MADISON, W.Va. — The 2013 edition of the Boone County Grid Classic is set for Friday, August 23, 2013 at Scott High School in Madison. Former Mountaineer head coach Don Nehlen and former Marshall head coach Bob Pruett are both scheduled to participate in activities leading up to the event.
The coaches will be available for autographs and to meet the public beginning at 5:15 p.m. on Friday evening, along with participating in the opening ceremony.
As for the actual football, all three Boone County high schools (Scott, Van, Sherman) will scrimmage each other in a final tune up for the regular season which begins on August 30th.
This year’s Grid Classic is dedicated to Boone County coal miners and the opening ceremony will include a tribute to them.
“This tribute is not intended to be a memorial service or to make a political statement,” said Rob Nelson, event organizer. “Rather, it is an opportunity for the community to celebrate our coal mining dads, granddads and friends and to simply say thank you.
“I am very excited about the coal miner tribute,” said Nelson. “Most, if not all, of us have a family member who is a coal miner. I am proud of my coal mining heritage and thankful for my dad who spent his life mining coal while helping to raise five kids in the process. Friday evening, August 23rd is a time for Boone County to shine and is an opportunity for the entire community to publicly show our appreciation for our coal miners.
“Boone County is fortunate to have caring people who are the driving force behind this event,” he continued. “Without the commitment of Chris Adkins, Director of Driven Knights, Inc. a non-profit community organization; Mark Sumpter, President of the Boone County Board of Education; John Hudson, Superintendent of Boone County Schools, and, Mike Day, Executive Vice President of Patriot Coal this annual event would not happen. And, when Bill Raney, President of the West Virginia Coal Association informed me that he and coach Nehlen and coach Pruett would participate in this year’s event, I just about fell out of my chair.”
Gates open at 5 pm and the opening ceremony begins at 6:00 p.m. on Friday.
– Boone County Grid Classic Release