Wiregrass Football Classic about more than football

“It’s about more than a football game.”

Larry Patrick of Dothan Leisure Services used those words on Friday to announce the Inaugural Wiregrass Football Classic.
Concordia College of Selma and Edward Waters of Jacksonville, Fla., will play in the event at 4 p.m. Oct. 17 at Rip Hewes Stadium.

Patrick’s context was the game is part of a bigger weekend. Pregame activities aimed at local high school students include a career fair and college financial
aid information on Friday, the day before the game.

Concordia and Edward Waters played in Dothan last year in the South Alabama Heritage Classic.
“It was the first college football game we’ve had here in about the last 30 years,” Patrick said at a luncheon at the Wiregrass Museum of Art Conference Center.

“The game was very much a success,” he said. “As a result of that game, there were seven young men that got football scholarships.”

In fact, Edward Waters signees and Dothan High teammates Marqual McElvin, Lorenzo Capehart, Jordan Brooks and Terrell Owens attended the
announcement.
Concordia signees Brandon Jones and Lazaro Aguilar of Dothan High and Joe Coachman of Northview High were not present. They are attending a freshman
football orientation program Concordia coach Shepherd Skanes called “The Man Center.”

“There’s no way we envisioned it having that kind of impact,” Patrick said.

So when Edward Waters assistant athletics director Henry Smith contacted the city about hosting the game again, it was an easy answer.

“We jumped all over it,” Patrick said. “We felt it was can’t-miss.”

Skanes and Smith took Patrick’s phrase about it being “more than a football game” even farther. It’s about the opportunities athletics and, more importantly, a
college education can provide.

“I wanted to make sure when we came back we made a great impact on the city of Dothan,” Smith said. “I had a professor tell me in the field of education,
you’ll never be rich, but you’ll enrich lives.

“I will make sure I enrich the youth that come aboard. I don’t care if they attend Edward Waters or attend Concordia or attend Troy or Alabama State. I’d just
like for them to attend somewhere and become someone. And to become gainfully employed someday and to be able to put back something into the city of
Dothan.

“That is what this is all about. This game is here not for the schools, but for the city of Dothan and to educate our youth for tomorrow.”

Skanes enthusiastically embraces his role as a coach and a witness for Christ.

“I’m a strange coach. I’m a different type of coach,” he said. “At Concordia College, we believe in God first, education second, athletics third. We’re building a
foundation on God. We want to be able to step out on the water.

“When a kid leaves home he’s stepping out. They’re stepping out to get their miracle and the miracle is their education. ... God has told me that this is your
ministry and they’re your congregation. Your job is to prepare them to be productive citizens when they leave school.”

First, they have to get there.  Owens said he’s eager to get started in Jacksonville.

“I hope I start as a freshman,” said the offensive lineman, who will report July 31.

Owens said he was working and didn’t see last year’s Concordia-Edward Waters game. But he’s eager to play at Rip Hewes Stadium again.

“It’ll be good to play in front of parents and friends,” he said.

Teammate Lorenzo Capehart, a defensive back, said having four Dothan High teammates at college should help the transition.

“There’s somebody I can talk to right away,” said Capehart, who considered Edward Waters and Concordia.

“I visited both schools. I just thought Jacksonville was a better place for me. I’m ready to start, ready to get to work.”

Skanes said he’s pleased with the talent he signed from Dothan.

“We’re going to be back in Dothan and back trying to get kids out of Dothan,” Concordia’s coach said. “Y’all are doing a great job here.”

Patrick said the career fair is open to any area high school student.

“We’ll have representatives from both schools and from local schools here in the area,” he said. “The kids will be able to talk to these schools and be taught
how to seek financial aid and assistance.”

Both schools will also bring their bands, so musicians can also check into opportunities to play in college.

Smith noted the career fair can be beneficial even for those not attending college.

“Every young woman and every young man will not be able to attend college, but with the career day they can choose a career that he or she can be a part of,”
he said. “This is the game of life, not the game of a game.”