Bertha Teague Classic Set For Ford Center

The University of Oklahoma and the Ford Center announced today a strong commitment to women's basketball and the Bertha Teague Classic. Starting this season, the Ford Center will be the host site of the annual Bertha Teague Classic that features state Division I programs Oklahoma, Tulsa, Oral Roberts and Oklahoma State.

This year's event is set for Saturday, Nov. 22, in Oklahoma City. Tulsa and Oklahoma State tip off at Noon, followed by ORU and Oklahoma at 2:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Ford Center Box Office, participating Homeland stores in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, by phone at 1-800-511-1552 or online at www.okfordcenter.com.

"SMG Management and the Ford Center staff is very proud to be involved in the celebration of four Division I basketball programs within the state of Oklahoma," said Gary Desjardins, Ford Center General Manager. "We want to elevate the legacy of Bertha Teague and make the Bertha Teague Classic a premiere women's basketball event in the nation."

SMG manages Ford Center, the neighboring Cox Business Services Convention Center, and Food and Beverage operations at the SBC Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City. Headquartered in Philadelphia, SMG provides facility services more than 160 venues in 36 states, Puerto Rico, Canada and Europe. SMG controls more than 1.4 million entertainment seats worldwide, and over nine million square feet of exhibit space. For additional company information, visit www.smgworld.com.

Bertha Teague
Bertha Frank Teague is the most celebrated female in the state of Oklahoma's sports history and perhaps the most decorated sports figure, sharing that honor with Jim Thorpe and Hank Iba.

Bertha Frank Teague Accomplishments
Known as "Mrs. Basketball of Oklahoma"
Coached from 1926-1969, amassing a career record of 1,152-115 for a winning percentage of .910
Began her coaching career at Cairo (Okla.) but moved to Byng (Okla.) High School after one year. Guided the school to 38 conference titles, 27 district championships, and 22 state tournament berths
Won eight state crowns at Byng and finished as state runner-up seven times
Posted five undefeated seasons, including a three-year stretch (1936-1938) in which her squads wired together 98 straight games and three consecutive state crowns
Helped organize the Oklahoma High School Girls' Basketball Coaches Association in 1962. Was named the organization's first president and then re-elected to seven consecutive one-year terms
Served on the National Rules Committee of the Division of Girls and Women's Sports from 1949-1960
Credited with being an innovator in the area of basketball apparel

Bertha Frank Teague Awards
1967 & 1969 Coach of the Year
1972 Oklahoma Girls' Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame
1974 Coach of the Decade
1975 Special Service Award given by the Men's Coaches Association of Oklahoma
1983 First woman inducted into the National Federation of State High Schools Hall of Fame
1985 Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame
1985 Naismith National Basketball Hall of Fame
1989 Given special recognition at the U.S. Olympic Festival
1989 Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame
1990 Received the Coaches Association Service Award at the Final Four
1999 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

Quotes from head coaches:
"The Bertha Teague Classic featuring the four Division I universities is a wonderful opportunity to honor one of the most celebrated female sports figures in Oklahoma history."
- Oklahoma State's Julie Goodenough

"This is a great venture for OU to use its opportunity to host the Bertha Teague Classic and move the games to the Ford Center. We're happy to again be a part of this tournament, and we look forward to hosting next year's event."
- Oral Roberts' Jerry Finkbeiner

"I am a big believer in the Bertha Teague Classic. It provides a great opportunity for the collegiate basketball players in our state to showcase their talents. I believe one of the biggest assets of the Classic is the fact that it is very convenient for fans from each school to see. The state of Oklahoma has great coaches and fans, competitive teams and excellent universities. To have them together in such a magnificent venue like the Ford Center is great for women's college basketball."
- Tulsa's Kathy McConnell-Miller

"We are really excited about hosting the Bertha Frank Teague Classic at the Ford Center. The event offers a unique opportunity for women's basketball fans to watch all four Division I programs compete in a state of the art facility."

"Additionally, this event provides us with an opportunity to continue to honor the legacy of Mrs. Teague. Sometimes, I think she's more famous outside the boundaries of our state than she is within it. The Bertha Frank Teague Classic is a great way to remind our players of our state's rich women's basketball heritage and about the road that was paved for them in large part because of Mrs. Teague's pioneering efforts."

"I think if Mrs. Teague were with us today, she would be proud of the progress of women's basketball in our state, and we're doing everything we can to make this event that bears her name something she would be very proud of as well."
- Oklahoma's Sherri Coale

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Bertha Teague Classic Set For Ford Center

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