Senators face off on state football championship

This coming Friday evening Norman North and Tulsa Union will battle for the state 6A-1 championship, the largest football class in Oklahoma.  The two state senators who represent those schools have made a friendly wager on which team will take the championship.  Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, will be cheering for Norman North, while Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, is betting Tulsa Union comes out on top.  The senator whose school is defeated will donate $100 to the winning school’s education foundation.

Standridge is confident it will be a win-win for Norman North with a victory on the field and a donation to their foundation.

“Norman North was ranked third when they went up against second-ranked Tulsa Union in October, and we pulled off a 30-27 upset,” Standridge said.  “Now we’re ranked number one and we are going to win the state championship.”

Rader, a freshman from Tulsa, isn’t afraid to challenge the second-term Norman senator.  Both his sons played football at Union, and he says history and tradition are on their side.

“Since 1992, Tulsa area schools have dominated Class 6A and 6A-1 football.  Western Oklahoma teams have only won three times in all those years, but Union won the state championship seven times,” Rader said.  “I predict 2016 will make it eight.”

But both senators agree that the best part of the wager is that it will help support a local school, and that’s something other Oklahomans can take advantage of.

“Private foundations have been set up to help provide additional resources to schools throughout Oklahoma.  Donations are tax-deductible, and it’s a great way for people to show support for their local public schools,” Standridge said.  

Ultimately, whichever school wins the state championship, the senators hope their wager will bring attention to private foundations for schools and inspire others to make similar gifts.

“I’m really looking forward to Senator Standridge making that donation to Tulsa Union,” Rader said.  “But either way, it’s a win for our schools, and we hope other football fans, patrons and businesses will join us.”

Kick-off is Friday, December 2 at 7 p.m. at the University of Tulsa’s Chapman Stadium.