It’s the indoor facility that many high schools would be jealous to have, including Guthrie High School, but for a couple of days the Class 5A’s top-ranked Jays will be working inside their makeshift indoor facility.
The BlueJays go through drills inside the Lazy E Arena after the winter weather forced the Jays to seek indoor shelter.
The new owners of the Lazy E Arena, the McKinney family, gladly open the dirt-filled arena for the team as the Jays prepare for the biggest game of the season – state title game – with McAlester. See video below.
Snow and ice dumped by the Oklahoma weather over the last several days had the Jays scrambling. The weather not only postpone the game last Friday, but three days of school forcing the team to stay off the practice field.
Head coach Rafe Watkins said the team was able to watch more game film, but is thankful the game is being played on Saturday to give the team a normal practice week.
“This is not bad at all. It is a controlled environment as far as no wind,” Watkins said of the rodeo arena during Tuesday’s practice.
The arena had a chill in the air as the roof sheltered the sun that gave the team a natural feel to the cold element. Watkins said the facility’s loose dirt is actually an improvement from their day-to-day practice field.
“It’s dirt, but it’s better than the middle of our practice field right now.”
Watkins said the team will return to the Lazy E on Wednesday and hopes to practice the rest of the week on more familiar turf at Jelsma Stadium.
I WANT TO THANK THE LAZY “E”
Thanks to the Lazy E from me, too!