July 19, 2000

It's the Sunshine State against the Golden State. The best beaches in the east versus the best beaches in the west. Disneyland versus Disney World.

California and Florida have drawn many comparisons in the past, not the least of which being high school football talent. Which has the best young prep gridiron stars - the land of Gators, Hurricanes and Seminoles or the place where Bruins, Trojans and Golden Bears roam? The question will be answered starting at 7 p.m. PT Saturday in the first annual CaliFlorida Bowl at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

Event organizer Chuck Price of Air 7 Sports says each state has numerous young football players who in the past have not been included in other All-Star games, such as the annual Cal-Tex Shrine Football Classic.

"The first thought was a venue, and we thought the Rose Bowl was a place that needed a game of this magnitude," says Price. "We thought there were so many kids in southern California and throughout the state that haven't had a great place to show their stuff, and we wanted to put a game together that would do that.

"We wanted to establish a rivalry, something that would be attractive, and Florida popped in our heads immediately."

For a game that was designed to promote less-than-marquee players, there is no shortage of talent on either side of the field. SchoolSports.com's Athlete of the Year in the Bay Area, D.J. Williams of De La Salle High (Concord, Calif.), is possibly the best known on the Golden State side, while defensive back Bryant McFadden of McArthur High (Hollywood, Fla.) and defensive lineman Vince Wilfork of Santaluces High (Lantana, Fla.) highlight Florida's strong talent.

Both teams are composed entirely of future Division I players, including six who will suit up for the University of Miami this fall, five for Florida State, four for Central Florida, two for Ohio State and two for Notre Dame - on the Florida side alone. The California team includes 11 USC recruits, 10 UCLA and four Cal-Berkeley.

California coach Gene Vollnogle, for one, is excited to watch the stars of tomorrow take the field Saturday in the name of state pride.

"I think you always like to see where you stand as a state," says Vollnogle, whose years coaching Banning High (Banning, Calif.) and Carson High's (Carson, Calif.) football teams have earned him a place as one of California's all-time victory leaders in prep football. "As a coach, you're always saying, 'Ya, they may be good, but they haven't played us yet.' It's a matter of pride. And being an athlete, you have to have that. You need to have that."

On the Florida side, Lincoln High (Tallahassee, Fla.) football coach David Wilson will take charge. Wilson, who coached in six of the 16 Florida/Georgia All-Star games, led his team to the Florida 6A state title in 1999 and brings with him four of his own Division I recruits from Lincoln.

Wink Barnett, director of the Florida Athletics Coaches' Association, says the Florida side will have no shortage of talent.

"The entire state of Florida is extremely excited about becoming involved with this event," says Barnett. "We hope to build a long-term relationship and rivalry with California so that the CaliFlorida Bowl is looked upon as the top prep football All-Star game each summer."

Proceeds from Saturday's contest will go to the Ronald McDonald House.