Rob Oxford: Gearing Up for the Rotary Cup

Presentation of the 2017 Rotary Cup
Photo by Rob Oxford

Text and photos by Rob Oxford

If you've not yet made plans for Friday Night September 21st, might I suggest bundling up, bringing a seat cushion and joining your fellow Shoreline residents for what is sure to be an exciting Rotary Cup match up at Shoreline Stadium.

Although it comes only halfway through the high school football season, to the coaches and athletes who play in it, the Rotary Cup can be the distinction between a successful or unsuccessful season.

A "winning" season, one whose wins outnumber losses, can mean little to a player whose team lost the Rotary Cup to a group of friends he's known since Little League. Many of our young athletes grew up as teammates playing Richmond Junior Football together and knew then they would one day be on opposing sidelines. For those players, that day is September 21st.

King TV5's Chris Egan interviewing players for last year's
Big Game of the Week. Local voters made this game the Game
of the Week as well - a new tradition.
Photo by Rob Oxford

Shorewood will host this year, which means their blow up Thunderbird will loom large in the south end zone and although the game is referred to as a "friendly rivalry," make no mistake that once the ball is kicked, for the following 48 minutes the 'friendliness" between these players will be suspended.

The same can also be said for those in the stands. Relatives, former neighbors, work associates and in some cases former classmates all choose a side and the pleasantries between them are kept to a minimum.

The Rotary Cup has significance in that it brings our community together. It will be without a doubt the single largest gathering in Shoreline all year. So if you don't come early or have someone save you a seat, you may find yourself sitting on the "wrong side of the tracks".

The Rotary Cup is a tradition very few communities enjoy. Before the game old friends reminisce, cheerleaders from both teams take selfies with each other and at halftime, both marching bands take the field together to perform and always dazzle those in attendance.

Athletic Director Don Dalziel and photographer
Rod Mar getting ready to take the "family portrait"

The flag teams will perform their routines and when he's not on assignment, former Shorecrest Grad and Seahawk Staff Photographer Rod Mar shoots the entire crowd from high above his lofty perch. Even Big Otis and the Shorewood mascot "T-Bird" will briefly go toe to toe to the delight of their respective fans.

Thanks to the Shorewood and Shorecrest fans who have been voting all week via the station's website, once again the big game will be featured this Friday Night as KING 5's "Game Of The Week." 

Last year KING 5's Chris Egan covered the game and much to the chagrin of T-Bird fans, showed off his legs in a Gordon Plaid kilt. It is possible that this year he may come to Shoreline Stadium in feathers of blue and green?

16 of the last 18 Rotary Cups have been won by the Shorecrest Scots and despite their desire to keep the trophy on the east side of I-5, as we speak the Thunderbird coaching staff are busily devising a plan to spoil those intentions. Both teams have winning records at this point in the season.

The Scots are undefeated at 3 - 0 and the T-Birds are 2 - 1, so it would be safe to say this may turn out to be one of the better games in quite a while. Last years 42 - 22 blowout by the Scots left a bad taste in the mouths of T-Bird fans and having won only 13 of the 48 games played in the series, Shorewood looks to exact a little revenge.

This friends is what we love about football. When the final buzzer sounds, with the exception of some good-natured ribbing, hands are shaken, backs are patted and we all slowly make our way out the gate together .... once again united as the Community of Shoreline.