Adidas 7v7 State Championship to Be Held in Oxford June 21

Over 1,000 athletes, 300-plus coaches and 64 football prep teams are expected to compete in Adidas 7v7 this summer at the FNC Park in Oxford and at Liberty Park in Madison.

On June 21, these young athletes will be able to showcase their skills in passing football games for three days at the FNC Park, located on 328 Highway 314. Oxford will see thousands of athletes thanks to Airo 7v7.

Airo 7v7 state director, Joe Ray, is excited to bring this type of exposure to young Mississippian athletes.

“I am excited to serve as the State Director for this statewide football event. We expect 64 prep football teams, over 1,000 athletes and more than 300 football coaches to attend over three exciting days. 7v7 football is the hottest form of football and growing in every part of the country.” Ray said, “This is a great opportunity for teams to polish up on the 2nd part of their season, for players to excel, and to help improve their chances of getting noticed and recognition.”

He is a former Rebel (M Club Football ’82) who was also a graduate assistance coach at both Delta State University (84-85) and Ole Miss (86-87). He spent the past 13 years coaching at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Ridgeland, Mississippi.

“…With my head coaching experience in South Florida, I was hired by Airo7v7 as the state director for Mississippi,” Ray said.

Airo7v7 is a way to give the football athletes a way to showcase their skills during the “off season.” According to its website (airo7v7.com): “The core mission at conception for Airo7v7 was to provide a regional and national platform for top football players to showcase their skill and ability against other top athletes through the 7v7 stage, through leagues and tournaments to national scholastic 7v7 competitions.”

Airo7v7 aims to bring national college exposure to young athletes, especially since the college recruiting is reaching younger athletes. During the off-season, the organization’s regional and national events attract top recruiters and national media to evaluate the future stars of collegiate and professional football.

Ray said, “The Adidas 7v7 Mississippi State Championship is part of the biggest 7v7 effort to date with regional and state championships planned in 10 states in the summer of 2016 (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and California).”

He noted that the 7v7 events in Florida, Georgia and Louisiana all sold out last year.

The national Airo7v7 effort is led by Dave Menard and Richard McGuinness. McGuinness created the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on NBC and sold his interest in 2014 to focus on emerging sports like 7v7 football. Menard has been a pioneer in 7v7 events for years in Florida. Together, they want to wire the country with first class 7v7 events for top athletes, coaches and parents.

Callie Daniels Bryant is the senior managing editor at HottyToddy.com. She can be reached at callie.daniels@hottytoddy.com.

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