No, Blue Springs South grad David Cook will not sing the national anthem at the 11 a.m. Sunday ESPN contest that will feature the host Jaguars against longtime rival Rockhurst in a game that features the past two Class 5 state champions, two Division I quarterbacks and no American Idols.
South won state in 2006 and Rockhurst ended a 24-game Jaguar winning streak last year, en route to its state title.
Blaine Dalton, who has committed to the University of Missouri, and the Hawklets’ Nathan Scheelhaase, who will play at Illinois, will lead their respective teams.
“I think David really wanted to be a part of the game,” Blue Springs South activities director Mark Bubalo said of the South grad who won this year’s American Idol crown and is appearing with former contestants this weekend at the Sprint Center, “but his schedule was pretty full.
“That’s all right, we hope the game will keep the fans entertained. It has the feel right now like it’s really going to be something special.”
ESPN’s Dan Ryan and Tom Luginbill will call the action with Sarah Kustok serving as the sideline reporter.
Friday afternoon, Bubalo gave ESPN senior operations producer Kevin Hendel, show producer Steve Reintjes and ESPN event promoter Rashid Ghazi a tour of Larry Stewart Memorial Stadium.
“A walk-through like this is really helpful for our team,” Reintjes said. “I really like the way the trees frame the stands on the east side of the stadium and I can picture the hill (on the north side of the stadium) filled with fans.
“It’s a beautiful stadium. It will serve as the perfect backdrop for the game.”
As Reintjes uncovered interesting feature material about each team, Hendel climbed aboard a scissor lift – one of the many pieces of equipment that will be used to serve as platforms for the six cameras that will televise the game.
“It’s the big time, baby,” joked Bubalo. “You know, we think a ton of people are going to be here for the game. I know each school sold about 2,000 tickets and our students will come on their student passes so we could have six or eight thousand people here.
“But I know they’re going to want to see what it looks like on ESPN, so I bet a lot of them will tape it.”
Tickets will be available at the gate, with seventh graders and above paying $5 and kindergarten through sixth grade paying $4.
No coolers will be allowed inside the stadium.
South student Alison Boswell will sing the national anthem instead of Cook and there will be a fireworks display.
“We want it to be special,” South assistant activities director Tim Michael said, “but we want it to be like a South football game, too. We’ll have our dancers, our cheerleaders – all of that.”
Michael also said that First Bible Baptist Church, which is located just south of the high school, has moved up its services so many of the parishioners will be gone in time for South football fans to use the church parking lot.
“That was a great gesture on their part,” Michael said, “and we appreciate it.”
Blue Springs, MO —
