The 41st Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football Game is at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the most grand of venues.
The contest, as previously noted, for the first time will be played at Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers and site of Super Bowl 50.
A concern, North coach Jake Messina of Fremont High said, will be to assure his players are not freaked out by the daunting venue. Some have not played in stadiums larger than an average high school stadium.
“It’s a different place,” Messina said. “The kids from Wilcox have played there, but for the rest I want to make sure they’re not shell-shocked when they walk in. But after the first few snaps I think the (awe) will go away.”
Said South coach Eric Perry: “Levi’s is a special place and they may be shocked at first how huge it is. Hopefully they’ll play loose and be able to handle it.”
The annual game has most recently been held at San Jose City College.
VIP TREATMENT: As if playing at Levi’s isn’t exciting enough, players from both teams will be guests of the Arena League San Jose SaberCats on Friday at the SAP Center. The players will be introduced during the SaberCats’ 7:30 p.m. game against the Arizona Rattlers.
"We will be presenting the North and South all-star teams during a break in the game," said Mike Carrozzo, the director of operations and revenue for the SaberCats. "All (or most) of the all-stars will be presented in their jersey."
Carrozzo, a big supporter of prep sports, is pushing the Wedemeyer game hard.
"It will be fun," he said. "We will let all of the fans (at the SaberCats' game) know that the game is special and well worth spending a night at Levi's Stadium watching the all-star game and a 49ers' practice."
Tickets are $20 and $10 for those under 18.
The 49ers' first training camp practice is after the game.
Ticket sales will help fund the Rotary Club's charitable causes in the name of Wedemeyer, who died of ALS in 2010. Wedemeyer was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease in 1978, but continued to coach. His 1985 team dramatically won the CCS title 14-12 before 7,000 fans by blocking a 29-yard St. Francis field goal attempt in the final minute. It was the apex of a made-for-TV movie; a PBS documentary was also made on Wedemeyer.
PLENTY OF ASSISTANCE: Messina will be assisted by coaches from the Fremont staff, as well as Sequoia defensive coordinator Tim Netane and long-time Merced High special teams’ coach Reno Martinelli.
“Reno is a character,” Messina said. “He’s known for pacing up and down the sideline with his cap on backwards. But he’s a phenomenal kicking coach who is always in demand. I told him this game is a big deal.”
South coach Eric Perry of Pioneer will have coaches from his staff assisting him as well as Los Gatos coach Mark Krail, Los Gatos offensive coordinator Danny Sullivan and Branham special teams' coach Gil Corini. Perry assisted Krail at Pioneer before Krail took his current post.
ALUMNI: The Wedemeyer game boasts a glittering list of alumni, many of whom have ascended to the pro ranks.
Among the many former prep all-stars who later played in the NFL are: Jeff Garcia (Gilroy), Doug Cosbie (St. Francis), Jeff Toews (Del Mar), Don Schwartz (Mitty), Rich Campbell (Santa Teresa), Greg Woodard (Silver Creek), John Hendy (Wilcox), Ben Bennett (Peterson), John Faylor (Mitty), Randy Kirk (Bellarmine), Erik Howard (Bellarmine), Trent Edwards (Los Gatos), Carl Monroe (Overfelt), John Tuggle (Independence) and the late Pat Tillman (Leland). Also, Mike Holmgren of Oak Grove coached in the game before becoming a 49er assistant and head coach of the Green Bay Packers.
Also, former major leaguer slugger Ken Caminiti played in the game. The late Caminiti prepped at Leigh and was the 1996 National League MVP.
