SPORTS
A8 — THE OBSERVER
8-MAN
6-man,” Cobb said. “We
have 30 kids on the team.
There’s not a participation
issue.”
OSAA emphasized in
the proposal that participa-
tion in football was a key
issue. The proposal noted
that a transition to 9-man
would allow easier sched-
uling between 9-man and
11-man non-league oppo-
nents, while the junior
varsity levels could likely
avoid cancellations if the
roster size is smaller.
“The decreases in
average team size over the
last 10 years have been sig-
nifi cant,” the statement
read.
The preference of
keeping 8-man foot-
ball was also expressed
by Elgin head coach Kirt
McClure. The Huskies are
slated in the 9-man divi-
Continued from Page A7
Alex Wittwer/The Observer, File
La Grande’s Alex Rodriguez (4) pushes past Nyssa’s Zach Kausler
(33) and into the free-throw lane during the Tigers’ 61-43 win on
Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021.
OSAA
Continued from Page A7
“They can’t be wearing
their school uniform or
refer to their school or sec-
tion,” said New York State
Public High School Athletic
Association spokesperson
Chris Watson.
Pyne, whose Rams won
the 2021 OSAA 6A football
state championship, is no
stranger to student-athletes
who could profi t from these
types of deals. Rams junior
tight end Riley Williams
will likely be the top recruit
coming out of Oregon’s
class of 2022 and would be
a top target for high school
NIL sponsorships.
And he’s not alone.
Oregon will be sending
many student-athletes to
compete in NCAA compe-
tition next year, including
four-star football recruits
Darrius Clemons (West-
view) and Trejon Williams
(Jeff erson, Portland).
Pyne added that moving
NIL rights to the high
school ranks would likely
lead to it fi ltering down to
the youth ranks, including
AAU and club sports.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2021
football runners-up Powder
Valley Badgers.
“Eight-man just feels
right,” he said. “I see
6-man as a good thing for
schools that truly don’t
have the student body.”
The Badgers would be
bumped down to the 6-man
league, which Cobb is
against, although Powder
Valley could potentially
request to jump up to the
higher division. The Bad-
gers are coming off an 11-2
season of 8-man football.
There is no current dead-
line for teams to opt up
or down in divisions, but
the deadline will be deter-
mined at the next OSAA
meeting in January.
“I don’t want to play
sion, which could be a
challenge for an Elgin team
that had only 11 players
on the roster. Even so, the
Huskies went 4-4 in the
regular season and earned
a spot in the playoff s.
“I’m not really for it. It
doesn’t make sense to me,”
McClure said.
McClure expressed a
similar sentiment as Cobb
in that 8-man football has
seen a bump in popularity
in recent years. According
to Cobb, many of the other
1A coaches he spoke with
objected to the proposals.
The 1A championship
showdown between Powder
Valley and Adrian on Nov.
27 drew a packed stadium
at Baker Bulldog Memorial
Stadium in Baker.
“Eight-man is growing,
especially in our area,”
McClure said.
The proposals are still
in the works but could be
a looming issue for local
coaches and supporters
of 8-man football. The
next OSAA Ad Hoc Foot-
ball Advisory Committee
meeting is set for 9 a.m.
on Jan. 5, 2022, at the Hol-
iday Inn in Wilsonville.
The meeting’s purpose is to
gather public input on the
proposed changes to 2A
and 1A football.
“High school sports
are all about opportunities
for young adults. Six-man
football takes two to three
kids off the fi eld per team
— just don’t see how that
is benefi cial,” Cobb said.
“Creating opportunities for
kids to compete, promoting
the desire to improve as a
team and individually is
the concept of high school
sports.”
VISIT US ON THE WEB AT:
www.LaGrandeObserver.com
Blazing Fast
Internet!
Careers that make a difference
Work with people with disabilities!
ADD TO YOUR PACKAGE FOR ONLY
19 . 99
$
/mo.
where available
2-YEAR
TV PRICE
GUARANTEE
69
$
99 190 CHANNELS
MO.
Local Channels!
for 12 Mos.
America’s Top 120 Package
Including
www.ImpactOregon.careers
CALL TODAY - For $100 Gift Card Promo Code: DISH100
1-866-373-9175
Offer ends 4/13/22.
All offers require credit qualification, 24-month commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay. Prices include Hopper Duo for qualifying customers. Hopper, Hopper w/Sling or Hopper 3 $5/mo. more.
Upfront fees may apply based on credit qualification.
ON THE
SLATE
TUESDAY, DEC. 28
PREP BOYS BASKETBALL
Wallowa vs. Condon, Echo High
School, 2:30 p.m.
Joseph at Ione/Arlington,
3:30 p.m.
Imbler at Weston-McEwen,
7 p.m.
2021 Baker Holiday Bas-
ketball X-Over, Baker High
School
Union vs. Adrian, 12:30 p.m.
Powder Valley vs. Burns 8 p.m.
PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
La Grande vs. Henley, Sisters
Holiday Shootout, Sisters High
School, 3 p.m.
Wallowa vs. Condon, Echo High
School, 1 p.m.
Joseph at Ione/Arlington, 2 p.m.
Imbler at Weston-McEwen,
4 p.m.
2021 Baker Holiday Bas-
ketball X-Over, Baker High
School
Union vs. Adrian, 2 p.m.
Powder Valley vs. Burns,
9:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 29
PREP BOYS BASKETBALL
Joseph at North Lake/Paisley,
2:30 p.m.
PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
Joseph at North Lake/Paisley,
1 p.m.
THURSDAY, DEC. 30
PREP BOYS BASKETBALL
Joseph at Dufur, 1:30 p.m.
Sherman at Wallowa, 4 p.m.
Stanfi eld at Enterprise, 4:30 p.m.
Four Rivers at Cove, 5 p.m.
Union at Weston-McEwen,
7:30 p.m.
PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
Joseph at Dufur, noon
Sherman at Wallowa, 2:30 p.m.
Stanfi eld at Enterprise, 3 p.m.
Four Rivers at Cove, 3:30 p.m.
Union at Weston-McEwen,
6 p.m.
FRIDAY, DEC. 31
COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL
Eastern Oregon at Corban,
7:30 p.m.
COLLEGE WOMEN’S
BASKETBALL
Eastern Oregon at Corban,
5:30 p.m.
Miracle-Ear Hearing Centers are looking for qualifi ed people to
test their latest product,
The Miracle-Ear Ready-Fit RISK FREE!
Here’s the catch: You must have diffi culty hearing and
understanding in background noise and your hearing must fall
in the range of the hearing aid. People that are selected will
evaluate Miracle-Ear’s latest advanced digital hearing solution
— the Miracle-Ear Ready-Fit.
You will be able to walk in to our offi ce and walk out knowing
how much help there is for you.
Candidates will be asked to evaluate our instruments for 30
days (risk free*). At the end of the 30 days, if you are satisfi ed
with the improvement in your hearing and wish to keep the
instrument, you may do so at tremendous savings. But this is
only for a limited time! Schedule your Appointment Now! Don’t
wait until it’s too late!
SOME FEDERAL WORKERS AND RETIREES
MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR HEARING AIDS AT NO COST!
That’s Right...No Co-Pay! No Exam Fee!
No Adjustment Fee!
BCBS federal insurance pays the total cost of 2 Miracle-Ear Audiotone Pro aids. Most federal
government employees and retirees are eligible. You may even be covered if you have other
non-federal insurance coverage. Special factory pricing is available for non-qualifi ers. See store
for details & accurate coverage.
Save on one of our smallest
custom digital hearing aids!
Another Great Way to Save
Make your appointment today!
BUY 1 GET 1
50% OFF
Save on our full line of digital
Now Buy One
Get One Free!
hearing solutions. Don’t miss out
on this amazing off er.
HURRY! OFFER ENDS 12/31/2021
Valid at participating Miracle-Ear locations only. Limit one coupon per
purchase. May not be combined with other off ers and does not apply to
prior sales. Cash value 1/20 cent. Cannot combine with any other off ers.
HURRY! OFFER ENDS 12/31/2021
Good only from participating Miracle-Ear representatives. One coupon
per purchase. No other off ers or discounts apply. Discount does not
apply to prior sales. Off er valid on ME-5, ME-4, ME-3, ME-2 Solutions.
Cannot combine with any other off ers. Cash value 1/20 cent.
SATURDAY, JAN. 1
COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL
Eastern Oregon at Bushnell,
5 p.m.
COLLEGE WOMEN’S
BASKETBALL
Eastern Oregon at Bushnell,
3 p.m.
LIMITED TIME ONLY!! OFFER EXPIRES
DECEMBER 31 ST !
At select
LA GRANDE
111 Elm Street
La Grande, OR 97850
541-605-2109
locations only!
BAKER CITY
2021 Washington Ave.
Baker City, OR 97814
541-239-3782
ENTERPRISE
113-1/2 Front E. Main St.
Enterprise, OR 97828
541-239-3877
The most valuable and
respected source of
local news, advertising
and information for
our communities.
visit us online at: www.miracle-ear.com
eomediagroup.com
Risk Free Off er- The aids must be returned within 30 days of delivery pursuant to terms of your purchase agreement and 100% of the purchase price will be refunded. **Hearing test is an audiometric test to determine proper
amplifi cation needs only. These are not medical exams or diagnoses. Blue Cross Shield, the Blue Cross, the Blue Shield, BCBS, and Federal Employee Program are a registered trademark of Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and its independent licensees are not affi liated with, nor do they endorse or sponsor, the contests of this advertisement. Trademarks referring to specifi c providers are used by Miracle ear
for nominative purposes only: to truthfully identify the source of the services about which information is provided. Such trademarks are solely the property of their respective owners.
Mention Code: 21DecWANTED