Mayors take sides in annual Gridiron Classic
By Fran Odyniec
Editor
Plain City Mayor Sandra Adkins left no doubt as to the outcome of tonight’s Spielman Gridiron Classic between the Jonathan Alder Pioneers and the Marysville Monarchs.
“The Pioneers, certainly. There’s no doubt about,” predicted Adkins at the start of the classic’s tailgate party held Wednesday evening at Benny’s Pizza in Marysville.
Not wanting to back down from a challenge, Marysville Mayor John Gore smiled, looked Adkins in the eye and proclaimed, “It will be the Monarchs by 10.”
Both mayors wore their teams official booster club T-shirts. Adkins was resplendent in a Pioneer black T-shirt with a pink starburst effect with Spielman Gridiron Classic emblazoned on the front. Gore wore a hot pink Monarchs T-shirt with the words “Tackle Cancer” under the Monarchs’ logo.
Depending on which team wins tonight, the mayor of the losing team must wear the other school’s Gridiron Classic T-shirt to the next council meeting.
“Mayor Gore would look good in black,” commented Adkins.
Tonight’s game starts at 7:30 in Marysville. It is part of a statewide series of Spielman Gridiron Classic games between local high school football teams to raise awareness and funds for cancer research for the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research at The Ohio State University comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.
On hand for the tailgater were former OSU football linebackers James Cotton and Courtland Bullard. Cotton was drafted by the Chicago Bears and also played for the Buffalo Bills and the Atlanta Falcons. Bullard was drafted by and played for the St. Louis Rams.
“It’s great for small town communities to come together,” said Cotton of Wednesday evening’s tailgater for cancer research. “It’s an honor and a privilege for me to be here.”
Sheri Grady and Melissa Pollom were among the Jonathan Alder football boosters who were selling raffle tickets and manning the Alder boosters’ table.
“We want to raise as much money as we can for the Spielman fund,” said Grady.
Last year, Alder topped all 70 schools involved in the Gridiron Classic by raising $8,000 for the Spielman fund.
Wednesday’s tailgater’s auction raised $4,000 between both schools with Marysville coming out on top with $2,062.50 vs. Alder’s $1,937.20.
Plain City Mayor Sandra Adkins, left, and Marysville Mayor John Gore spar over whether the Jonathan Alder Pioneers or the Marysville Monarchs will win tonight’s Spielman Gridiron Classic. Adkins predicted a win for the Pioneers.
