U.S. Grant, Capitol Hill get extension to save football

Oklahoma City athletic director Keith Sinor was frank Wednesday morning regarding the football situation at U.S. Grant and Capitol Hill.

If both schools had to go back into district play in 2018, the latter would limp but push through. The other, U.S. Grant, instead would fold.

That’s why Sinor was in front of the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association Board of Directors asking for a two-year extension to play an independent schedule while continuing to work to save the programs.

The OSSAA board agreed to the extension by a unanimous 12-0 vote. It begins in the 2018 season when the new district alignment begins.

“It’s crucial for our programs,” Sinor said. “We’re thankful that the board understood what we’re trying to say and the importance of independence for those two schools.

“It’s a lifesaver for (U.S. Grant). Just the kids and the coaching staff knowing they have the opportunity to build upon the strides — even though small. To have that option is a lifesaver for them and for us.”

Within the vote, the OSSAA board elected not to hold the two schools’ places within their respective districts. Within the current agreement, a district in each of Class 6A-I and Class 6A-II plays one team short, which has led to scheduling conflicts.

Now, the top two schools in Class 5A based on next school year’s average daily membership numbers will move up to Class 6A-II. This year, Shawnee and Claremore were the top schools in Class 5A.

U.S. Grant had already fallen to No. 20 on this year’s ADM, which could leave the normal top 16 schools to form the top division.

“I will tell you that concern is still going to be there,” OSSAA executive director David Jackson told the board.

“Schools that would have been otherwise been 5A moving up to 6A, that’s not as impactful because the class is split now. It still may not appease some people, but I think it’s better.”

The OSSAA board also voted to allow member schools to vote on going back to the old way in Class 3A, Class 2A and Class A for football alignment.

If approved, Class 3A will be 32 schools, Class 2A will be 64 and Class A will be comprised of the remaining schools.

Currently, the classes are divided into thirds, with 55 going to Class 3A, 55 to Class 2A and 56 to Class A.

Add a new member to the OSSAA, though there could have been two Wednesday.

The OSSAA board voted to allow Tulsa’s Langston Hughes Academy for Arts & Technology Charter School to join the organization on a provisional basis beginning next school year.

But it voted against readmitting Bartlesville’s Wesleyan Christian Academy by a 9-3 vote.

Wesleyan had one been a member of the OSSAA, but left the organization. It wanted to return beginning in the 2018-19 school year.

Board member Jerry Needham of Oktaha said before voting he did not want the organization to add another private school.

Next year’s state wrestling meet will have a new wrinkle.

The OSSAA board to allow a play-in match before the event begins, which would allow an additional 28 wrestlers per class a chance to compete.

With the change, the fifth-place wrestler in each regional tournament will wrestle the fourth-place finisher from another regional the morning of state. The winner advances to the tournament.

“It takes a real mental toll on you,” Alvarez said. “But talking to Coach B (offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh) and Coach (Lincoln) Riley and talking to my parents and my old coaches from high school, it’s just something that you’ve got to be mentally strong and just fight through it.

“It’s something that I was able to overcome and I’m ready. The past is in the past.”

Oklahoma returns eight players who started on the offensive line last year, giving the Sooners depth unlike they’ve had in recent years.

For Alvarez and Ford, the spring has taken on an added dimension as they work to reclaim playing time.

“The one thing about that group is nobody pouts,” Bedenbaugh said. “They understand the situation.”

Bedenbaugh said Alvarez “deserved to play” last year but the way Wren, Orlando Brown, Ben Powers, Dru Samia and Bobby Evans were playing as a group kept him from making changes.

While Bedenbaugh intends to rotate his line more this season, he said he won’t do it at center, sticking with either Wren or Alvarez there.

“Whoever’s the starter is the starter,” Bedenbaugh said. “If somebody isn’t playing up to their capability or if someone gets hurt then somebody else will go in there.”

While Alvarez is focusing solely on center during the spring, he did start nine games at left guard in 2015 and could see time there if Wren winds up winning the job.

“I’m pretty sure once camp comes I’ll probably be doing guard and center, but he (Bedenbaugh) knows that I’ve played guard,” Alvarez said.

Ford said the difference this year is palpable, both on the field during practice and in the team meeting rooms, as players fight for playing time.

“With the depth that we have, it’s hard to just come out here every day and think you can just be mediocre,” Ford said. “Every day, we have to push ourselves, push the next guy, push the guy after him, push the guy in front of us.

Every day we have to get better and not just go through the motion and just come out here and just practice. We have to treat it like it’s game day.”

That isn’t just limited to Ford and Alvarez.

“It’s really a lot more intense, like you’ve got someone breathing down your neck all the time,” Samia said.

“It’s not good enough anymore just to make the block. It’s whoever makes the block best now. It’s not just making the least mistakes.”

In the meeting room, once Bedenbaugh starts talking, things become serious.

“Everybody is focused,” Ford said. “We’re all locked in. We’re all pen and paper ready to learn.”

Bedenbaugh is enjoying it while it lasts.

“I wish it was like this every year,” he said. “I’ve been coaching for however many years—20something years—and you’re generally scrambling.

“We’ve got some really good competition and you can see it. Those guys understand to start right now you’ve got to be playing at a high level every day, every rep, every drill you go through. It’s a good problem to have.”