December 17, 2019 Issue, Page 10 of 10

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Page 10 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Tuesday, December 17, 2019 Sooners are in an exclusive club in College Football Playoff era By Berry Tramel, The an invitational tournament. Baylor? Utah? That's new Ohio State, Oklahoma? Rat- conference is harmed by the out of the national football Oklahoman, Oklahoma As exclusive as the oldest- blood. Utah didn't join one ings magnets all. lack of playoff appearances. semifinals. City money country club. of the power conferences, And if you're a market But Scott accepts the reality. But still. The last three New blood has infiltrated This is the sixth year of the Pac-12, until 2011. Bay- that routinely has a team in "Well, when we designed Final Fours have been filled the College Football Play- the four-team playoff and lor has spent much of its his- the playoff, everyone is ex- the playoff, we understood by 12 schools. No repeaters. off. Just like the year before. the first that does not include tory as a punching bag for cited. We've grown quite ac- there were four slots, there And the year before that. Alabama. Never fear, Clem- the Texases and Oklahomas customed to the CFP here in are five big conferences, The last six have been filled And the year before that. son's here, joining Bama on of Middle America, and the Oklahoma. independents," Scott said. by 18 schools, with none And the year before that. the list of five appearances. Bears were 1-11 as recently But the state of Florida That "would mean years that making more than two ap- But all new blood is not The Sooners are a step be- as two years ago. hasn't produced a playoff teams couldn't get in. So we pearances. I know it seems created equal. hind, with four playoffs. Either the Utes or the team in five years. The huge understand that." like Duke and Kentucky Incollege basketball, fresh Ohio State a notch below Bears could have made this geographic region north of The difference between dominate the sport, but nei- meat looks like Loyola-Chi- that, with its third this sea- playoff with a conference South Carolina and east of the Football Four and bas- ther has been in a Final Four cago or Wichita State; Texas son. championship game victory Ohio hasn't produce a play- ketball's Final Four borders since 2015. Tech or South Carolina. Only 11 schools have a weekend ago, but Oregon off team at all. The state of on the ridiculous. Sure, In college football, fresh filled the 24 available play- popped Utah and the Soon- Texas, with all those recruits Not even during the there are many hoops teams, meat looks like LSU. A tra- off spots since the format ers beat Baylor in overtime. and all those teams and all which means many more UCLA dynasty days did col- dition-rich, iconic brand that launched. And the one-tim- Big 12 commissioner that money, has not pro- competitive teams, plus four lege basketball have a dearth has two national champion- ers aren't exactly a Cinder- Bob Bowlsby stood in Jer- duced a playoff team. The rounds of play that can cre- of parity like football is ex- ships in the not-so-distant ella line. LSU. Notre Dame. ryWorld on Dec. 7, a virtual entire Rocky Mountain and ate chaos. And basketball periencing. past and a squad that just ran Georgia. Washington. Mich- 38th parallel. Bowlsby had Pacific time zones have been is more volatile. Upsets are So it's great for us here in roughshod over the big, bad igan State. Oregon. Flori- to play it down the middle. represented just twice in six more prevalent. A hot shoot- Oklahoma. We've got a pro- SEC. The top-ranked Tigers da State. When Michigan But he did allow, "yeah, years. er, an unfortunate whistle, play Oklahoma in the Dec. State (2015) or Washington having new people in is gen- The Pac-12 has been shut foul trouble. All can create gram that frequents the play- 28 Peach Bowl. (2016) is the extreme under- erally a good thing.” out of the playoff three an unexpected result. It takes off. One of the chosen few in The College Football dog, you don't have an egali- The networks don't mind straight years, and commis- more than that to keep Ala- a sport that makes little room Playoff is a closed society, tarian society. the status quo. Alabama, sioner Larry Scott admits his bama or Clemson football for new blood. Cowboys adding western flavor with Arizona, California recruits By Scott Wright, The pected to sign with the Cow- Charlie Dickey took over for The three committed play- as well." dy and his mullet," he said. Oklahoman, Oklahoma City boys on Wednesday, con- Henson. ers and Ngata, who will an- The 6-foot-4, 210-pound "I knew they were a solid STILLWATER - A cou- sisting of roughly 18% of the "In March or April, Coach nounce his decision Jan. 2, Polk could someday be ple months after he had recruiting class. OSU had 17 Dickey called me up and of- have varying levels of con- catching passes from Iling- top-25 program in the Big committed to Oklahoma players committed before fered me," Bennett said. "I nections to OSU. worth, who lives on the edge 12, and that was about it. I State, Cade Bennett was at a hefty recruiting weekend really clicked with Coach Polk's father, Raymond, of Los Angeles, but has fam- didn't know what Stillwater a popular football camp in that might produce more Dickey, just off one phone played defensive back for ily roots that trace back to Mission Beach, California. commitments. call, so immediately after the Cowboys in 1981-82 Lindsay and Mustang. And was like, or anything like There, the offensive line- With OSU's recruiting that, I decided I wanted to "Really, through every- he's long been a fan of the that. man bumped into a receiver efforts heavily targeting give this place a shot." thing, Oklahoma State is Cowboys’ offensive style. "I've seen about 10 other from the same hometown -- Folsom, California, run- In terms of players re- where my heart was," Polk Ngata doesn't have a clear schools, and I was really im- Scottsdale, Arizona -- who ning back Daniyel Ngata, cruited out of high school, told Pokes Illustrated after connection to OSU, and told him he was planning to the Cowboy class of 2020 OSU has as many Canadians committing. "Ever since I Bennett's is exactly what pressed with everything at commit to the Cowboys as stands to have a heavy West- (Chuba Hubbard and Amen got the offer, I've been fired you might expect from an Oklahoma State. The people well. ern flavor. Ogbongbemiga) as Califor- up about them, because they 18-year-old in Scottsdale. there are different, and it's Bennett had met the re- OSU. recruiting analyst nians (Brendan Costello and have an offense that fits me. But he fell in love after his ceiver, Matt Polk, before, Robert Luce, working under Samuela Tuihalamaka). And "And the family history first visit. a completely different cul- and they became even more former offensive line coach there's not an Arizona prod- there was a really big upside “I knew about Mike Gun- ture. acquainted as they talked Josh Henson, had identified uct on the roster. OSU football in a CaliforniaBennett as a possible pros- New Mexico and Colo- beach town. pect right around the time rado are represented, but this ia) Watch for Event Bennett, Polk and Norco, Bennett's recruiting was class stands to strengthen updates on California, quarterback picking up last winter. Ben- the Cowboy footprint to the Shane Illingworth are ex- nett stayed on the radar after west. Elk City Chamber of Commerce Wrestling and basketball This fantastic holiday light display can be viewed nightly from 6-11 p.m. and roundup concludes on New Year's Eve. * With wonderful sponsors and donations Basketball | merrily accepted from visitors, Christmas Merritt High School boys ELK CITY: 2714 W. 3rd St. SAYRE: 711 N.E, Highway in the Park is a holiday tradition! basketball team went 1-2 102 S. Main St. 580.225.2580 580.928.2580 in the Hammon 5-County hittps://www.fnbec.com/ Tournament. ‘Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. In Merritt’s 63-40 loss to * Tour the Park on the Mistletoe Dec 13-Dec 15 Express, a Double Decker Bus Untitled Pop Up Theatre Arapaho, Christian Skelton + Visit Santa at Santa's Park Place “EVERY CHRISMAS STORY led the Oilers with 9 points. * Candycane Express Merritt beat Sentinel 44-38, Miniature Train Rides TOLD AND THEN SOME! with Rylan Givens lead- «Ride the Centennial Carousel Nightly at 8:00pm * Sunday at ing the way with 10 points. + Holly Jolly Trolley Rides WOHS Cenier@ Museum Comple Skelton and Eriq Williams * Cub Scouts serving Hot Chocolate and Popcorn each contributed 8 points. And ina 63-40 loss to Chey- FRIDAY UNTIL 7PM Dee, 6th, 13th & 20th enne-Reydon, the Oilers were led by Givens, who had Special Holiday 11 points. Nov. 2st Drawing The eighth grade Elk City Dec. 19th @ 8 p.t girls basketball team lost CAMROCK OIL & SUPPLY to Altus on 39-21 on Dec. Phone (580) 303- 4745 Thousands of dollars in Gifts and Chamber = BEYOND THE PALLET to be Given Away December 18th & 19th > MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN < 12. Maelee Hunter led the Elkettes with 6 points. The 2111 S Main st., Elk City, OK 73644 Businesses: 580 Mercantile Danron Jewelers LaDonm’s & Wine Spr Sears Activities Start @ 5 pm ee seventh-grade team beat Aspen For Her Him & Home Davis Printing LER Tire& Truck Service Shamon’s Custom Paint ate He -, Altus 53-23 with Abigail BTB's Records & Rares DLJ’ Rentals and Soles McAlary ATV & Cycle & Bady Bhar Saniiva Barber-Dyson Fordincoln Doug Gray Auto Group Merrifield Office Supply Southern & Co + Whoville Scavenger Brown leading all scorers Bela Via Dr's Bint& Ells Midwest Farm Supply Marketplace Hunt Good Luck to all of with 25 points. Ella Sottile Blush Room Boutique Elk Cty News Nosty Mall Terry’ Fumiture + Santa & Mrs, Claus added 10 points in the win- Broaday Babies Elk City PickAPart Oak Creek Floral & Gits Showroom « The Grinch ning cause. Broadway Flowers Galleria Furniture Outlet Page Jewelers The Attic Door + Ponce Productions Carol's Shoe Comer Grandview Pharmacy Paul Jones Drug NIC . Carolers Wrestling Results from the our area teams! Chicken Express CircleA Westen Wear H&H Electronics lon Pedro's Mean Gril’ Pizza Hut The Mix The ToolBox Blanchard Tournament, held Crooked Spur Boutique Kelis Butcher Shop RK Supertte The Vogue Boutique Dec. 6-7, for Elk City High School wrestlers: A a Care's Do lt Center ‘Kifer Flooring Center$ & S Quality Carpet > Need not be present to win Dec. 18th drawing < The Z00 101.7 Verizon Wireless TERRY'S FURNITURE (580)225-4006 OR (800)925-4006} Will Wright, third lerrysfurnitureshowroom.com Grant McBroom, third SHOWROOM Monday Andrew Valadez, seventh 2001 SOUTH MAIN ‘Through Chamber of Commerce g Reuben Andablo, 10th Saturday Elias Guerrero. 10th ELK CITY, OKLAHOMA 9-6