By Mark Rountree, Sports Editor
The Enid Plainsmen will have to wait a few more days to play in the Class 6A state championship football game.
Uncertain road conditions forced the postponement of tonight’s scheduled championship game against Jenks until 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Skelly Stadium at the University of Tulsa.
Enid coach Tom Cobble, athletic director Bill Mayberry, many school officials and many fans were not pleased with the decision by the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association to play the game on a weeknight.
Many Enid fans may have trouble making the two-hour drive to Tulsa after work to attend the game. And, of course, there’s a two-hour trip home after the game, with work or school early the next morning.
Travel is not much of a concern for Jenks fans. Jenks is located just south of Tulsa, about a 15-minute drive to Skelly Stadium, a site determined to be neutral by the OSSAA for the championship game.
“I am extremely disappointed in the OSSAA’s decision,’’ said Mayberry. “I think our community deserves better. But our football team will represent itself just fine.’’
Cobble said as many as one-third of Enid’s fans may not travel to the game because it will be played during the work week, and because it will be televised live to a statewide audience on KSBI (channel 16).
“These kids deserve a full championship treatment,’’ said Cobble. “Playing on Tuesday night, it’s just not a championship atmosphere. ... There are so many reasons not to play on Tuesday. I can’t find anybody who can tell me any good reason not to play (next) Friday.’’
“I certainly understand this is not Enid’s preference,’’ said Danny Rennels, executive director of the OSSAA. “I can assure you this (decision) was not (made) to the advantage or disadvantage of anyone. ... We didn’t just haphazardly put this together.’’
Rennels indicated the game was moved to Tuesday because that’s when it appears the weather will take a turn for the better. Tuesday’s forecast calls for sunny skies during the day, with a high of 51 degrees. The low will be 32 degrees.
Rennels said having the game Tuesday will allow work crews time to get Skelly Stadium prepared. Snow plows were busy Friday removing several inches of snow off the artificial turf.
Rennels said his long association with Enid superintendent Dr. Kem Keithly, with whom he spoke Friday, led him to carefully consider the decision.
“When (Keithly) is so adamant about it, I had to really ... reflect on this a long time,’’ Rennels said.
Rennels said it was his preference to have the game on a weekend night. But he added he “didn’t control the weather.’’
Rennels said a more defined policy will be written into the association’s next handbook to specifically address what happens when postponements occur.
Tulsa received 10.4 inches of snow, a single-day record for November in the city, during the blast of winter weather that struck all of Oklahoma on Thursday.
A parade scheduled Monday for the Plainsmen around the downtown square has been postponed to a later date.
The Enid basketball teams are scheduled to play at Moore on Tuesday. Mayberry said as of Friday, those games still were slated to be played.
Mayberry said school will be held as scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Plainsmen continued to prepare for the game. With several inches of snow still covering the practice field at D. Bruce Selby Stadium, linemen worked out on the artificial turf practice field at David Allen Memorial Ballpark, while skill-position players worked out in the basketball practice courts at the high school.
The team will practice at 1:30 p.m. today. Cobble said he is trying to arrange a practice on the turf at Boone Pickens Stadium at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.
The team will have a light practice Sunday and a walk-through Monday.
Advance tickets can be purchased at the athletic office or the activities office at the high school during school hours Monday and Tuesday. All tickets cost $5. Tickets also can be purchased at Skelly Stadium on the night of the game. The gates open at 6 p.m.
Okeene game Monday
The Okeene-Washington Class A semifinal game, originally scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today at Putnam City High School, has been moved to 7:30 p.m. Monday.
Crescent and Rush Springs will play in the other semifinal at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Moore.
This is the first time Whippets coach Jeff Wardlaw has had a game snowed out.
“I really have no clue how it affects the boys,’’ he said. “As far as I’m concerned, I’m indifferent. It gives us both another couple of days to prepare.’’
Okeene did not have school Friday after going to classes Thursday. The Whippets were attempting to clear off their field Friday so they could practice.
The Whippets will practice today and will have a walk-through Sunday.
Wardlaw said he was grateful the decision was made early.
The last time Oklahoma’s playoff schedule was set back by weather was 1992.
“I don’t know if we gain anything or not,’’ Wardlaw said. “It looks like it may warm up (today). It might have been nicer to play it then.
“Once the sun goes down, it cools off in a hurry. Monday is supposed to be nice during the day. All I know is both of us will have to do the same thing.’’
The Okeene-Washington game can be heard on KNID Radio (97.7 FM).
Bruce Campbell contributed to this report
