theadanews.com - Ada, Oklahoma

Sports

September 9, 2010

Ardmore-McAlester to open season not new to Cougars past

Joe Claxton ACS Publications Director Ada Evening News

Ada —  Many fans have remarked how unusual it is for Ada High to open with its two biggest rivals, Ardmore and McAlester. Their memories are short. Opening with that pair is not all that unusual.

In fact, that was the opening line-up from 1986-1995. The demise of the Norman at OU’s Owen Field series opener saw then-head coach Larry McBroom replace the Tigers of Norman with the Tigers of Ardmore in 1986, a series that stands today and will be renewed Friday night at Norris Field. McAlester was an every year opponent through the years and simply moved into the No. 2 slot that same season.

Seasons opening with Ardmore, then McAlester numbered eight with splits being the norm.

Ada was moved up to Class 5A and matched with McAlester in the same district in 1996. Then-head coach Gary McBroom came up with possibly an even more potent 1-2 opening line-up by inserting Midwest City Carl Albert. For good measure McAlester was the third game from 2002-05. The Carl Albert series stood until 2005 when Ada dropped the Titans.

 Ada-McAlester is, quite simply, the most traditional of all Cougar rivalries. Ada has a huge series edge, 60-29-1, but the Buffs have narrowed it a bit with four straight wins. For the record, Ardmore is No. 2, with Ada leading 46-39-2.

As Ada approaches its 100th season next year, McAlester has been there for 85 of them. They have also divided five post-season meetings to round it off at 90 meetings. Ironically, Ada’s three playoff wins were in drives to a state championship in 1962, 1991 and 1996. Moreover, the latter meeting was a championship game, won 21-14 by the Cougars. It was Ada’s last championship to date, one of a state record 19 state titles.

Another of Ada’s state records — the 42-game winning streak 1993-96 — was ‘started’ by back-to-back losses to Ardmore and McAlester. The following week  Ada won over Durant here and 43 games later lost at Durant.

Ada-McAlester started without much fanfare.

Ada started football with a single-game season in 1912, a 12-6 win over Maud at Ada.

Three years later the Ada and Mac footballers appear to have discovered the city just down the road and met McAlester for the first time in the final game of 1915, a 13-0 Ada win.

Meetings in 1915, 1917 and 1918 were followed by an abbreviated series 1921-1924.

Then came the long, 32-year series, 1928-1959, and a shorter one, 1962-73.

In 1976 the current series began and now spans 34 seasons going into Friday night’s game. 

Text Only
Sports
  • Historic day for Byng team Another case for Ada vs. Byng

     

    The final day of the boys Class 4A State Tournament at the Oklahoma City Tennis Center showed once again why Ada and Byng should play each other more often.

     

    May 16, 2012 2 Photos

  • Eye on the Ball Ada edges Byng for state title

     

    Ada’s boys tennis team was as good as the sum of its parts at this year’s Class 4A State Tournament.

     

    May 15, 2012 2 Photos

  • Hornets sting Byng Hilldale shuts door on Byng

     

    One streak ended but another continued for the Byng Pirates Thursday in the first round of the Class 4A State Tournament at Ed Skelton Field.

     

    May 11, 2012 1 Photo

  • Greenwood signs with Murray State

    Murray State College is proud to announce the signing of a new athlete into the strong Aggies sports programs.  

    May 11, 2012

  • Area Briefs

    May 11, 2012

  • Sprinting to OSP OCRS sprint cars returning to Ada

     

    The last time Oil Capital Racing Series winged sprint cars were on the soil of the Oklahoma Sports Park in Ada Oklahoma, a dramatic finish entertained the packed grandstands and race fans left the facility with an energetic buzz from what they had just witnessed. Pauls Valley Oklahoma resident Gary Owens won his first ever OCRS main event in a finish that will be remembered by many for years to come.

     

    May 10, 2012 1 Photo

  • Class 4A State Golf Capsule

    May 10, 2012

  • Byng sets sights on baseball trophy Byng sets sights on baseball trophy

     

    Byng won’t be your average team coming off a six-year state tournament drought when the Pirates meet Hilldale at 4 p.m. Thursday in the Class 4A quarterfinals at Shawnee High School.

     

    May 9, 2012 1 Photo

  • Ada golfers tied for 2nd after pair of great rounds

    With the aid of a pair of two-under rounds of 70, Ada catapulted from a morning round fourth place position into a tie for second after 36 holes of play Monday at the Class 4A State Tournament being held at Lake Hefner’s North Course in Oklahoma City.

    May 9, 2012

  • Ada tennis team headed to state Ada tennis team puts hurt on squads; headed to state

     

    The Ada Tennis Center has been quite a home court advantage for the Ada High tennis squads over the past week.

     

    May 8, 2012 1 Photo