The list sets off a debate Not everyone agrees with the choices, and they're letting us know The list sets off a debate Not everyone agrees with the choices, and they're letting us know
The e-mails started before the section was even out.
As people started hearing about our project picking the best football players ever at every (or almost every) high school in the state, the opinions started flying around.
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So Sunday, when The Oklahoman's football preview did come out, it was no surprise that the e-mails quickly started showing up.
We certainly anticipated this happening. With well over 300 high schools around, unfortunately, there were some we probably were going to miss out on.
And with no set in stone criteria, there was certainly plenty of room for debate at a lot of schools.
Millwood is a clear example.
I'm sure there were plenty of people who were surprised to look at the Class 2A list and see Joe Carter's name there instead of Mandrell Dean, Rashaun Woods or several other names.
We asked around, including checking in with longtime Falcons coach Leodies Robinson and came up with Carter. Carter's Millwood teams weren't the most successful, and his football career ended when he chose to stick with baseball — a choice that worked out pretty well — but if Robinson says Carter, that's good enough for us.
Others weren't so easy.
After poring over the e-mails, there are a couple that we might have done better on.
At Ponca City, our initial selection was Odell Lawson, a 1965 All-State running back.
While Lawson was certainly a fine player and ended up playing for the Patriots in the NFL, Tom Catlin might have been the better pick.
Catlin was an All-America center in 1951 and 1952 for Oklahoma and went on to play five seasons in the NFL.
On the other end of the scale, in Class B, we picked Randall Stanley as Caddo's best player.
Stanley's own cousin e-mailed to disagree with the pick.
The suggested selection in the e-mail was Brad Drinning, who made the Oklahoma Coaches' Association All-State game in 1993.
Drinning had more than 1,000 yards receiving and more than 100 tackles his senior season.
There certainly are plenty more picks where an argument could be made and probably some where there should be changes.
Hopefully this is a list we can revisit again sometime soon.
•Christian Heritage making waves already: Christian Heritage Academy's volleyball team is making its first season as a member of the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association a memorable one.
The team won the Glenpool Oil Bowl Classic over the weekend, beating Class 5A No. 4 Glenpool in the championship.
Joy Laster was named to the all-tournament team.
It'll certainly be worth noting, in the coming weeks, how each of the new OSSAA member schools perform in cross country, softball and volleyball. Next season, they will join in football.
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Clifford Thrift was a great high school linebacker for Purcell and certainly the most successful NFL player. But most longtime followers of Purcell Dragon football feel that the late Joe McReynolds was Purcell's greatest player. The Oklahoma Player of The Year led the Dragons to their only State title and was recruited by the world. Rick McCurdy started both ways at OU under Bud. Mike McCurdy was the greatest passing QB ever. Clifford blossomed later at ECU and was an absolute stud but I think Joe Mac was the best while at Purcell.
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TG Smith
KC,MO