Steve Stoffel Sr. and his son Steve Stoffel Jr. have the usual Father's Day plans.

The Stoffels, who coach football together at Herbert Hoover High, will put the South Cardinals through their first practice this morning at West Virginia State then grab some breakfast before heading out for another round of practice in the afternoon.

Coaches and players reported Saturday to the Institute campus to get ready for a week of camaraderie and workouts that will culminate with the 55th North-South All-Star Football Classic at 7 p.m. next Saturday at Laidley Field. All tickets for the annual showcase of high school seniors are $8.

Steve Stoffel Sr., who is the head coach at Hoover, will lead the South while his son Steve Stoffel Jr. will be by his side, as is his customary spot.

Also joining Stoffel Sr. on his staff are longtime friends Fred Myers, a former Hoover assistant who now coaches at Capital, and Henry "Boob'' Lanham, an assistant at Sissonville who played under Stoffel Sr. in high school.

"I think it's going to be a great time,'' said Stoffel Sr. "I'm just tickled to death to be surrounded by the guys that are helping me. Where else can you have an opportunity to be surrounded by such great athletes?

"As any coach you want to be part of an all-star game and see what it's like to coach 36 of them. Usually you might have one or two, but this is a great opportunity. You've got 36 kids surrounding you that are all athletes.''

Nitro quarterback Michael Scott is also realizing a dream this week.

"I've always wanted to play in this game since I was little,'' said Scott, who is playing at WVU Tech this fall. "I've thought about it since I was in middle school. To be a part of all these great players, it's going to be very exciting to get out here and play.''

Jordan Roberts, the Kennedy Award winner from Scott, Parkersburg's Josh Jenkins, a blue-chip WVU recruit, and Matt Lindamood, the Kennedy runner-up, will not play in the North-South Classic. All three players declined an invitation. Roberts is an invited walk-on at WVU.

Steve Stoffel Sr. and his son Steve Stoffel Jr. have the usual Father's Day plans.

The Stoffels, who coach football together at Herbert Hoover High, will put the South Cardinals through their first practice this morning at West Virginia State then grab some breakfast before heading out for another round of practice in the afternoon.

Coaches and players reported Saturday to the Institute campus to get ready for a week of camaraderie and workouts that will culminate with the 55th North-South All-Star Football Classic at 7 p.m. next Saturday at Laidley Field. All tickets for the annual showcase of high school seniors are $8.

Steve Stoffel Sr., who is the head coach at Hoover, will lead the South while his son Steve Stoffel Jr. will be by his side, as is his customary spot.

Also joining Stoffel Sr. on his staff are longtime friends Fred Myers, a former Hoover assistant who now coaches at Capital, and Henry "Boob'' Lanham, an assistant at Sissonville who played under Stoffel Sr. in high school.

"I think it's going to be a great time,'' said Stoffel Sr. "I'm just tickled to death to be surrounded by the guys that are helping me. Where else can you have an opportunity to be surrounded by such great athletes?

"As any coach you want to be part of an all-star game and see what it's like to coach 36 of them. Usually you might have one or two, but this is a great opportunity. You've got 36 kids surrounding you that are all athletes.''

Nitro quarterback Michael Scott is also realizing a dream this week.

"I've always wanted to play in this game since I was little,'' said Scott, who is playing at WVU Tech this fall. "I've thought about it since I was in middle school. To be a part of all these great players, it's going to be very exciting to get out here and play.''

Jordan Roberts, the Kennedy Award winner from Scott, Parkersburg's Josh Jenkins, a blue-chip WVU recruit, and Matt Lindamood, the Kennedy runner-up, will not play in the North-South Classic. All three players declined an invitation. Roberts is an invited walk-on at WVU.

The all-star game, however, won't lack star power.

Nitro's Scott and receiver Marcos Valentine, who finished No. 3 and 6, in the Kennedy voting, and South Charleston's Deion Spurlock (No. 4) will play for the South. Nineteen Kanawha Valley players in all will suit up for the South.

Jim Rogers of Cameron will coach the North, which have 11 first-team all-state selections on its roster. (For rosters, see Page 2D.)

"I'm hoping we've got a team that's quick,'' said Stoffle Sr. "Looking around at the skill kids [and] the big kids we've got, we're hoping we can line up and play.

"Of course the North has 36 all-stars, too. You come into these games and look at [each players'] stats and they're great. Hopefully, they can perform.''

Scott said there will not be a repeat of last year's low-scoring affair if he has his way. Defense dominated last year's game with the South taking a 7-3 victory. It marked the lowest-scoring game in the series since 1981.

"Hopefully a spread [offense], that's what I'm looking forward to,'' smiled Scott, who passed for 4,126 yards and 49 touchdowns last season. "Hopefully, a shootout. The athletes we have at the receiver position should be able to put some points on the board.''

Briefly

The North-South Classic will induct its first hall of fame class featuring Sam Huff, Fred Wyant, Walter Easley, Robert Alexander, Mike Barber, Dr. Charles McKown and Kenny Wright. ... The South leads the all-time series 33-18-3 and has won the past two contests. ...The North-South football series began in 1934, resuming in 1976 after a 20-year hiatus.

To contact staff writer Tommy R. Atkinson, use e-mail or call 348-4811.