U.P. Football All-Star Game
Pictures
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2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
Game Videos
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Bay Cliff Videos
2019
2018
2017
2016
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2014
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2012
2011
Highlight Videos
2010
2009
2008
Post-Game Award Winner Collage
2022
2021
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
All Past Post-Game Award Winners
Program Covers
All Past Program Covers
Complete Programs
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2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
Team Uniforms
2022
2021: Black Red
2020: Black Red
2019: Black Red
2018: Black Red
2017: Black Red
2016: North South
2015: North South
2014: East West
2013: East West
2012: East West
2011: East West
2010: East West
2009: East West
2008: East West
Players Skills Challenge
Players Skills Challenge Results
All-Time Skills Challenge Records
Rosters
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
Banquet Speakers & Videos
2022-Rick Popp
2021-Andy Crouch (Lake Linden-Hubbell High School Head Coach) Video
2019-Jeff Olson (Ishpeming High School Head Coach) Video
2018-Jeff Olson (Ishpeming High School Head Coach)
2017-Steve Mariucci (NMU NCAA Champ, NFL coach/analyst) Video
2016-Bob Landsee (former NFL player-Eagles, U.P. Native)
2015-Rob Rubick (former NFL player-Lions, U.P. Native) Video
2014-Bill Santilli (Forest Park High School Head Coach) Video
2013-Jeff Olson (Ishpeming High School Head Coach) Video
2012-Eric Beverly (former NFL player-Lions, Falcons) Video
2011-Lance Leipold (Univ. of WI-Whitewater Head Coach)
2010-Mike Maslowski (former NFL player-Chiefs) Video
2009-Dave Carl (National speaker/motivator) Video
2008-Steve Mariucci (NMU NCAA Champ, NFL coach/analyst) Video
Past All-Star Game Information
2022 Home
Rosters & Profiles
News
Black 54-28
2021 Home
Rosters & Profiles
News
Black 38-26
2020 Home
Rosters & Profiles
News
Game Cancelled-Covid
2019 Home
Rosters & Profiles
News
Red 42-28
2018 Home
Rosters & Profiles
News
Black 14-7
2017 Home
Rosters & Profiles
News
Black 19-14
2016 Home
Rosters & Profiles
News
North 28-21
2015 Home
Rosters & Profiles
News
North 35-25
2014 Home
Rosters & Profiles
News
East 41-24
2013 Home
Rosters & Profiles
News
East 19-13
2012 Home
Rosters & Profiles
News
East 42-14
2011 Home
Rosters & Profiles
News
East 28-20
2010 Home
Rosters & Profiles
News
East 21-14
2009 Home
Rosters & Profiles
News
East 21-6
2008 Home
Rosters & Profiles
News
West 38-14
History of the Game
1946-1951
The U.P. Football All-Star Game first started in 1946. The idea was conceived by Negaunee High School Athletic Director, Oscar Wassberg, who envisioned an annual football game comprised of the U.P.’s top high school gridders who had
just graduated. There was no official title to the game, other than “U.P. All-Star Game”. The All-Star Game was played at the Negaunee Playgrounds, with the players sleeping on cots in Negaunee High School’s gymnasium for the first
year. In an effort to stop U.P. coaches from organizing a U.P.-exclusive event, the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) declared that Michigan high school coaches and officials could not be associated with the game,
under penalty of suspension from coaching and officiating for a year, possibly longer. The game appeared to be doomed after only one year. A "recreation committee" was formed, and with O.J. “Moose” LaCombe as the director for the
second year, the game continued using Wisconsin coaches, and other coaches with various U.P. ties, to head the teams. The game was played for four more years, under the direction of Edward Stevens, ending for unknown reasons in 1951.
The All-Star Game was played a total of six years, from 1946-1951.
1946: North-21, South-7
1946 Newspaper Articles & Pictures
1947: North-25, South-6
1947 Newspaper Articles & Pictures
1948: South-6, North-0
1948 Newspaper Articles & Pictures
1949: South-7, North-0
1949 Newspaper Articles & Pictures
1950: South-6, North-0
1950 Newspaper Articles & Pictures
1951: South-13, North-7
1951 Newspaper Articles & Pictures
Past to Present
Melvin “Matt” Syrja played in the 1949 All-Star Game as a newly graduated Negaunee High School student (#1 in the 1949 All-Star team picture). Matt received his BS degree in Secondary Education from Northern Michigan University and
his MS from the University of Michigan. He taught mathematics and science at Gwinn High School for 27 years. Matt served in many different roles within the school and community, including being the math department head and coaching
many different sports and extracurricular activities. Matt married Elaine Larson, from Suomi, and had 5 children, Steve, Jim, David, Dennis and Jodi. Matt passed away in 1998, but his daughter, Jodi, would make the connection which
would lead to the all-star game being started again, 59 years after he played in one of the last.
Jodi attended Northern Michigan University for both undergraduate and graduate school, and was living in Madison, WI when she met her future husband, Todd Goldbeck, a native of Madison. Todd attended UW-LaCrosse, where he played
football and graduated with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Todd started Xcel Sports Training, a company that specializes in presenting events called Recruiting Combines. Combines are designed to test high school athletes in
various physical categories, including speed, strength and agility, with the results being sent to colleges across the country. The purpose is to help those athletes pursue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. Todd learned
of Matt’s involvement in the 1949 All-Star Game and that was the initial motivation for starting the current U.P. Football All-Star Game.
The Present U.P. Football All-Star Game
Xcel was performing a Combine at the Superior Dome in 2006, when the idea of having an All-Star Game just for U.P. players was suggested. Michigan has an all-star game, which is held in Lansing each year, but with over 700 high
schools in the state, the entire U.P. often will only have 1-2 players selected to participate. A U.P. all-star game would provide many more U.P. players the opportunity to take part in the event. It was talked about briefly with
some parents and athletes, but only as wishful thinking. The concept of a U.P. all-star game was apparently the topic of water-cooler discussions and bar debates for many years prior (probably since the last all-star game in 1951).
At the 2007 Superior Dome Combine, the idea was again raised, but this time, it was met with an excitement not matched by the year before. It was decided at that time that Xcel would take on the task of organizing the game. The
passion for U.P. high school football, displayed by the players, parents and fans, will be the signature for this event for years to come. For many, the year 2008 marks the first U.P. Football All-Star Game, but it is simply the
continuation of an event that started a long time ago. It will always be a tribute to the players and coaches of the 1940’s and 1950’s, who had the determination to start something new and special for the U.P.
The modern version of the game pitted East vs. West, and stayed that way for the first 7 years (2008-2014). In 2015, the game switched to a North vs South format to create new player and coach match ups.
In 2017, for the 10th anniversary, the players were selected by the coaches in a “fantasy-style” draft, and that “draft” style continued for the 2018 installment. Enjoy the game!
Please contact Xcel if you have any information regarding the past All-Star Games. We wish to include as much history as possible on the website. (todd@Xcel.net)