FCS Senior Bowl set for debut in Myrtle Beach

George St. Lawrence admits his week has been crazy.

He wouldn’t have it any other way.

His work far from done, the FCS Senior Scout Bowl co-founder is close to seeing the fruits of his labor as the game gets set for its debut in Myrtle Beach on Saturday.

“We’re pleased that in its second year of formation – and nobody’s ever done a game like this at the FCS level – we can have 80-plus players,” St. Lawrence said. “It’s a credit to Myrtle Beach area. It’s an excellent fit for an outside group coming down and for them to make us feel welcome. The coaches are supporting this game by sending their players. Coaches feel this is a good place for players to finish their college career.”

The process hasn’t been easy, however. The roster has fluctuated this week and each time it did St. Lawrence and his son and co-founder Peter found more work piled on their plate.

“You get guys who say they’re coming and then can’t come for whatever reason. When they say they’re not coming we have to scramble around to get the next guy on the list and he may be in Ohio,” St. Lawrence said. “… It’s full of trials and tribulations. That’s why people don’t do these games, because they’re not crazy like I am.”

With the players finally in place and kickoff slated for 1 p.m. Saturday, St. Lawrence said he is pleased with the players who will be showcased. St. Lawrence said the game boasts 17 players who were either preseason or postseason All-Americans, and that a combined nine NFL and Canadian Football League scouts have been on hand this week.

“More or less for the football fan, the purist out there, I believe this is the greatest assembly of FCS talent in the history of this level of football,” St. Lawrence said. “… When you look at some of these guys and the stats and the careers of those who are playing side-by-side says a lot about the talent.

“I saw speed, speed and speed. These kids are big and quick.”

Former Coastal Carolina coach David Bennett will lead the South Squad and former Fordham coach Tom Masella will head the North. Both coaches were recently relieved of head coaching duties at their universities but still chose to coach in the game.

Bennett, in fact, was instrumental in bringing the game to Myrtle Beach from Middletown, N.Y. He will coach three of his players – tight end Jamie Childers and offensive linemen Bryan Brooks and Tim Franklin – for the final time Saturday.

“I think it brings the recognition that coach Bennett has been a positive factor in FCS football and positive influence in the Grand Strand community,” St. Lawrence said. “The reason this game is here is because coach Bennett was the only coach last year on the FCS level that when myself and my son said we wanted do this game, he said ‘What do you need, we’ll send our players to N.Y. And we want to bring this game to Myrtle Beach next year.’ And we are forever grateful.”

Masella, like Bennett, wanted to be there for the players.

“He’s a quality individual who has gone through adversity and who has commitment to these kids,” St. Lawrence said of Masella. “ ‘This is for the kids,’ he said to me. ‘And I want be there and coach up the north like I said I’d do for you.’ It’s just a measure of the man he is.”

St. Lawrence said the Myrtle Beach community has been a great host and he would like to make the game a staple in the area.

“This has been a showcase of the Myrtle Beach area for these 80 or so players here,” St. Lawrence said. “The efforts of Dave Bennett has been phenomenal. It has been a very warm welcome by this community. We plan on coming back next year and the year after if they’ll have us.”