PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate ReleaseDate: February 20, 2004 Contact: Gregg Darbyshire, 513-772-4900 Scott Hacker, 513-794-4173 COMING THIS FALL: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FIREWORKS INAUGURAL PREP CLASSIC AT PAUL BROWN STADIUM CINCINNATI (OH) Greater Cincinnati high school football will be creating its own fireworks display over Labor Day weekend. On Sunday, Sept. 5, 2004, at Paul Brown Stadium, prep football returns to the riverfront with a bang as six high school football powerhouse programs are scheduled to collide in the inaugural Prep Classic. The Prep Classic, a Reach Production conducted by Hacks Sports, is the direct result of a concerted effort between Hamilton County officials, the Cincinnati Bengals, Anthony Muñoz Foundation and Cris Collinsworth ProScan Foundation to bring an annual showcase prep football event to the Greater Cincinnati area that features top regional and eventually top national programs. The idea of a Labor Day tripleheader at Paul Brown Stadium became feasible when the Cincinnati Bengals and Hamilton County announced recently that a new field surface would be installed prior to the 2004 football season. “This event has already captured the imagination of this community. Combining a championship-level high school football tripleheader with Cincinnati’s Labor Day weekend festivities is a logical and dynamic fit,” said Anthony Muñoz. “I’m honored to be involved and thrilled that the Anthony Muñoz Foundation will be one of the event beneficiaries.” “The Cris Collinsworth ProScan Foundation is proud to team with the Anthony Muñoz Foundation and Hacks Sports for the inaugural Prep Classic,” said Cris Collinsworth. “The Prep Classic is just one of the community activities through which the Cris Collinsworth ProScan Foundation enriches the lives of children and supports breast cancer issues.” Teams scheduled to compete in this year’s inaugural Prep Classic include Cincinnati Moeller, Louisville St. Xavier, Cincinnati Elder, Highlands of Northern Kentucky, Cincinnati Anderson and Cincinnati Colerain. Moeller, a seven-time Ohio state champion and regional semifinalist in 2003, visits Paul Brown Stadium for the first time to take on the Tigers of Louisville St. Xavier, a 10-time Kentucky state champion which finished runner-up in the Kentucky Class AAAA state title game last season. Elder and Highlands face each other for the first time since their classic contest back in 2000, when an estimated 30,000 fans witnessed the two storied programs play the first high school football game ever at Paul Brown Stadium. The Panthers of Elder, which finished No. 6 in the country in the final USA Today Super 25 poll in 2003, are two-time defending Ohio Division I state champions. The Bluebirds of Highlands finished runner-up in the Kentucky Class AAA state title game last season and are tied for all-time state titles with 15. Anderson has won 29 of its last 30 regular season games the past three seasons and has emerged as one of the top programs in the area. The Redskins take on a Colerain team that posted its sixth unbeaten regular season in the past 10 years in 2003. The Cardinals have been voted regular season city champions by area coaches all six times during that span. “The Cincinnati Bengals are pleased to be a part of such an exciting event as the host partner,” said Cincinnati Bengals Executive Vice President, Katie Blackburn. “Paul Brown Stadium has proven to be a great venue for high school football and we look forward to yet another opportunity to showcase local prep football.” Tentative game times are
scheduled for 12:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
“We have pledged our continued support of high school sports in an effort to promote the growth and national reputation of this region and continue the tradition of charity which has always been a hallmark of major events like the Prep Classic,” said Bob Slattery, President/CEO of Reach Publishing Systems, Inc, one of the presenting partners. “We are gratified to know that two great grassroots charities that are focused on youth development are being served.” For more information on the Prep Classic logon to www.prepclassic.com. Hacks Sports (www.hacksportsmarketing.com) is an affiliate of Reach Publishing Systems, Inc., publishers of Reach, Hacks, In Touch, Housetrends and Hometown Golf magazines. These consumer brand magazines are selectively offered in 25 cities across the United States. Slattery is also one of the largest Valpak franchisees operating with offices in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania. Valpak, a part of Cox Enterprises, Inc., delivers about 45 million households monthly, with an advertising audience larger than the Super Bowl, as rated by Nielson Media Research. ###
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