LOCAL

Miss Ponca City To Attend 69th Arkalalah Festivities

Miss Ponca City To Attend 69th Arkalalah Festivities

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — Miss Ponca City, Heather Rena Brown, will represent the city this weekend during the 69th anniversary celebration of Arkalalah. The annual fall festival will be held in Arkansas City.

Her participation in the weekend event begins Friday when, as a visiting queen, she will be part of the court for Queen Alalah. Miss Brown will participate in a full day of activities including coronation practice Friday morning, a luncheon at the Arkansas City Country Club at noon, and a banquet at Alter’s Chestnutt Place Friday evening preceding the coronation ceremonies and party. She will be escorted for the evening by Matt Johnson.

On Saturday Miss Ponca City will be honored at an early morning breakfast hosted by the Kiwanis club; at noon she will be treated to a luncheon hosted by the queen’s committee prior to participation in the Arkalalah Parade, which begins at 2 p.m.

Miss Brown is the daughter of Allen and Kim Brown. Organizations and groups who would like to schedule Miss Ponca City as a guest speaker should contact Vicki Graves, 765-4736 or 765-8679.

DEATHS

Myrtle Joy Stidham
Roy Everett Williams
David Berryhill
Floyd Harney
Joe V. Vickers

Myrtle Joy Stidham

BLACKWELL — Myrtle Joy Stidham, resident of Blackwell, died Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2000, in the Hillcrest Manor Nursing Home in Blackwell. She was 85.

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, at the James W. Roberts Memorial Chapel at the Blackwell Cemetery with the Rev. Wayne Bookout officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home.

Myrtle Joy Stidham was born Sept. 4, 1915, in Primrose, Neb., the daughter of Charles Gray and Nettie G. Glasburn Hutchins. She grew up in Nebraska before moving to Fort Scott, Kan., where she attended school, graduating in 1933. She then furthered her education by attending Fort Scott Junior College. She married Ernest William Stidham on Oct. 5, 1935, in Mound City, Kan., and they settled there. They later returned to Fort Scott, Kan. In 1952, they moved to Blackwell, living there since. She was a member of the First Christian Church.

Survivors include a daughter, Betty Smyth of Blackwell; a son, Charles Stidham of Tulsa; a brother, Keith Hutchins of Truth or Consequences, N.M.; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband on Feb. 25, 1990; and a son, Bob Stidham.

Roy Everett Williams

BLACKWELL — Roy Everett Williams, resident of Blackwell, died Wednesday morning, Oct. 25, 2000, in the Blackwell Regional Hospital. He was 89.

The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 27, in the Tonkawa Bible Church in Tonkawa with the Revs. Duane Walton of the Hide-A-Way Lake Community Church in Lindale, Texas, Ron Ballard of Grace Baptist Church of Wichita, Kan., Dennis Winters of Tonkawa Bible Church and Wayne Bookout of Blackwell officiating. Burial will be in the Blackwell Cemetery under the direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home.

Roy Everett Williams was born on May 16, 1911, in Franklin County, Tenn., the son of Frances Marion and Berta Lee Carroll Williams. He married Anna Lee DeMoss on Oct. 15, 1935. They established the West Side Mission in Ponca City in 1947, now known as the Bible Baptist Church. He was also employed for Purina Feed Store, owned and operated the Conoco Service Station in Blackwell and served as the detail manager for two Ford dealerships in Blackwell, retiring in the early 1970s. He was a member of the Tonkawa Bible Church in Tonkawa.

Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Dan Williams and David Williams, both of Wichita, Kan.; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers, and a son, John Mark Williams.

Casket bearers will be Wayne Bookout, Chuck Sprague, Darrell Krebbs, Carl Williams, Jim Rodgers and Albert Wetmore.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Child Evangelism Fellowship, c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 West Padon, Blackwell, Okla. 74631.

Services Pending

David Berryhill

BLACKWELL — David Berryhill, resident of Blackwell, died Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2000, at Blackwell Nursing Home. he was 62. Arrangements are pending with Hackler Funeral Home.

Floyd Harney

Floyd Harney, Ponca City resident, died Thursday, Oct. 26, 2000, at his home. He was 69. Services are pending with Trout Funeral Home. Local survivors include his wife Allegra of the home.

Funerals

Friday

Joe V. Vickers

Joe V. Vickers — Funeral at 10 a.m. at Grace Memorial Chapel. Burial at IOOF Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

NEWS BRIEFS

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Craft Fair — McCord School’s 19th annual Arts and Crafts Festival, Saturday, Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Over 70 exhibitors. Concessions available. Free admission.

Stormescape Shelters, perfect for garage, under vehicle. Installed, $2,395. 765-2633. adv.

Burglary — A woman in 100 block of South Peachtree Street advised someone had burglarized her vehicle to Ponca City police at 10:48 a.m. Wednesday. The woman advised only some small change was taken. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Concealed hand gun class scheduled for October 28th, 8 a.m. to ? For more information 765-6589. adv.

Burglary — A man in the 800 block of West Broadway Avenue reported his vehicle had been broken into to Ponca City police at 11:43 p.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential. Hours: Monday 1-3 p.m., Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. and Thursday, 6-8 p.m. 700 West Broadway. 765-9689. adv.

Theft — Someone at a business in the 3000 block of North Fourteenth Street reported the theft of some knives to Ponca City police at 11:47 a.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and a grand larceny report was taken.

Head Country all day Friday special­ All you can eat, smoked

BBQ ribs, beans, potato salad, and coleslaw, only $7.49, all day.

1217 East Prospect. 767-8304. adv.

Theft — Someone in the 900 block of North Pine Street reported the theft of a purse to Ponca City police at 11:54 a.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Save 50% on all scented beeswax candles, thur saturday. Carlas Hallmark, Downtown. adv.

Burglary — A man in the 900 block of North Pine Street reported the theft of a phone from a vehicle to Ponca City police at 12:46 p.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Barbie Ornament, 1st-in-the-series. Coming in November. Reserve yours now! Carla’s Hallmark, Downtown. adv.

Fraud — The manager of a business in the 900 block of South Fourth Street reported receiving a forged check to Ponca City police at 2:08 p.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Dougan's Bar-B-Q Friday special from 4-8 p.m., all you can eat

ribs with beans, potato salad and coleslaw, $7.49. 215 South 14th,

765-7979. adv.

Theft — A manager of a business in the 1200 block of West Liberty Avenue reported the theft of a tool from the business to Ponca City police at 2:28 p.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Fire Run — A caller reported seeing smoke coming from an apartment in the 1400 block of West Highland Avenue to the Communications Center at 2:39 p.m. Wednesday. All units were advised. It turned out the apartment’s occupant was charcoaling inside the apartment.

Accident — An accident with injury two miles east of Hunt Road on U.S. 60 was reported to the Communications Center at 3:22 p.m. Wednesday. Rescue one from the Ponca City Fire Department responded to the scene.

Subject Held — An officer in the 3500 block of North Union Street reported a 31-year-old woman was taken into custody on two city warrants for distributing to the delinquency of a minor at 4:33 p.m. Wednesday.

Accident — A two-vehicle, non-injury accident in the 3500 block of North Union Street was reported to Ponca City police at 4:36 p.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Paulines Steak and shrimp dinner. $11.95, Friday 27th. For reservations call 765-5460. Now taking reservations for Chistmas Parties. adv.

Accident — A two-vehicle accident at the intersection of West Liberty Avenue and North Union Street was reported to Ponca City at 6:24 p.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. A 74-year-old man was taken into custody for driving under intoxication, operating a vehicle not reasonable and proper and resisting arrest. A vehicle was towed from the scene.

Subject Held — An officer in the parking lot of a business in the 400 block of East South Avenue reported two 18-year-old men were taken into custody after a traffic stop at 10:56 p.m. Wednesday. One was being held on city warrants for failure to appear and failure to obey, and the other on Kay County warrants for failure to appear and failure to obey.

Burglary — A woman in the 200 block of North Third Street reported a screen from the door of her residence was stolen and someone had also been inside the residence to Ponca City police at 11:50 p.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Subject Held — An officer at the intersection of East Grand Avenue and Third Street reported a 27-year-old man was taken into custody after a traffic stop for driving under intoxication and driving left of center at 12:23 a.m. Thursday. His vehicle was towed from the scene.

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GARDENING

Mulch Spring Bulbs in Fall for Best Blooms
Time To Submit Iris Festival Design
Ten Free Trees Offered
Diggin in The Dirt

Mulch Spring Bulbs in Fall for Best Blooms

Flower bulbs need a good, long, winters sleep. Like some people we know, if they wake up before they are fully rested, they get kind of cranky, and then they don’t bloom well at all.

Actually, what happens is during a mild winter, the soil stays too warm, and the bulbs begin to come out of dormancy early. They start to grow, and once the tips emerge above the soil line, they are subject to freezing if the temperatures dip back down below freezing. And that’s usually what happens. After the bulbs have emerged, they freeze and then don’t bloom at all, or if they do, it’s a very sad display.

Another reason this happens is because the bulbs are not planted deep enough. They may have been deep enough when you planted them, but as the soil goes through the freezing and thawing process, the bulbs can actually work their way up in the ground.

One way to keep your flower bulbs sleeping longer, which will protect them from freezing, is to mulch the bed. In the fall just apply a 3-4 layer of well composted mulch.

This layer of mulch will do a couple of things. It will maintain higher moisture content in the soil, which is good, as long as the soil isn't too soggy. Well composted mulch also adds valuable organic matter to the planting bed. Organic matter makes a great natural fertilizer.

A 3-4 layer of mulch also acts as an insulator. It will keep the soil from freezing for a while, which is good because you don’t want the bulbs going through a series of short cycles of freezing and thawing. Then when the temperatures drop below freezing and stay there for a while, the soil does eventually freeze.

Then the mulch actually works in reverse and keeps the soil from thawing out too early. Keeping it in a frozen state is actually good because the bulbs remain dormant for a longer period of time.

When they finally do wake up it is spring time, and hopefully by the time they emerge from the ground the danger of a hard freeze is past and they will not be damaged. If you can keep them from freezing, they will flower beautifully. The extra organic matter will help to nourish the bulbs when they are done blooming, and the cycle starts all over again.

We also plant annual flowers in the same beds with our spring bulbs. By the time the danger of frost is past and it’s time to plant the annuals, the top of the bulbs have died back and are ready to be removed. The mulch that is added in the fall also helps to nourish the annual flowers, as well as improve the soil permanently.

Anytime you add well composted organic matter to your planting beds, you are bound to realize multiple benefits. The key words here are well composted. Fresh material is not good.

Time To Submit Iris Festival Design

It’s time to start thinking about next spring and the annual Iris t-shirt design contest, say design committee members. Interested persons are invited to submit their designs for Iris Festival 2001.

Contest criteria includes a design size of 8 x 11 inches or 11 x 14 inches. The words “Ponca City, OK” and “Iris-istible!” and “2001” should be part of the total design package. Up to seven colors suitable for silk-screening may be used. Artists are encouraged to sign their work.

The name, address and phone number of the artist should be attached to the design submitted at Betty’s Boutique, 401 East Grand. Deadline for submissions is Nov. 17.

Ten Free Trees Offered

Ten free trees, autumn classics, will be given to each person who joins The National Arbor Day Foundation during October.

The free trees are part of the nonprofit Foundation’s Trees for America campaign.

The ten trees are two sugar maples, scarlet oak, sweetgum, red oak, silver maple, white dogwood, Washington hawthorn, and two red maples.

“These trees will produce vibrant red, orange, yellow, scarlet, and purple leaves in the fall,” John Rosenow, the foundation’s president, said.

The trees will be shipped postpaid at the right time for planting between Nov.1 and Dec.10 with enclosed planting instructions. The six- to 12-inch trees are guaranteed to grow, or they will be replaced free of charge.

To receive the free trees, send a $10 membership contribution to Autumn Classic Trees, National Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, Neb. 68410, by Oct. 31.

Diggin in The Dirt

By Kathy Zehr

Bird Feeders Need Cleaning

Wow! Talk about a perfect rain! Slow and easy so it can soak into the thirsty soil instead of running off in the streets; very little wind; not too cold. Just perfect! Have you ever noticed how hard it is to find the right words to describe something perfect? We don’t seem to have many. On the other hand, we have numerous words for complaining about things!

Since we can plant perennials until the ground begins to freeze, this column and the next two or three will contain information for planting flowers and shrubs to attract birds, butterflies or for other purposes. Today, let’s talk about plantings to attract special birds.

Bird watching seems to be addictive — it is the second most popular outdoor activity in America today and only ranks second behind gardening! The next time you drive down an alley check out the yards — almost very dwelling has at least one bird feeder.

Being one of those average gardening and bird-watching families, our first cup of coffee most mornings is usually enjoyed on the patio, watching to see if we have new visitors, laughing at clumsy new hatchlings, enjoying the changing feather colors as the babies mature, and much more.

On the practical side, gardeners usually count birds as friends because they literally eat thousands of garden pests daily. But, even though most of us keep bird feeders filled year ‘round, some of nature’s most beautiful birds will not eat from a feeder. If we want bird variety, it’s up to us to plant the right trees and shrubs to attract those new, feathered friends.

In the long run, feeding birds naturally is also much less expensive and a lot less work than buying seed and keeping the feeders full. Another advantage is that we rarely need to fuss with soil improvements, fertilizer or extra watering for a native plant. Actually, feeders should just supplement what grows in our yard, not provide the main course.

“The Backyard Bird Feeder’s Bible” recommends a landscape enhanced with several types of native plants that produce berries on their branches at various times. Good native plants for northern Oklahoma may include dogwood, sumac, holly, wild grapes, hawthorn, hackberries, manzanitas, persimmon, cedar, blackhaw and several varieties of viburnums.

If possible, plant your bird feeding bushes and trees in an area that is relatively undisturbed and birds will soon build nests and feel comfortable in your yard.

By the way, a serious problem has developed in the last few years that is making our birds sick and it seems to be in direct conjunction with how we care for our birdfeeders. Most of us do a good job keeping them stocked with seed, but many of us do not keep them clean. Mold, which forms at the bottom of feeders when moisture collects in the seeds from rain and snow, is very harmful and even fatal to some birds. Bird droppings are another serious contaminate.

Recent research shows that several diseases are significantly higher in populations of birds with access to bird feeders. Some symptoms of illness include wobbliness or tame behavior towards humans, wart-like growths on bird’s head, legs or nose, and red, crusted and weeping eyes. Due to infected feeders, and contaminated “droppings,” researchers estimate the finch population has recently dropped from 300 million birds to approximately 180 million in America.

To prevent these diseases, clean feeders regularly. Keep the area underneath swept and washed clean and disinfect the feeder itself with a mixture of one quart liquid chlorine bleach to 9 quarts water in a large bucket at least once a month.

Brush out the feeder with a stiff brush, then douse small feeders in the chlorine water for two minutes and hang to dry. Pour bleach water over immovable feeders, poles and supports and on soil beneath feeders. If you see sick birds, clean more frequently or stop feeding for a while so the birds will scatter.

When other food supplies get scarce, birds also enjoy bread, pancakes, popcorn, and fruit in a tray. If you run out of bird food, try some moistened dog food. Hang suet in a mesh bag and let the little sprouts smear pinecones with peanut butter to hang in the trees.

In closing, let’s remember, the birds do not really need us to survive. We feed them so we can enjoy watching them at a closer range. The delightful hobby entertains us, and brings us many other benefits as well, but we must be responsible for the effects on our feathered friends.

SPORTS

Ponca and Choctaw Renew Rivalry
Area Playoff Hopes Dwindle
Sooners Won Shocker in ‘87
Dales Hopes Olympic Play Will Help at OU
OU Gets The Pick Saturday

Ponca and Choctaw Renew Rivalry

By FRED HILTON

News Sports Editor

Ponca City’s Wildcats and the Choctaw Yellow Jackets renew their brief district rivalry after nearly a decade Friday night in Choctaw.

The Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association, which must put one or two “west” teams in the eastern 6A districts every two years, picked Choctaw for a stint in District 6A-3 this season and next.

The Yellow Jackets were primed to make a run at one of the playoff berths from that district after the past two seasons have netted them just four wins. A large senior class gave rise to these hopes, and preseason prenosticators put Choctaw among the top four teams in the district.

Ponca City coach Frank Piccirillo believes the Yellow Jackets still are.

But Choctaw has failed to finish what it started in a couple of crucial district games, losing to Enid and Edmond Memorial after holding first-half leads.

The Yellow Jackets currently stand 4-4 overall and 2-3 in the district. With Stillwater, 4-1, 7-1, looming next week, Choctaw needs a win over Ponca City and some help from outside to get to the playoffs.

Enid, 4-1, 6-2, plays Sand Springs, 1-4, 2-6, and then Tulsa Union. Edmond, 3-2, 3-5, goes against Union, 5-0, 7-1, this Friday and then plays Sand Springs.

Choctaw will field one of the more physical teams the Wildcats will face with some huge linemen and speedy skilled people.

The Cats, 1-4, 1-7, are out of the district picture, but coach Piccirillo would love to see his seniors go out with back-to-back wins against Choctaw and Sapulpa, 0-8.

Area Playoff Hopes Dwindle

By DAVID DAVIS

News Sports Writer

Blackwell, Tonkawa and Woodland are the only area teams presently in the playoff picture. Newkirk is not completely out of it, but the Tigers will have to beat Pawnee this week and Perry next week. That’s a fuzzy picture after the Tigers’ loss to Pawhuska last week.

In District A-7, Woodland plays Hominy Friday night, which will probably result in Bucs-to-Bucks losses for the Cougars. However, they will most likely finish the season by pouncing all over Davenport. The Cougars looked ferocious against Crescent, Drumright and Barnsdall. But, they barely offered a fight against Luther and Tonkawa. Woodland gave up 443 rushing yards to Luther in a 27-7 loss and 316 yards in a 54-14 loss to Tonkawa last Thursday. Considering Hominy’s Drew Crawford rushed for 231 yards while the defense allowed Tonkawa a measly 91 yards, Woodland is going to be in for another long night.

Regardless of losses to Luther, Tonkawa and probably, Hominy, the Cougars will still finish fourth in District A-7.

Now, for the Luther-Tonkawa game. Numbers and statistics are manipulated all the time, but the only statistical difference between the two teams is Tonkawa has played Hominy and Luther hasn’t. Otherwise, both teams play a lot of underclassmen and are about the same size.

However, Kolby Simpson is second in Class A in scoring with 21 touchdowns and two 2-point conversions for 128 points and tied for fifth in the state for the number of TDs.

Only eight 11-man teams have scored more points than Tonkawa’s 328. They are Jenks, 382; Panama, 343; Turpin, 339; Clinton, 335; Luther, 335; Apache, 334 and Thomas, 329.

Only eight 11-man teams have allowed less than the 63 points Tonkawa has allowed. They are Star Spencer, 24; Velma Alma, 26; Clinton, 33; Thomas, 34; Mooreland, 54; Roland, 58 and Eufala, 60.

Only Clinton and Thomas appear above Tonkawa on both lists. However, Luther has allowed only 75 points. Hominy has given up 69 points, a touchdown less than Luther. On offense, the Bucks have scored 255 points or 73 points less than Tonkawa, who lost an earlier match to Hominy.. Add all of that up and Tonkawa should squeak by Luther, then Luther should beat Hominy in the final game of the season to give the district championship to Tonkawa, ... but go figure.

In Class 4A-2, Blackwell travels to Glenpool. Those two teams and Cushing are 3-2 in the district, but Blackwell is in third place because of the tie-breaker.

The Maroon’s Blake Bechtel is the state leader with 10 interceptions. Defense has never been a question mark with the Maroons this year. The question for coach Steve Langdon is how to make his offense run for a full game. Blackwell isn’t hard to figure out. The Maroons win with defense.

The Maroons’ playoff hopes rest in the hands of their offense. Last week, they lost 4 of 7 fumbles and 3 interceptions.

Sooners Won Shocker in ‘87

NORMAN (AP) — It was billed as the Game of the Century II, a matchup of No. 1 Nebraska against No. 2 Oklahoma with the winner advancing to the Orange Bowl for a chance at the national title.

It wound up being nothing like the original — Nebraska 35, Oklahoma 31 in 1971. Instead, Oklahoma won 17-7, another victory at a time when the Sooners almost always got the best of Nebraska.

The game on Nov. 21, 1987, in Lincoln, Neb., was the last time the game meant anything, until this year. The two unbeaten teams meet Saturday in Norman with Nebraska again ranked No. 1 and Oklahoma at No. 3.

In 1987, Oklahoma was 10-0 but looked vulnerable. Quarterback Jamelle Holieway and fullback Lydell Carr were out, both having been injured two weeks earlier in a game against Oklahoma State.

Holieway had led the Sooners to the 1985 national title as a freshman. The following season, his pass to tight end Keith Jackson in the final minute capped a wild rally in Lincoln and set up a game-winning field goal.

A glitch that occurred occasionally in the Big Eight had Oklahoma playing again in Lincoln in 1987. But the Sooners were heading north one week after a shaky, four-point victory at home over Missouri that had cost them the No. 1 ranking. And they were playing a freshman quarterback, Charles Thompson.

Nebraska was 9-0 and its players were uncharacteristically boastful during the week of the game, particularly quarterback Steve Taylor and defensive end Broderick Thomas. There were predictions of an easy Cornhusker victory.

‘‘Nothing nasty or dirty, just guys really stated their opinions that this was the year and all that stuff,’’ said Taylor, who now sells real estate in Lincoln. ‘‘Oklahoma kind of took it to heart.’’

Nebraska backed up the boast on its first possession. After recovering an Oklahoma fumble, the Cornhuskers went 84 yards in 10 plays, scoring on a 25-yard run by Keith Jones, to take a 7-0 first-quarter lead.

But they made no first downs on the next six possessions and managed just two on the next six after that.

‘‘Our defense shut ’em down, just stuffed ’em,’’ said former Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer. ‘‘That’s dominant against the No. 1 team in the country.’’

Despite that dominance, Oklahoma trailed 7-0 at halftime. The Sooners moved the ball, but lost two fumbles, missed a field goal and had an interception in the first half.

Rickey Dixon intercepted a Taylor pass early in the third quarter, giving Oklahoma the ball at the Nebraska 13-yard line. Two plays later, Thompson pitched on the corner to Anthony Stafford, who scored from 11 yards out for a 7-7 tie.

Late in the third, Oklahoma made it 14-7 when Patrick Collins took a pitch from Thompson and sprinted down the sideline 65 yards for a score.

A field goal in the fourth quarter provided the final points. The Sooners had two other fourth-quarter scoring chances, but lost a fumble at the 5-yard line and missed a field goal.

Thompson, in just his second game, finished with 126 yards on 21 carries and made a prophet of Switzer.

‘‘I remember in the week before the game, I said, ’Charles, you’re fixin’ to shock the nation because you’ll beat Nebraska. You’re talented enough that we can beat them with you playing quarterback.’ And we did,’’ Switzer said.

The game was close only on the scoreboard. Oklahoma had 444 yards of offense, 419 on the ground. Thompson, Collins and Carr’s replacement at fullback, Rotnei Anderson, all topped 100 yards rushing. Nebraska had the nation’s top-rated offense, but finished with 235 total yards, 60 of those coming in the final two minutes.

‘‘Basically, I just remember they ran the ball down the field,’’ said former coach Tom Osborne, who now is running for Congress in Nebraska. ‘‘We didn’t stop the fullback. They had a great day running the football and we didn’t have as good of a game running the ball.’’

Taylor called it a great learning experience.

‘‘You don’t add fuel to the fire,’’ he said. ‘‘I think we definitely had a better team that day, but they played better.’’

Dales Hopes Olympic Play Will Help at OU

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Stacey Dales spent a summer in the city worth remembering.

It wasn’t just any city. It was the Olympic city.

Dales, a junior at Oklahoma, played on the Canadian women’s basketball team at the Sydney Olympics. And though her team did not do well, finishing 10th in a field of 12, it was a gold medal experience for Dales.

‘‘It was a goal that I had set for myself at a very young age, to play in the Olympics for my home country,’’ Dales said Wednesday at the Big 12 media day. ‘‘It was a tremendous learning experience.

‘‘I improved consistently and I’m thrilled about the opportunity to bring so many intangibles back to the university, things that I can feed the younger players.’’

Dales said she learned about mental toughness and what it takes to be a leader, how to handle criticism and how to get her point across to teammates. All will be important to a team that shared the Big 12 championship with Iowa State and Texas Tech last season and is expected to contend for the title again.

‘‘It was little things on how to make a basketball team better,’’ she said. ‘‘But the main thing was consistency and being able to forge through some of the adversities we faced, knowing there will be adversities this year. I want to help our team get through them.’’

The youngest player on the team, Stales started for the Canadians and averaging 11.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists. The only thing she didn’t do well was shoot video during the opening ceremonies.

‘‘I watched my camcorder footage afterwards and it was so horrible,’’ she said with a sheepish grin. ‘‘Because it was such a frantic rush of energy, 100,000 people around you, some of them throwing Canadian flags. It was such a rush.

‘‘To see all the countries and such diverse cultures coming together to celebrate one event, it’s just incredible.’’

She’d like to keep that feeling going through the college season. The Sooners return all but one starter off a 25-8 team, but the one missing was the best of all, Big 12 player of the year Phylesha Whaley.

‘‘I think we’ll replace her points and rebounds. I don’t think we’ll replace her presence,’’ coach Sherri Coale said. ‘‘I’ve never coached a game at Oklahoma without Phylesha Whaley on the roster. I don’t know what I’m going to do.’’

She’ll probably do just fine with Dales, LaNeisha Caufield and Jadrea Seeley all returning. Coale also signed two promising junior-college transfers in Jamie Talbert and Rosalind Ross.

‘‘I think we’re doing pretty good,’’ Caufield said. ‘‘We’re so close. I’ve never seen a team as close as this team. Our newcomers fit in so well. They’re learning everything quicker than I imagined they could catch on.’’

Most of the league’s other top stars from last season have departed as well. The Big 12 was a senir-dominated league at the top, so there’s room for new talent to emerge.

Iowa State’s Stacy Frese and Desiree Francis are gone. So are Edwina Brown of Texas, Lynn Pride of Kansas, Nicole Kubik of Nebraska, Jennifer Crow of Oklahoma State, Aleah Johnson of Texas Tech and Julie Helm a Missouri.

Missouri coach Cindy Stein says that doesn’t mean the league will be weaker.

‘‘I think we’ve got some amazing talent out there,’’ Stein said. ‘‘Yeah, our premiere players, most of them graduated. But I’ve seen so many times a lot of teams are better when they don’t have a primary player to count on because that makes the other players better.

OU Gets The Pick Saturday

By RICHARD ROSENBLATT

AP Football Writer

Nebraska-Oklahoma, Oklahoma-Nebraska.

Either way, college football has one of its best rivalries back and it arrives at just the right time — the Cornhuskers (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) are No. 1, the Sooners (6-0, 3-0) are No. 3, and both teams are talking national championship.

Just like they used to.

Saturday’s game will be the 17th time both teams have been ranked in the Top 10, but the first since 1988. It also marks the 13th time either Nebraska or Oklahoma entered the game ranked No. 1.

Oklahoma and Nebraska last played in 1997, with the Huskers winning 69-7 in Lincoln, Neb. Before the Big 12 Conference came along in 1996, the Nebraska-Oklahoma game determined the Big Eight champion 27 times in a 29-year span, with the winner often getting a chance to win a national title.

In recent years, the Huskers have dominated the series, outscoring the Sooners 265-61 in winning the last seven games. Last time they visited Norman, Okla., the Huskers won 73-21 in ’96.

But the Sooners are back under second-year coach Bob Stoops. Just ask No. 10 Kansas State, 41-31 losers to Oklahoma two weeks ago in Manhattan, Kan.

‘‘There’s definitely a lot of excitement surrounding the game, a lot of excitement surrounding the whole program and the direction it’s taken,’’ says OU quarterback Josh Heupel, who has thrown for 1,894 yards and 11 touchdowns to become one of the top Heisman Trophy contenders. ‘‘And hopefully, we’ll get it back to the level it’s been at and needs to be at, which is a championship level.’’

Under Barry Switzer, Oklahoma won three of its six AP national titles, but the last one was back in 1985. Nebraska has four AP national titles, and also gained a share of the ’97 national crown with Michigan by finishing No. 1 in the coaches poll.

Defense may wind up deciding this one. Both are formidable — Nebraska allows 14.9 points per game, Oklahoma 16 — but will be hard-pressed to stop the highest scoring offenses in the nation. The teams are ranked 1-2 in scoring offense — Oklahoma at 46.7 points per game, Nebraska at 46.3.

The Huskers, led by a Heisman contender of their own in Eric Crouch, have outscored their last two opponents — Texas Tech and Baylor — 115-3.

‘‘Right now, we feel like we’re almost indestructible,’’ Huskers wide receiver Matt Davison said. ‘‘It’s not a cockiness, it’s just a confidence that we’ve gathered. It doesn’t mean that we can’t be beat. It just means that right now we’re confident and that’s huge going into a game like this.’’

Nebraska leads the nation in rushing offense at 379.7 yards per game, and ranks second overall at 499.3. Oklahoma is fourth in passing offense at 327.3 yards per game and fifth overall at 472.8.

The picks:

No. 1 Nebraska (minus 3) at No. 3 Oklahoma

Huskers have won last seven matchups, including 73-21 rout in Norman in ’96. ... OKLAHOMA, 35-31.

Pittsburgh (plus 16) at No. 2 Virginia Tech

Hokies lead nation in interceptions; Panthers love to throw. ... VIRGINIA TECH, 38-24.

Louisiana Tech (plus 41 1/2) at No. 4 Miami

Hurricanes prep for next week’s showdown against Virginia Tech. ... MIAMI, 52-17.

Georgia Tech (plus 12) at No. 5 Clemson

QB Dantzler returns as Tigers go for 9-0 heading to Bowden Bowl II on Nov. 11. ... CLEMSON, 35-28.

No. 6 Florida State (minus 19) at No. 21 North Carolina State

FSU’s old man Weinke vs. NC State’s young man Rivers. ... FLORIDA STATE, 45-24.

No. 7 Oregon (minus 5 1/2) at Arizona State

Ducks can smell the Roses. ... OREGON, 27-20.

No. 8 Florida (no line) vs. No. 13 Georgia (at Jacksonville, Fla.)

Passes galore at World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. ... FLORIDA, 35-21.

No. 9 Washington (minus 7) at Stanford

Huskies power offense too much for improving Cardinal. ... WASHINGTON, 31-21.

No. 10 Kansas State (minus 5 1/2) at Texas A&M

Aggies set for an ambush. ... TEXAS A&M, 34-31.

Rice (plus 23 1/2) at No. 11 TCU

Horned Frogs keep winning and hoping for help to move up in polls. ... TCU, 42-21.