Football Fever Hits Area Fans

Oklahoma's craze over high school football is the big story for many local fans.<br><br>Football is taking over again. Games all over Northeastern Oklahoma are pitting rivals against each other in

Saturday, August 26th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Oklahoma's craze over high school football is the big story for many local fans.

Football is taking over again. Games all over Northeastern Oklahoma are pitting rivals against each other in scrimmages giving fans a taste of what's ahead.

"I just followed it as long as I can remember,â€ says football fan Leroy Trimble.

Trimble's grandson coaches Jenks football.

Trimble and his son don't plan on missing a game this season.

Besides family on the field, what makes football so addicting?

One expert in sports psychology has an idea.

"Just being part of a group is part of it. When you're going to a football game, you wear their colors, you support that school and all of sudden you are associated with a school in a positive and healthy way and a lot of people like to do that," says Julie Ness, Ph.D.

Many fans agree with that philosophy and have some ideas of their own.

"We normally find people coming from out of states to see Union because they are ranked nationally. They just want to come and see a good football game," says Phil Barr, Union High School Fan.

And players all over are trying to give the fans good football.

Nicole Roberts is one of those players.

She's the only girl on Muskogee's varsity team, but that's not stopping her from enjoying America's favorite pastime.

"I don't know it's just real fun and popular at my school and a lot of schools," says Roberts.

One of those schools thatâ€™s growing is Broken Arrow.

They've outgrown their football stadium and are finishing up Tiger Field.

The school's athletic director hopes to have the new stadium ready by the first home game on September 8th.