BLUEJACKET, Okla.—Your Welch Wildcats ended tonight’s football game just a bit early as they racked up a 48-0, game-ending touchdown with 2:25 remaining in the fourth quarter. It was all Welch tonight, from the opening kick-off, which Asa Chenoweth returned for a TD, to the very end. A great deal of Bluejacket’s forward motion came from Wildcat penalties, and the Chieftains spent very little time in Wildcat territory.
Though billed as the “battle for the bell,” Bluejacket again would not allow Welch to have possession of the rivalry-symbolizing bell. This fact has been interpreted as less-than-sportsmanlike behavior on Bluejacket’s part for years. For now, the Cats will have to be content with a romping victory and their celebratory photo with the non-mobile bell.
Here are some photos of the drubbing:
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September 7th, 2010 at 9:17 AM
The bell was never exchanged after the game. The Bell trophy is exchanged btw coaches and was for several years. The Bell was always stolen during the week of the game. You should know this having graduated from welch.
September 7th, 2010 at 3:46 PM
Anybody know when the last time the bell was actually stolen the week of the game?
September 7th, 2010 at 4:44 PM
I'm thinking the next time they get the t-shirts printed, they should say, "Battle of the Bell Trophy," then.
September 7th, 2010 at 5:40 PM
I know possession is 9/10 of the law, but this could really all be settled once and for all if Bluejacket Schools could just produce a bill of sale for the bell…
September 7th, 2010 at 6:06 PM
I graduated from Welch in 1987 and for the life of me I can’t remember anything about this whole bell thing…BUT…I have heard from a particular individual that attended Bluejacket at the time (who shall remain nameless for the sake of protecting the innocent or not so innocent!) that the bell was stolen from Welch and taken to Bluejacket somewhere around ’99-’00-’01. It was the year he was a junior. Not sure without further questioning exactly when he graduated. Don’t know if it was stolen before the game or after the game, but now we know how it ended up in Bluejackets possession!
September 8th, 2010 at 7:21 AM
I graduated from Welch in '91 and I remember the war over the bell. In years past whomever won the rival game. Seriously it is rather unsportsman for this to continue. Especially if the rumored contract on scoring was in effect. Bluejacket teams in the past have been responsiabe for all kinds of "attacks" on Welch. I can remember Blue Jacket Chieftans being spray painted on the sidewalk out in front of the Welch School. Toilet paper in trees and everything else, not that Welch kids didn't return the favor, but they should have given up the bell it's tradition.
September 8th, 2010 at 9:34 AM
The bell was from a church in Bluejacket. In the 90′s a girl broke her foot trying to steal the bell back from Welch. The Adminstration decided to put an end to it before someone got seriously injured. If Welch wants the bell then maybe they should contact the head coach and ask why. That is what i heard is that they did not want thier kids stealing it from each other and getting hurt. I think both coaches want to get this game started back. It is great for both schools. I do no that Welch broke into the ag shop to steal it from Bluejacket in 95, it was on the Welch sideline and when bluejacket scored thier only touchdown it was rang and the guy was tackled by a welch cheerleader. So that would be my guess is to keep kids out of trouble. Since u were in the band and was at the game u should know this.
September 8th, 2010 at 4:50 PM
Mike, you obviously remember me, but I am having a hard time placing you. Can you help me out?
The long and short of it is that if the bell were peacefully relinquished to the winner of the game, no stealing (and the resultant injuries) would be necessary.
And I'm sorry, but I have no recollection of a Welch cheerleader tackling a Bluejacket football player. I wish I did though; sounds pretty funny.
September 9th, 2010 at 9:43 AM
Wasn’t a football player was a guy named bobby, same one that showed up to the tech ed’s teacher house at 1:00 in the morning trying to break in to his shop to steal it. I went to welch for a short time, and left after that. Now I reside in craig county and recall how many times we stole the bell, from them. They always came up short on getting it back, i think it is funny now. But, really the trashing of the school come on. They have teachers that went to welch and kids that go to school in the welch school system. Pretty sure the coach is from welch and might of been with us a few times when we took it.