Players, coaches and administrators pose during a media event for the Tyler Football Classic, presented by Azalea Orthopedic and Texas Spine and Joint Hospital on Tuesday at the Grace Community Lower School. From right, Bishop Gorman athletic director Jeff Smith, All Saints athletic director Eddie Francis (obscured), Grace athletic director Devin DeLaughter, Gorman coach Coby Gipson, Gorman senior Matt Roe, San Augustine senior Robert Harrison, San Augustine coach Donald Hubbard, San Augustine senior Al Horton, Grace senior Blake White, Grace senior Garrett Newman, Grace coach Mike Maddox, All Saints coach Mike Hall and All Saints senior Grady Smith. (Courtesy Photo by Jenny Hamilton | Grace Sports Information Director)

In its seventh year, the Tyler Football Classic will have a first.

The three-game TAPPS tip-off to the 2012 season heads to Clyde-Perkins Stadium this year as Grace Community hosts the classic for the first time.

“It’s a dream come true,” Grace athletic director Devin DeLaughter said. “To go from never having a home game to now being able to host an event this big is just a blessing.

“It’s a testament to all the hard work that folks have put in over the years to get us to this point.”

The Cougars will kick off the season with the first game at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30, against San Augustine.

“It’s pretty nice,” Grace senior Garrett Newman said of playing the season opener at home. “We’ve been opening our season at other schools for the past four years. It’s a little different atmosphere at your own place.”

The classic, once again presented by Azalea Orthopedics and Texas Spine and Joint Hospital, also features Bishop Gorman against Beckville at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and All Saints playing Timpson at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets each night are $6 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under.

Grace’s opponent, San Augustine, is no stranger to playing in private school classics. The Wolves played in the Brook Hill Classic against Colmesneil the last two years.

This season San Augustine brings a team ranked No. 6 in Class 1A to Tyler as the Wolves attempt to break a string of two straight Rose City sweeps in the Tyler Football Classic.

“I think it’s going to be pretty electric,” Cougars coach Mike Maddox said of opening night. “They’ve (San Augustine) got their hopes set on a state title; they’ve got an extremely talented team.

“Our guys wanted to toughen up our schedule to get ready for that TAPPS schedule we go through that’s pretty murderous.”

For Gorman first-year coach Coby Gipson, who spent the last six years at Grace, the Crusaders’ opener will be an early homecoming of sorts. He said some of the best times of his life came in that stadium

“All those will come rushing back,” Gibson said. “But it’s all positive. I’m thankful for that time; I’m thankful for this time. Hopefully we’ll create another good memory on August 31.”

All Saints will also debut a new head coach during the Tyler Football Classic. Mike Hall said he’s been overwhelmed by the way events like the classic help promote private and small school athletics in East Texas.

His players, too, are excited to get the season going.

“It’s a good way to open up,” said All Saints senior lineman Grady Smith. “Everyone gets excited. Hopefully we can make a boom when we come out.”

Notes: Grace will kick off its season on the same day a former Cougar debuts as a Bulldog. Grant Childress, now a receiver at Louisiana Tech, plays against Texas A&M in Shreveport, La., on Aug. 30. “I will have to record it,” Maddox said. “I hate to miss that.” Grace quarterback Blake White said he had bought tickets to the game before realizing that he’ll be playing that night. Gipson added that he’ll make sure to catch the game on ESPNU after he returns home from Gorman’s junior varsity game that night.