The Massey Energy Hatfield-McCoy Senior Bowl is approaching quickly and the Mountaineer State is well prepared with head coach Matt Stanley.

"I am looking forward to representing West Virginia," Stanley said. "Anyone who coaches an all-star game is honored. This will be fun to coach the best of the best from southern West Virginia."

Stanley is well known for his defensive coaching while at the helm of Tolsia High School. He is now the Principal at THS but assistant coach for Matewan High School John Fry remembers the coach on the opposing sideline when he was a player for the Tigers.

"We are excited to have Matt coaching this game," he said. "Before he retired, he was one of the best defensive coaches in the state."

Stanley doesn't know who will fill the positions but with the game right around the corner, he said he will keep the offense and defense as simple as possible.

"We look to have around 30 players," he said. "And we guarantee everyone will get to play."

"I don't even know who will be my quarterback yet," said Stanley. "We are going to try to put in an offense that is simple and fast, and a defense that is very simple and very fast."

Stanley will soon discover who will take the field for West Virginia. He is holding a team meeting July 25 at Starter's in Williamson at 3 p.m.

Practice will begin Monday at 5 p.m. on Williamson High School's field. Stanley said the site was chosen because it is central to all players on the West Virginia squad. The team will practice everyday at 5 p.m. with a walk-through on the Friday before the game.

Players were chosen after area high school coaches nominated graduates from last year to don the blue and gold.

For now, assisting Stanley is Roscoe Spaulding. He said he has been around football for 50 years.

"He's (Stanley) got the sharpest mind in football I have ever seen," Spaulding said.

Other assistants will be announced July 27.

Fry explained some of the rules the West Virginia and Kentucky squads will have to abide. The head coach will have to tell the opposing team the defense he will be running and he must stick with that defense unless the offense makes it to his 10-yard line. However, once inside the "red zone" the defense can be changed but no blitzing will be allowed.

"This is done to help the offense because of the short time frame to practice," Fry explained.

On the offensive end, Fry said a minimum of 10 passes must be thrown during the game.

Stanley expessed his thanks to Massey Energy as well as "the people at Starter's for allowing us to use the restaurant for the team meeting."

The Massey Energy Hatfield-McCoy Senior Bowl will be played at Tiger Stadium in Matewan July 31 at 8 p.m.