.com.

Schools Reject Reclassification

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Kansas High School Athletic Association member schools have voted down a proposal that would have reclassified three football classes.

The plan to reclassify Class 4A, 3A and Class 2-1A was voted down 189-101.  Only Class 4A schools voted in favor of the changes that would have reduced the number of teams from 64 to 48.  The 4A vote was 39-25 in favor of the reduction of schools.

Class 3A voted down the plan by a vote of 47-17; Class 2A's vote was 42-22 against and the 1A vote was 75-23

If the number of schools would have been reduced to 48 in Class 4A, the next 64 largest schools would have been in 3A with the remaining 57 schools assigned to Class 2-1A.

The plan would have needed 146 "yes" votes in order to take effect.