Chamber Chatter for September 26 - Debbe Ridley

Everyone is back to “school time” and the 2019 football season is well underway! While the ebb and flow of time, schedules change over the years, new opponents are scheduled, but former Outlaws players can still relive the fun of old rivalries, and memorable games from their days on the field.

This September 18, 1930 article in The Marlow Review puts one such friendly battle of county neighbors that has taken place over the years in historic context. “FOOTBALL GAME FRIDAY OF FAIR. Marlow-Comanche Battle, Attraction of District Fair, to be Season Opener for Outlaw Squad. What promises to be a first-class early season football game between Marlow and Comanche high schools will be a feature attraction Friday afternoon of the Marlow District Fair next week. Coach Shrock will send a picked 11 onto the field for the Comanche contest which will be the season curtain-raiser for the Outlaws. Comanche opens its season at home, entertaining the Duncan Demons next Monday.”

“The September 26 kick-off here is scheduled for 3 o’clock at Carter Park. Although an intra-conference affair, the game holds unusual interests in that Marlow defeated Comanche there at the opening of the season a year ago to mar what turned out to be a near-perfect season for the southern county team, which is in the South-Central conference. This year the Comanche squad touts 11 or 12 returning lettermen who have not forgotten the early last season drubbing at the hands of Marlow.”

“Training Goes Forward. ‘They’re getting into condition gradually,’ Shrock, garbed in grid togs said Wednesday afternoon. He’s a coach that not only instructs, but gets into the scrimmaging with the players and demonstrates. A few years ago, Shrock was a sensation in the state collegiate conference as a member of the Central Teachers team.”

“Marlow will have a line much heavier than in the past seasons. In addition to the expected showings of veterans, new men out for the team are demonstrating valuable possibilities. A charging sled, built by Shrock, is part of the training equipment. The coach has made out weight charts to keep close tab on his men.”

What should your imagination conjure up when thinking about those long ago Outlaws? The September 5, 1930 issue of The Marlow Review gives you a look at the team. “Coach Shrock announced Thursday that all new equipment, some additional to that of former years, has been purchased for the blue-and-white clad Outlaw football men. The new jerseys will be just the thing in new fall gridwear. A large white ‘M’ with a white mark at each corner of the letter on a dark blue background will prevent any mistake as to which side recovered a fumbled ball. New helmets are dark blue, but will have white enameled trimmings.”

“Tackling dummies will save the second string men from their old position as ‘fodder.’ A seven-place ‘charging sled,’ used by colleges and leading high school coaches over the country, will be the opponent-like machine that Marlow’s 30 gridmen will buck in getting in shape for the 1930 Southern Conference season. The new charging sled weighs between 800 and 1,000 pounds. The object of it is to give the team in practise [sic] training in charging an opponent team. Technique of bucking the line and forcing it back can be more precisely taught by the machine method, in the opinion of the coaches.

In the end, some things haven’t changed that much since 1930. Players work hard, all the students enthusiastically support the home team and the fans look forward to Friday night lights. Throw in some lovely ladies in the homecoming court, and it’s an unforgettable Marlow evening! Go Outlaws! Beat Douglass!