Coach Jim Darnell
My home town lost an icon recently with the passing of Coach Jim Darnell. There were over 200 people at his funeral. He is a legend in Bomber football that will go on forever. I sat couple of rows down from Coach Darnell at the football games after he retired. He knew his place and I could only imagine that his brain was coaching during those games. We will miss him very much. As Paul A said at his funeral, "If I'm in heaven and it's 4th down and 1, I want Coach Darnell on my sideline." Yes Sir!
Here is some information about my hometown. Please understand I grew up in the 60s and life was much different then. However, Friday night football is just about the same, just smaller crowds. I've said countless times, "I wish my boys had a Midwest City like I did to grow up in." Truly an end to an era.
History
In 1941, the Midwest City-Del City area was farmland consisting of wheat farming, dairies, and cattle ranches. Several rural schools made up the centers of their respective communities. Farmers and others living on acreages traveled to Oklahoma City to purchase what could not be produced from the land. The federal government had determined that the country would soon be in the war that was spreading in Europe and the Far East. Construction of Tinker Field began and W.P. Atkinson, seeing an opportunity, purchased 160 acres of farmland with the intention of developing a new community.
On December 7, 1941 Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. With the growth of Tinker Field, Midwest City increased as well. More families meant higher school enrollent. Children had to travel to Oklahoma City to attend school above the eighth grade. To meet the crisis, the Sooner School Board agreed to an expansion of the school system by April 1943; members of the Sooner School Board were: Tom Townsend, Furman L. Fox, Cecil Fish, and Oscar Rose, Superintendent of Sooner School district no. 52.
In May 1943, Rose organized for the upcoming school year. The high school was held and J.E. Sutton was hired June 1943 to be the first principal of the high school. In August 1943, the school plan was organized but there was no school building. Even though the building was not finished, it had 17 teachers and 413 students on the first day and over one thousand students to enroll during the school year. Furniture was borrowed from Draugh's Business College; half day sessions were in operation for the lower grades. Mr. Rose borrowed an old school bus from Bearan, Oklahoma, the school district that he came from. There was no heat, and students had to wear their coats in class during the winter. Later people loaned stoves to the school.
The first night in April 1944, a wind hit the campus (several military huts for buildings), turning some buildings at a forty-five degree angle and it demolished the entire English room. Buildings were left where the wind pushed them, foundations were put back and the school continued. During the school year, a new brick building had been under construction next door to the collection of huts and was ready for occupancy by Spring. Students moved to the new building on April 6, 1946; it was later dedicated in May.
There were fourteen students in that first senior class. Despite the weather, cold, mud, and wind storm, the hutment (collection of huts) served its purpose. This was the beginning of 3 great high schools: Midwest City High School, Carl Albert High School, and Del City High School .
In 1941, the Midwest City-Del City area was farmland consisting of wheat farming, dairies, and cattle ranches. Several rural schools made up the centers of their respective communities. Farmers and others living on acreages traveled to Oklahoma City to purchase what could not be produced from the land. The federal government had determined that the country would soon be in the war that was spreading in Europe and the Far East. Construction of Tinker Field began and W.P. Atkinson, seeing an opportunity, purchased 160 acres of farmland with the intention of developing a new community.
On December 7, 1941 Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. With the growth of Tinker Field, Midwest City increased as well. More families meant higher school enrollent. Children had to travel to Oklahoma City to attend school above the eighth grade. To meet the crisis, the Sooner School Board agreed to an expansion of the school system by April 1943; members of the Sooner School Board were: Tom Townsend, Furman L. Fox, Cecil Fish, and Oscar Rose, Superintendent of Sooner School district no. 52.
In May 1943, Rose organized for the upcoming school year. The high school was held and J.E. Sutton was hired June 1943 to be the first principal of the high school. In August 1943, the school plan was organized but there was no school building. Even though the building was not finished, it had 17 teachers and 413 students on the first day and over one thousand students to enroll during the school year. Furniture was borrowed from Draugh's Business College; half day sessions were in operation for the lower grades. Mr. Rose borrowed an old school bus from Bearan, Oklahoma, the school district that he came from. There was no heat, and students had to wear their coats in class during the winter. Later people loaned stoves to the school.
The first night in April 1944, a wind hit the campus (several military huts for buildings), turning some buildings at a forty-five degree angle and it demolished the entire English room. Buildings were left where the wind pushed them, foundations were put back and the school continued. During the school year, a new brick building had been under construction next door to the collection of huts and was ready for occupancy by Spring. Students moved to the new building on April 6, 1946; it was later dedicated in May.
There were fourteen students in that first senior class. Despite the weather, cold, mud, and wind storm, the hutment (collection of huts) served its purpose. This was the beginning of 3 great high schools: Midwest City High School, Carl Albert High School, and Del City High School .
Football
In 1945 the first MCHS football game was played at what later became Jim Darnell Stadium. The team still plays there to this day. The MCHS football program includes over 80 All-Staters including Oklahoma State University head football coach Mike Gundy. With a winning percentage of .722 of all games ever played, a state record for 45 consecutive winning seasons and the first ever undefeated 6A State Football Champions. At MCHS there is a saying: "Winning, it's not pressure, it's a way of life". Some call it tradition, some call it spirit but the Midwest City community calls it Bomber Magic.
Since its first season under coach Fred Barlow in 1945, MCHS has had only 11 coaches in over 60 years. From 1955-1977 legendary coach Jim Darnell led the football program. In 1960 they captured their first state championship. Darnell retired after the 1977 season and left MCHS as the winningest coach in school history (183-51-12) which prompted naming the stadium after him.
Coach Darnell's successor was his former player and later Assistant Coach, Dick Evans. Evans became the 2nd in all time wins at Midwest City. During his time at the helm he produced stand out quarterback Mike Gundy who went on to play at Oklahoma State. Gundy became the university's all time leading passer and later became the head coach at OSU. Coach Evans will always be remembered for his 1988 campaign with the Bombers. They went 6 and 4 for the regular season to make the playoffs and went on to win the state championship. Some call it the Cinderella story of Oklahoma High School football.
Evans retired in 1991 and coach Dennis Huggins took over the reigns to a powerhouse football team. During the 1994 season Huggins led the Bombers to the state's first ever 6A Championship. They accomplished that while at the same time having an undefeated season. By virtue of their finishing 14-0 ESPN pronounced them the 5th best high school football program in the nation. The following year they repeated as State Champs and finished in some polls as the 'mythical' high school National Champions. ESPN had them as the 2nd best in the nation.
Huggins retired following the 1995 season leaving behind what Bomber fans call "A tradition of winning".
Steve Huff is now the head coach for Midwest City. Coming from Texas as a high school football coach at Texas A&M Consolidated , Steve Huff went 11-3 as the offensive coordinator at the high school in College Staion his last year. He lost in the semifinals to Trinity High School who later that year would be crown the state champion. They were also ranked that year as the number 5 high school team in the nation. Steve Huff comes to Midwest City looking to win his first ever state title as a head coach for football. In his first season at Midwest City he brought the Bombers back to the playoffs after a four year absence. He finished his first year at Midwest City 6-5.
In 1945 the first MCHS football game was played at what later became Jim Darnell Stadium. The team still plays there to this day. The MCHS football program includes over 80 All-Staters including Oklahoma State University head football coach Mike Gundy. With a winning percentage of .722 of all games ever played, a state record for 45 consecutive winning seasons and the first ever undefeated 6A State Football Champions. At MCHS there is a saying: "Winning, it's not pressure, it's a way of life". Some call it tradition, some call it spirit but the Midwest City community calls it Bomber Magic.
Since its first season under coach Fred Barlow in 1945, MCHS has had only 11 coaches in over 60 years. From 1955-1977 legendary coach Jim Darnell led the football program. In 1960 they captured their first state championship. Darnell retired after the 1977 season and left MCHS as the winningest coach in school history (183-51-12) which prompted naming the stadium after him.
Coach Darnell's successor was his former player and later Assistant Coach, Dick Evans. Evans became the 2nd in all time wins at Midwest City. During his time at the helm he produced stand out quarterback Mike Gundy who went on to play at Oklahoma State. Gundy became the university's all time leading passer and later became the head coach at OSU. Coach Evans will always be remembered for his 1988 campaign with the Bombers. They went 6 and 4 for the regular season to make the playoffs and went on to win the state championship. Some call it the Cinderella story of Oklahoma High School football.
Evans retired in 1991 and coach Dennis Huggins took over the reigns to a powerhouse football team. During the 1994 season Huggins led the Bombers to the state's first ever 6A Championship. They accomplished that while at the same time having an undefeated season. By virtue of their finishing 14-0 ESPN pronounced them the 5th best high school football program in the nation. The following year they repeated as State Champs and finished in some polls as the 'mythical' high school National Champions. ESPN had them as the 2nd best in the nation.
Huggins retired following the 1995 season leaving behind what Bomber fans call "A tradition of winning".
Steve Huff is now the head coach for Midwest City. Coming from Texas as a high school football coach at Texas A&M Consolidated , Steve Huff went 11-3 as the offensive coordinator at the high school in College Staion his last year. He lost in the semifinals to Trinity High School who later that year would be crown the state champion. They were also ranked that year as the number 5 high school team in the nation. Steve Huff comes to Midwest City looking to win his first ever state title as a head coach for football. In his first season at Midwest City he brought the Bombers back to the playoffs after a four year absence. He finished his first year at Midwest City 6-5.
Midwest City vs. Del City
When the novel "Friday Night Lights" was written by H. G. Bissinger, he had the choice of either Midwest City or Permian Odessa. But thats another story. Every year Midwest City plays Del City ,there in district rival, In "BEAT DEL CITY WEEK!". Midwest City has dominated the series since it was started back in the 50s.
Trivia
H.G. Bissinger's "Friday Night Lights" had the choice of Permian Odessa or Midwest City. The years that Midwest City did not make to the playoffs was because of last game defeats by Putnam City High School. The mascot "Bombers" comes from the B-52 Air Force planes located at Tinker Air Force Base. Jarman junior High was the original Midwest City High School. In 1996 Midwest City played Jenks High School in the state championship game. Since then, Midwest City has never played them. Midwest City's colors are black and gold.
Bombers Football Winnings
1 National Championship(1995)
5 State Championships(1960,1985,1988,1994,1995)
8 State Finalist
19 District Championships
21 Conference Championships
37 Oklahoma High School Playoffs Births
86 Oklahoma High School Football All-Staters
Football Coaches
1944 Jack Furr
1945-1946 Fred Barlow 3-10-2
1947-1948 Jack Juffman 8-8-1
1949-1954 Jack Spahn 47-14-2 (3)
1955-1977 Jim Darnell 183-51-12 (1) 1 State Championship
1978-1991 Dick Evans 144-33 (2) 2 State Chapionships
1992-1995 Dennis Huggins 45-7 (4) 2 State Championships *National Champions*
1996-1999 Brian Vavakera 27-20
2000-2004 Ricky Oliver 31-19
2005-2006 Jesse Wall 6-4
2006- Steve Huff 6-5
School Song
Come On And Fight Team,
Get On The Drive For Victory,
Fight Team, Get On The Go,
Go! Go! Go!
Hit Them, You Fighting Sons Of Bombers,
Fight On To Meet Our Foes
So Hit That Line Team With All Your Bomber Glory
Fight On Till We Are Through
Its Your Job, And Its An Honor
For This Midwest Bomber Crew!
When the novel "Friday Night Lights" was written by H. G. Bissinger, he had the choice of either Midwest City or Permian Odessa. But thats another story. Every year Midwest City plays Del City ,there in district rival, In "BEAT DEL CITY WEEK!". Midwest City has dominated the series since it was started back in the 50s.
Trivia
H.G. Bissinger's "Friday Night Lights" had the choice of Permian Odessa or Midwest City. The years that Midwest City did not make to the playoffs was because of last game defeats by Putnam City High School. The mascot "Bombers" comes from the B-52 Air Force planes located at Tinker Air Force Base. Jarman junior High was the original Midwest City High School. In 1996 Midwest City played Jenks High School in the state championship game. Since then, Midwest City has never played them. Midwest City's colors are black and gold.
Bombers Football Winnings
1 National Championship(1995)
5 State Championships(1960,1985,1988,1994,1995)
8 State Finalist
19 District Championships
21 Conference Championships
37 Oklahoma High School Playoffs Births
86 Oklahoma High School Football All-Staters
Football Coaches
1944 Jack Furr
1945-1946 Fred Barlow 3-10-2
1947-1948 Jack Juffman 8-8-1
1949-1954 Jack Spahn 47-14-2 (3)
1955-1977 Jim Darnell 183-51-12 (1) 1 State Championship
1978-1991 Dick Evans 144-33 (2) 2 State Chapionships
1992-1995 Dennis Huggins 45-7 (4) 2 State Championships *National Champions*
1996-1999 Brian Vavakera 27-20
2000-2004 Ricky Oliver 31-19
2005-2006 Jesse Wall 6-4
2006- Steve Huff 6-5
School Song
Come On And Fight Team,
Get On The Drive For Victory,
Fight Team, Get On The Go,
Go! Go! Go!
Hit Them, You Fighting Sons Of Bombers,
Fight On To Meet Our Foes
So Hit That Line Team With All Your Bomber Glory
Fight On Till We Are Through
Its Your Job, And Its An Honor
For This Midwest Bomber Crew!
Midwest City High School. (2007, June 7). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:43, July 27, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Midwest_City_High_School&oldid=136706314
posted by Terri | 6:39 PM
1 Comments:
I enjoyed this article, Terri.
Those were the days!!!!
Jan
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