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Travis Bloomer hadn’t stepped into a Shrine Game huddle for almost 15 years, but he looked right at home Thursday night. Flanked by some of the best high school football players in Oregon at Geiser-Pollman Park, Bloomer provided the 60 all-stars with a historical perspective underlined with a telescope into the future. “The Shrine Game was 15 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday,” said Bloomer, who represented Baker High School in an East victory in 1995.Delivered with passion but also brevity, Bloomer hit on several key aspects of playing in the Shrine Game, including the honor, lasting friendships and sense of leadership and giving. Bloomer spoke with the most fire about how because they wear jerseys bearing the words “Shrine Game,” the players are viewed as leaders who are prone to giving. “This year your giving is on the football field, but for the rest of your life you will be looked up to because of your leadership,” said Bloomer, who works for the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Services’ Baker City office. “In my opinion, no one has become poor by giving.” The lessons appeared to resonate with the players. “It was pretty inspirational,” said Clint Predmore of Elgin High School. “I liked how honest he was. He made you want to go help someone.” For other players, it was his message about developing long-term friendships with teammates and simply enjoying the moment that stuck. “It was pretty sweet,” said Bryson Barney of Chiloquin High School. “I’m sure he meant what he said, I’m going to remember this forever.” A perfect example of the sort of friendships that are fostered, or at least galvanized, through the host of festivities leading up to Saturday’s game was offered in the “Wolf Pack.” Former Astoria linebacker Trevor Puckett explained the formation of this elite four-player group, which extends back a number of years but was reunited this week for the Shrine Game. Puckett played Pop Warner football against Knappa’s Doug Montgomery, while Josh Shoun of Scappoose faced off against Puckett in league battles throughout high school. To give this group one more tie, Nestucca’s Jordan Landingham and Montgomery routinely played one another in the Northwest League. The players believe something greater than even the Wolf Pack brought them together again. “It’s destiny,” Puckett said with a shake of his head. “You can’t fight destiny.” This West-team foursome firmly thinks they’ll be on the good side of destiny once again when Saturday rolls around, predicting a 49-21 victory for the green and white. But in the days leading up to Saturday, there is another contest that has moved to the forefront. It’s the Otter Pops Extravaganza. With sizzling temperatures descending upon Baker City over the past week, the players have resorted to consuming large numbers of Otter Pops to stay cool. However, this is far from an eating contest, and has instead transformed in to a match of trendsetting. And the top question: Who copied whom? Predmore said that the East squad spotted the icy snack first, popularized it and then fell victim to some copycat antics on the part of the West players. But the Wolf Pack has a much different story. They claim to be the first ones to head to Safeway on their first night in Baker City and pick up a box for an instant chill. While both stories seem plausible, Predmore and the East provide some facts and figures to illuminate their role in this competition. “We’ve bought over 1,700 so far,” he said, with a nearby teammate adding that 700 were consumed in one night. Plans are already being devised for how the Otter Pops might factor into braving 95-degree temperature on game day. “If I get hungry, I’ll have them there,” Puckett said. |