U.P. Football All-Star Game
Game Videos
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
Bay Cliff Videos
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
Highlight Videos
2010
2009
2008
Post-Game Award Winner Collage
2023
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
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
Team Uniforms
2023: Black Red
2022: Black Red
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
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
Banquet Speakers & Videos
2023-John Croze (Calumet High School Head Coach) Video
2022-Rick Popp (Independent Leadership Consultant) Video
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
2023 Home
Rosters & Profiles
News
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
2008-2023
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 was training athletes and performing events called Recruiting Combines. Todd learned of Matt’s involvement in the
1949 All-Star Game and that was the initial motivation for creating what would become the modern 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. A U.P. exclusive all-star game would provide many more U.P. players the opportunity to take
part in the event each year. It was talked about briefly with some parents and athletes, but only as wishful thinking. 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. Todd decided at that time that he would take on the task of organizing the game for the following year.
The game pitted East vs. West, for the first 7 years (2008-2014). In 2015, the game switched to a North vs South format to create new player and coach combinations. In 2017, for the 10th anniversary, the players were selected by
the coaches using a “fantasy-style” draft, and that selection method has continued since, with the Black Team playing against the Red Team. The 2020 game had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the game came back in
2021. Todd decided that 2023 would be his last as organizer of the event, so he could spend more time training and following his son, Tanner, through all of his own sports activities.