The Buzz: Top games and Marketing Tips for Week Two

<b>By Sean Mossman</b><br><br>Thursday night begins an interesting three-week stretch for the Tulsa areaâ€™s three largest schools. Jenks, Union and Broken Arrow each play one another in a round-robin-like

Thursday, September 7th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

By Sean Mossman

Thursday night begins an interesting three-week stretch for the Tulsa areaâ€™s three largest schools. Jenks, Union and Broken Arrow each play one another in a round-robin-like scheduling quirk. Equally as interesting is the fact that all three games were moved to Thursday night so they could be televised locally. Who could blame Cox Communications for jumping on the chance to air the triumvirate of games?

The first of the three games pits Union against Broken Arrow. Next week is the highly anticipated Jenks-Union game. Thatâ€™s followed by B-A at Jenks in week four. The way the schedule fell for these three teams this year gave me a real idea. Why doesnâ€™t some local business in the area create a traveling trophy for the yearly winner of the three-game series?

This would be sort of like the commander-in-chiefâ€™s trophy awarded to the service academy team that wins head-to-head against the other academies. If a team goes 2-0 in their games against the other two, they win the trophy for the next year. The only way it can be taken from them is for another team to go 2-0 the next year. If all three teams go 1-1 in their games, the trophy remains with the team currently holding it.

Thereâ€™s an obvious problem with the idea; a lot of people are going to feel left out. Owasso and some of the Tulsa Public Schools may feel like they belong in this partnership. The fact that the three schools are the largest in the state and have a natural geographic relationship makes the idea a natural in my mind.

Some people may say that thereâ€™s already enough attention paid to the three schools. Anything that adds to that attention may take away from smaller schools already thirsting for media coverage. Anyone who feels this way should take the initiative to create a similar situation for themselves.

There are traditions in college football that make it the mystical game that it is. The Old Oak and Bucket, the Golden Axe and the Commander-in-chiefâ€™s trophy are three examples of these traditions. Maybe it wonâ€™t start with Jenks-Union-B-A, but someone will soon think of a similarly creative way to market high school football games.

Games of The Week

1. Morrison (1-0) at Pioneer (1-0)- Anytime the numbers one and two teams in the state play in any class it deserves top billing. It may happen next week if Union and Jenks get by their opponents this week. For now, this is the marquee game in the entire state.
2. Union (1-0) at Broken Arrow (1-0)- Both teams are in the top four of our area power poll. The Redskins looked very impressive against Clovis, CA in week one. B-A shutout Sapulpa on the road. Neither team has given up a point thus far. My only prediction is that we wonâ€™t be able to say the same after this week.
3. Ardmore (1-0) at McAlester (1-0)- Ardmore is third in 5A rankings, McAlester is fourth. Mike Loyd returns to McAlester to face the team he coached successfully for many years. Ardmore beat 5A #1 Ada last week and McAlester handled Okmulgee. I wonder if The Isle of Capri will still give Loyd his coachâ€™s discount?
4. Ada (0-1) at Carl Albert (0-1)- Both teams fell in last weekâ€™s ravaging of 5Aâ€™s top teams. A loss by either team wonâ€™t send their program in a tailspin, but a win will boost the confidence of the players.
5. Ft. Gibson (1-0) at Miami (1-0)- So much for the tragic decline of Ft. Gibson. Last yearâ€™s state runners-up were supposed to be woeful in 2000 after losing dozens of players to graduation. A 35-8 whitewashing of Stillwell in week one may signal otherwise. Miami upset Glenpool on the road 8-7. This is the third of a brutal three-game stretch for Miami. Next week brings Bixby to town.
6. Vinita (0-1) at Nowata (1-0)- Vinita suffered what was considered an upset in week one at the hands of Jay, 21-7. Now comes the defending state 2A champs in Nowata. The Ironmen handled Dewy 21-0 in week one.
7. Stillwater (1-0) at Muskogee (0-1)- Muskogee dropped game one the Olathe, KS, 49-35. Olathe is ranked second in Kansasâ€™ largest class. Stillwater beat the four-time defending 5A champ Carl Albert, 42-30. The Pioneers win was a huge confidence builder. A win over the Roughers would validate Stillwater as one to watch in 6A this season.
8. Tulsa Memorial (1-0) at Tulsa Hale (1-0)- Hale upset East Central in their opening game, aided by seven Cardinal fumbles, 21-17. Memorial flexed its defensive muscles in a 16-0 win over Edison. The Thursday night affair is worth watching if you donâ€™t want to fight 10,000 at B-A.
9. Claremore (1-0) at East Central (0-1)- Ball handling drills were undoubtedly a major part of East Centralâ€™s game week preparations. Chucky Amos rolled for 278 yards rushing in Claremoreâ€™s week one win over Oologah, 38-21. Claremore can establish themselves as a contender with a win here.
10. Cascia Hall (1-0) at Berryhill (0-1)- Just because the Commandoes dropped to 2A this year doesnâ€™t mean theyâ€™re ducking strong competition. Berryhillâ€™s loss to Webster was disappointing to their staff. A week of red-eyed anger should have them ready for Cascia Hall.

Check out previous editions of "The Buzz"
September 5, 2000
August 31st, 2000
August 29, 2000