For all the reasons the Woodland Hills High School football team's trip to Texas next month to open its season at an NFL stadium will benefit the Wolverines, coach George Novak points out something that might be overlooked.

"The kids are so excited, they've picked it up a notch at practice," he said, referring to summer conditioning workouts. "They know only 60 guys are going. It's going to make them all work a little harder for us."

It's true that the promoters of the Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Football Series put a cap on how many players Woodland Hills will be able to fly to Irving, Texas, for the game. Woodland Hills will play against Justin Northwest at Texas Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.

But that is about the only restriction the Wolverines have to deal with in return for participation in the event, which is being staged in four cities, matching 30 teams in 15 games at three sites in Ohio in addition to the quadruple-header outside Dallas.

Still, Novak can't complain about being provided with an all-expenses-paid trip for 60 players and 15 staff members by jet to the Southwest for the Aug. 30 game that will be played at 6 p.m.

"It's a nice deal, a great experience for the kids," Novak said. "It's probably a tougher environment than they're used to to go down and play a good team, but the upside is great. It will be such an experience for the kids. A lot of them have never flown before, and this doesn't cost the school district anything.

"We've never shied away from playing anybody. We like a good challenge. I think the kids and their parents are excited."

The Wolverines' participation in the event, which is staged by Chicago-based Intersport and sponsored by Burger King, began with a phone call from Herbstreit's father to Novak, who said he was interested as long as another local team was.

McKeesport coach George Smith was also interested, and the Tigers ultimately were chosen to play at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.

McKeesport will go against Cincinnati Colerain. The Wolverines originally were selected to play at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Novak said representatives from Intersport called in May to ask if his team would play in Texas. Once told that all expenses will be picked up, Novak looked at participation in the game as a no-brainer.

"It's an honor for the program," he said. "It shows that people know how competitive a team Woodland Hills is. It shows that you're known nationally as being a competitive team. That's a good thing."

What's more, the game shouldn't be much of a disruption for the players' studies. Novak said the team will leave from school the day before the game and will fly home from Texas the morning after the game, which is on a Sunday.

Novak said he had heard the contest, which will be played on Labor Day weekend, will be broadcast nationally by Versus, but that had not been confirmed.

"It's a good way to start the season," he added.

Woodland Hills is looking for a good way to get off to a good start. That wasn't the case last season.

The Wolverines' program had one of its worst seasons in school history, starting 0-4 en route to a 3-7 record. But the team doesn't seem fazed by that when looking to the upcoming campaign.

"We should bounce back this year," senior running back/linebacker Edgar Folks said. "We're stronger than we were last year, and way faster. We should have a real good season."

"We have some real talent coming up," senior quarterback/defensive back Hausaan Burton said. "We had a real good JV team. We'll be working really hard this year."

They had better be, what with a big-time opponent from a big-time school in a big-time high school football state looming in six weeks.

"They [Justin Northwest] wouldn't be in this [showcase] if they weren't any good," Novak pointed out.

"They're similar to us. I talked to their coach for a while, and he was as nervous about playing us as I am about playing him." Novak said the school's been growing to the point it will have 1,000 freshman.