The recent move of the Shawnee Wolves’ first home game means coaches and the team will have to change the normal routine.
The first home football game against Bartlesville Sept. 3 is being moved to Tecumseh because construction at Jim Thorpe Stadium will not be complete by that time.
This move will change pre-game activities for coaches and players, said Kelly Parsons, a coach for the team.
“It’s going to be real disruptive to the way we do things at home,” he said. “We have pre-game meals in our own locker rooms.”
This move will have to change the whole schedule, Parsons said. The players will have to eat, then get on a bus to get them to the game.
“Your home field advantage is gone,” he said.
This problem didn’t come up overnight, Parsons said, adding it’s been six weeks since it arose.
“It’s been around for awhile,” he said. “We’ve had the school board members come out and said ‘that isn’t right.’”
Water came up in four or five different places, Parsons said. Construction crews put the blacktop down, then water came back.
Frank Sims, fan of the Wolves and Shawnee vice mayor, said he thought the move would be good in the long run.
“Of course it’s disappointing,” he said. “However, we have waited a long time for the improvements to the stadium, and I applaud the school board for making sure it is completed according to spec.”
Even with the delay, Sims said the frustration the players feel now will turn into pride later.
“I feel for the players and coaches and understand their frustration — ‘Home’ means Jim Thorpe Stadium,” he said. “I feel sure, as a community, we will be proud of the finished product for years to come.”
The short time frame and weather has not helped get the stadium finished any faster, Sims said.
“Weather delays seem to account for most of the issues — and the weather outlook is good for finishing on the revised schedule,” he said.
Athletic Director Steve Fluke, said he too is disappointed, but optimistic.
“It’s unfortunate that things aren’t ready, most importantly for our senior football players,” he said. “They would like to be playing their home opener at home. It’s not going to have a bearing on how they play, whether it’s at our field or somebody else’s field.”
Tecumseh Superintendent Tom Wilsie said Shawnee did request using the high school stadium.
“We said yes,” he said. “Marilyn didn’t feel like everything was going to be complete enough.”
That night, Tecumseh plays at Noble, Wilsie said.
“She contacted me and we’re glad to be able to help,” he said.
The switch to Tecumseh also has raised some concerns for the Quarterback Club.
Parsons, who is a member of the club, said this will be big inconvenience.
“It’s really messed them up,” Parsons said.
The club sells advertisements to businesses, like banners, he said. Each home game has a different sponsor and this will affect how that’s handled.
“These people aren’t going to get their money’s worth,” Parsons said.
Members of the club will have to put up banners in Tecumseh, then take them back down after the game, which will take extra time, he said.
“They shoot off fireworks as the team runs out,” Parsons said. “They’ve already purchased fireworks for all the home games.”
Those are things arranged months in advance, he said.
“It’s really a logistic nightmare for the Quarterback Club,” Parsons said. “There’s nothing they can do about it. They were told they would play their senior year in the new stadium and have fireworks they would run through. That’s not going to happen.”
Another problem Parsons noticed was for season ticket holders.
The Quarterback Club takes care of season tickets and parking passes, he said. Some have called in, disappointed and upset.
“If we go to Tecumseh, where do we sit? Do we get the chairs with backs on them or do we sit on the front row,” Parsons said. “The Quarterback Club is put in a real bind on this whole deal.”
Traditions like running through the tunnel or running out to the giant “S” won’t happen for the first game, he said. For this game, the team will run onto a giant “T.”
“Our seniors aren’t going to be doing that in our home stadium,” Parsons said. “It’s really kind of a nightmare for everybody. Hopefully they can isolate that leak and get that taken care of.”
Fluke said Tecumseh is allowing Shawnee to bring in two trailers for concessions.
Those will be run by the band, he said.
“All of our workers will come over, our gatekeepers, our announcers, our press box workers,” Fluke said. “I’m expecting a capacity crowd Friday night.”
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Josh Burton may be reached by calling 214-3926.
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The recent move of the Shawnee Wolves’ first home game means coaches and the team will have to change the normal routine.
The first home football game against Bartlesville Sept. 3 is being moved to Tecumseh because construction at Jim Thorpe Stadium will not be complete by that time.
This move will change pre-game activities for coaches and players, said Kelly Parsons, a coach for the team.
“It’s going to be real disruptive to the way we do things at home,” he said. “We have pre-game meals in our own locker rooms.”
This move will have to change the whole schedule, Parsons said. The players will have to eat, then get on a bus to get them to the game.
“Your home field advantage is gone,” he said.
This problem didn’t come up overnight, Parsons said, adding it’s been six weeks since it arose.
“It’s been around for awhile,” he said. “We’ve had the school board members come out and said ‘that isn’t right.’”
Water came up in four or five different places, Parsons said. Construction crews put the blacktop down, then water came back.
Frank Sims, fan of the Wolves and Shawnee vice mayor, said he thought the move would be good in the long run.
“Of course it’s disappointing,” he said. “However, we have waited a long time for the improvements to the stadium, and I applaud the school board for making sure it is completed according to spec.”
Even with the delay, Sims said the frustration the players feel now will turn into pride later.
“I feel for the players and coaches and understand their frustration — ‘Home’ means Jim Thorpe Stadium,” he said. “I feel sure, as a community, we will be proud of the finished product for years to come.”
The short time frame and weather has not helped get the stadium finished any faster, Sims said.
“Weather delays seem to account for most of the issues — and the weather outlook is good for finishing on the revised schedule,” he said.
Athletic Director Steve Fluke, said he too is disappointed, but optimistic.
“It’s unfortunate that things aren’t ready, most importantly for our senior football players,” he said. “They would like to be playing their home opener at home. It’s not going to have a bearing on how they play, whether it’s at our field or somebody else’s field.”
Tecumseh Superintendent Tom Wilsie said Shawnee did request using the high school stadium.
“We said yes,” he said. “Marilyn didn’t feel like everything was going to be complete enough.”
That night, Tecumseh plays at Noble, Wilsie said.
“She contacted me and we’re glad to be able to help,” he said.
The switch to Tecumseh also has raised some concerns for the Quarterback Club.
Parsons, who is a member of the club, said this will be big inconvenience.
“It’s really messed them up,” Parsons said.
The club sells advertisements to businesses, like banners, he said. Each home game has a different sponsor and this will affect how that’s handled.
“These people aren’t going to get their money’s worth,” Parsons said.
Members of the club will have to put up banners in Tecumseh, then take them back down after the game, which will take extra time, he said.
“They shoot off fireworks as the team runs out,” Parsons said. “They’ve already purchased fireworks for all the home games.”
Those are things arranged months in advance, he said.
“It’s really a logistic nightmare for the Quarterback Club,” Parsons said. “There’s nothing they can do about it. They were told they would play their senior year in the new stadium and have fireworks they would run through. That’s not going to happen.”
Another problem Parsons noticed was for season ticket holders.
The Quarterback Club takes care of season tickets and parking passes, he said. Some have called in, disappointed and upset.
“If we go to Tecumseh, where do we sit? Do we get the chairs with backs on them or do we sit on the front row,” Parsons said. “The Quarterback Club is put in a real bind on this whole deal.”
Traditions like running through the tunnel or running out to the giant “S” won’t happen for the first game, he said. For this game, the team will run onto a giant “T.”
“Our seniors aren’t going to be doing that in our home stadium,” Parsons said. “It’s really kind of a nightmare for everybody. Hopefully they can isolate that leak and get that taken care of.”
Fluke said Tecumseh is allowing Shawnee to bring in two trailers for concessions.
Those will be run by the band, he said.
“All of our workers will come over, our gatekeepers, our announcers, our press box workers,” Fluke said. “I’m expecting a capacity crowd Friday night.”
———
Josh Burton may be reached by calling 214-3926.
