Consider fans in 8-man grid game

July 05, 2009 11:43 pm

— Oklahoma 8-Man Coaches Association will have its annual all-star game Saturday in Miami.
Miami certainly deserves credit for first aggressively seeking the game and then being able to keep it, thanks to a large number of activities for both the players and coaches.
Having fun should be one of the goals for any all-star game, especially one in which many of its participants will be playing their last game.
But one would like to see the game at least occasionally in northwest Oklahoma.
Our area swept the state championships in 8-man (Garber, Class B, and Shattuck, Class C).
In fact, the Class B semifinals was an all-northwest Oklahoma affair with Garber, Laverne, Canton and Ringwood.
In Class C, Timberlake joined Shattuck in the semifinals. Southern teams Thackerville and Temple were the other two.
Miami, being in the far northeastern section of the state, is inconvenient for many 8-man fans, especially in today’s economy in which the average fan can’t afford to go three to four hours to a game.
Enid is more centrally located. The fans in the southern part of the state should be considered, too.
At least move the game around occasionally. Certainly Miami is not the only place where players and coaches could have fun.
Other chamber of commerces should take Miami as a role model. Fans should tell their coaches and administrators they would like to see the game, too.
The game drew good crowds when it was in Alva. KALV Radio did a good job of providing activities for the players.
This is nothing against Miami, which has done an excellent job of hosting the game. The officials there have done all they could do to help outside media, including the News & Eagle.
But it would be nice to be able to see the game.

Campbell is a News & Eagle sports writer.

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