Published: October 01, 2008 10:57 pm         

Several NW Oklahoma schools have unique rituals

If you see a dog running on the field and nobody is chasing him, you know you’re at an Okeene football game.

JoJo, a whippet dog, has been a fixture at games for the last seven years. He was donated by Bart and Debbie Benham, the parents of former Whippets player Brian Benham.

The Okeene mascot is one of many traditions that make up northwest Oklahoma football.

JoJo slipped a disc in his neck in the summer of 2007 while trying to shake a snake. Some thought that would end his career but he came back to run on the field for the playoffs.

“That was really neat,’’ Okeene coach Jeff Wardlaw said. “We didn’t think we would see him again. We didn’t realize how much we would miss him.’’

Some schools kiddingly have threatened to shoot JoJo if he came onto the field, Wardlaw said. Most usually will let him run.

“You usually don’t see a live mascot,’’ Wardlaw said.

JoJo will retire after the 2008 season. JoJo was preceded by Whitey I, who was with the team for the 1981 championship season, and Whitey II. They were donated by Okeene fan Larry Winter.

Some other unique Okeene traditions include:

• Always having the players come into the locker room, home or away, at 5:30 p.m.

• Wearing ties on game days to school instead of game jerseys.

“It’s all about business,’’ Wardlaw said. “That helps us focus. That’s one of the reasons we play so well on the road.’’

• • •

Canton coach Robby Davis has brought some new traditions to the Tigers in his four years at the helm.

One is the team singing the school’s fight song to fans after games. The first thing a Canton freshman is taught is the school fight song.

The Tigers do a haka, a New Zealand tribal war dance, before each game. Davis, a history teacher, said tribes there would do a war dance before a battle.

“It’s a team unity thing,’’ he said. “You are calling on everything within you to fight and compete ... the spirit of your ancestors ... you all try to come together as one and play, that’s what football is all about.’’

Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association approved the dance. Davis said the dance is a sign of respect for the opponent and isn’t taunting.

“I think it got Laverne fired up to see us do it,’’ he said. “We don’t want to intimidate anybody. It gets the boys fired up.’’

The Tigers went to Oklahoma City last week to meet with rugby teams from Oklahoma City and Edmond. They watched a rugby film and did a haka with the teams in downtown Oklahoma City.

The Edmond rugby team is planning a trip to a Canton game to do a haka with the Tigers, Davis said.

• • •

At Ringwood, coach Doug Seely has brought a tradition from Northwestern Oklahoma State, where he played college football.

Every Friday, the players carry their helmet with them everywhere. If someone sees a helmet unattended, they are supposed to bring it to the coach.

“We haven’t done it until this year,’’ Seely said. “It usually keeps their mind focused on getting ready to play. The kids have taken it to heart.’’

• • •

At Hennessey, the Eagles ring the victory bell after a win. Coach Shannon Watford is getting accustomed to that with a 15-2 record in his year and a half at the helm.

“Winning makes a good tradition,’’ he said.

Hennessey superintendent Joe McCulley said the victory bell was being rung before his first stint as the Eagles head coach in the mid-1980s.

Watford has brought a new tradition — a lunch pail the Eagles take everywhere, whether it’s the practice field, game field or weight room.

The lunch pail, he said, symbolizes blue collar work ethic. This is very similar to a tradition at Virginia Tech, which ESPN called one of the top 20 traditions in college football.

“It shows we’re going to work,’’ Watford said. “Every-body wants to be a winner, but not many people are willing to put the work in to get it done. ‘’

• • •

The night before the season opener, Chisholm players staked a claim to a part of the field that had a special meaning to them.

The stakes then were thrown into a bonfire as part of a team bonding exercise.

Seniors are asked to throw something in the fire. Longhorns coach Dan Maly said items have included old practice shoes, an old elementary school jersey and an old practice shirt.

The ashes from the fire are sprinkled on the field before every home game.

• • •

At Garber, seniors walk the entire field at Warren Dell Stadium after their last home game.

The school band plays the fight song through the halls during first hour on game day.

• • •

At Covington-Douglas, coaches are a little superstitious.

Assistant Mike Kaiser, during a winning streak, will wear the same shirt, undershirt and slacks he wore the week before.

Head coach Brian Smith, during a winning streak, will drink out of the same Eskimo Joe’s cup while watching film at Kaiser’s house on Sunday. He will stick with the same pregame snack or meal.