08 Nov

2014 GAC Cross Country championship

Event Date
9:30 am

Due to facility issues brought about by unanticipated construction that has affected the proposed course in Enid, the 2014 GAC Cross Country championship will now be hosted by East Central University in Ada.

The course will be the one that was utilized for the 2012 championship and I'm confident that ECU will provide a quality experience for our student-athletes.  The date of November 8 will be unchanged, as will the start times of 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. 

I would like to thank the staff at Northwestern Oklahoma State University for their efforts in preparing for the championship.  Andy Carter, Ryan Kaiser, and cross country coach Jeremy Jones have been working on this event since February.  It's unfortunate that the city's road construction plans changed without warning and affected our meet and multiple Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association regional cross country events.

The decision on moving to East Central centered around a couple of factors.  The cross country championship is held in Oklahoma during even years.  ECU is the only current member that hosts a regular season meet and has ready availibility to a championship quality course.  Also, a sufficient number of hotels have vacancies during that weekend.

Lastly, the October 11 GAC Preview event that was to be held in Enid is obviously cancelled in light of the lack of a course.  

This is obviously not a course of action that we want to take with the season already underway, especially with the time and effort that NWOSU had invested in their first opportunity to host a GAC championship.  However, this is the course of action that will best provide a worthy championship experience for our student-athletes.

We will have more information over the next few days.  Please call or e-mail if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Will Prewitt
Commissioner
Great American Conference
PO Box 863
Russellville, AR 72811
479/970-6391 (cell)
479/567-5416 (office)
866/808-6293 (fax)
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11 Oct

Bron Warren, Tigerpalooza!

Event Date
8:00 am

East Central University, Norris Field
Ada, Oklahoma                                                                           

Classifications
Classification is determined by the Average Daily Membership (ADM) as set by OSSAA.  Bands may compete in a higher classification, but not a lower one. 

Preliminary Awards
The following awards will be determined from the scores generated by the preliminary competition:  1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each class along with Outstanding Drum Line, Outstanding Color Guard, and Outstanding Drum Major awards in each class.  Prelim Performance plaques will also be awarded to bands placing 4th and lower. 

Prelim awards will be announced at the conclusion of the finals competition.  All directors may pick up their prelim packets with, critique sheets, and DVD’s immediately after the announcement in the stadium press box.  Judges comments will be emailed to the director after each prelims performance.

Final Awards
The following awards will be determined from the scores generated by the finals competition:  1st through 10th place along with High Music, High Visual, and High General Effect awards.  An award will also be presented to the most spirited band of the day.

Final awards will be announced after the prelim awards are presented.  Final directors may pick up their final packets with critique sheets, and DVD’s at the trophy table on the field.  Judges' comments will be emailed to the director after each finals performance.  All directors may pick up recaps of prelims and finals after the finals competition at the trophy table on the field.

Order of Appearance for the Finals
Finalist directors (or a designated representative) will meet in the stadium press box immediately following the preliminary competition at 5:15 to draw for final positions and receive last minute instructions.  The top five highest scores in prelims will draw for the last five positions (6-10) and the lowest 5 scoring bands will draw for the first five positions (1-5).

Judging
OSSAA rules will apply, except that judges will use a system based on 100 points for scoring instead of a Roman numeral system with 100 points being highest.  The 3 judge’s scores will be added together then divided by 3 for a composite score.  There will be separate judges for Color Guard/Drum Major and Percussion.  Their scores will determine the outstanding color guard, drum major and drum line awards.  These scores will not figure into the composite score or class ranking.

Retreat
Following the finals competition there will not be a retreat, but all drum majors from all finalist and non-finalist bands are requested to appear on the front sideline for the awards presentation. 

Scheduling
Each participating band will be scheduled by class in a 15 minute performance time block.  The performance time block starts with an announcement from the announcer or signal from a designated on-field official.  The band should be prepared to line up, do a pre-placement and/or musical warm-up, introduction by announcer, present the show and exit the competition field all within the 15 minute time block.  Pit crews and equipment people may set up on a cue from the designated official prior to the beginning of your 15 minute time block.

The warm-up time block is divided into 20 minutes for warm-up and 10 minutes for travel to the stadium.

Tickets and Concessions
There is only one $5 admission price for the entire day and evening competitions.  Children 6 and under are free and children 7-12 are $3.  Programs are $2 and Tigerpalooza t-shirts are $10.  Students, sponsors, and directors will receive a wrist band for free admittance upon arrival. 

The Ada Band Boosters will operate concessions all day and evening.  Thank you for participating in the 4th Annual Bron Warren Tigerpalooza!  We hope your experience will be positive and educational for you and your students.  All profits from entry fees along with ticket, program, and t-shirt sales fund the Bron Warren Scholarship Awards at East Central University.   

Medical Emergencies
Emergencies are to be handled by the individual director. Valley View Medical Center is located approximately five miles east of the campus using state highway 1 (Arlington) at 430 N. Monte Vista. Their phone number is (580) 332-2323. Neither ECU nor OSSAA are responsible for medical emergencies.   ECU Campus police phone number is (580) 332-3875.

Contest Manager
Allen Correll can be reached anytime at (405) 831-0730, cell or (580) 559-5390, office.

Restaurants
Applebee’s 1220 N. Mississippi (580) 272-6534
Arby’s 400 N. Mississippi (580) 436-0730
Chili’s 1008 Lonnie Abbott Blvd. (580) 310-6168
Folger’s (hamburgers) 406 E. Main (580) 332-9808, not open on Saturday’s
Mazzio’s 905 Lonnie Abbott Blvd. (580) 436-3323
McDonald’s 818 N. Country Club Rd. (580) 436-4216
Papa Giorgio North (Italian) 1600 N. Mississippi (580) 332-9500
Papa Giorgio Restaurant and Deli (Italian) 112 E. Main (580) 272-0000
Pizza Hut 1230 N. Mississippi (580) 332-5662
Polo’s (Mexican) 217 W. Main (580) 332-0333
Taco Bell Mississippi and 7th (580) 436-3930
Eskimo Joe’s (not available yet, but working on it!)

Lodging
Best Western 1100 N. Mississippi (580) 332-6262
Budget Inn of Ada 1115 N. Broadway (580) 332-4995
Holiday Inn Express 1201 Lonnie Abbott Rd. (580) 310-9200
LaQuinta Inn 2828 Arlington St. (580) 436-5000
Quality Inn 400 NE Richardson Loop (580) 332-9000

Field
Astro-turf!   Both HS and College hash marks. HS hash marks will be marked with 3” wide gaffers tape.  Enter and exit field through north gate.

Kerr Dome
All bands may use the restrooms in Kerr Dome to change into and out of uniform.  Kerr Dome is located directly west of the stadium.