Curtis Fitzpatrick spotted the crowd gathering on the ground, even though the helicopter was still looking down on the treetops.
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"Oh, here they come," he said into his headset. "Here come the kids."
They sprinted across the parking lot toward the soccer field, the TV helicopter's make-shift landing pad. They cared little about McLoud High School's football game against Mannford in the nearby stadium. The chopper drew the kids like a magnet.
"People were saying, ‘There's a helicopter coming,'" said McLoud senior Tyler Haderer, his face and bare chest painted red and white. "I wanted to see the helicopter land and see what the hype was.
"Maybe get on television."
Such was the chorus that greeted the men from KWTV News 9, The Oklahoman's television partner.
"Can you put me on TV?"
"I wanna be on TV."
Fitzpatrick pointed at cameraman Ken Kilbourn.
"Talk to that guy," the sportscaster said.
Being on television and getting close to the chopper always lures fans when the Friday Football Blitz's aerial crew arrives. Amid the show's craziness — a circus of highlights and hits, spirit sticks and shtick the likes of which are seen on every network affiliate in Oklahoma City and in many other markets around the country — nothing is nuttier than the reaction to the helicopter.
Usually used to chase severe storms and follow car chases, it is big news in small towns such as McLoud, just north of Interstate 40 between Midwest City and Shawnee.
"The helicopter's the biggest star of the night," Fitzpatrick said.
The chopper just adds another level of excitement in places where Friday night is already a big deal.
When it arrived in McLoud, athletic director Gary Hodde was working crowd control in the south end zone. That's where lots of elementary-school children gather to toss footballs and play games.
The helicopter's arrival made his job easier that night.
"We didn't have any trouble with the kids," Hodde said, "because they all ran to the fence."
Sometimes, the helicopter creates a little too much excitement.
Longtime cameraman Stan Chase once flew to Thomas for a game. School officials held back the kids, who were waiting for the chopper to land. When it was about six feet off the ground, the kids broke free.
The chopper had to take off, circle while the teachers corralled the kids, then land again.
For all of its wow factor, the helicopter plays a vital part in the Friday Football Blitz, too. Before going to McLoud, it flew first to Purcell. Mason Dunn piloted the craft south. Fitzpatrick applied his pancake makeup, then jotted notes for his live shot during the 6 o'clock news. And Kilbourn manned the TV equipment in the back, including the cameras mounted inside and outside the chopper.
"Any idea what you want to do with this live shot, big guy?" Kilbourn asked as they approached Purcell's stadium.
Fitzpatrick said: "Start with me, then go down to the field. I'll say something like, ‘We've come south down I-35 for a battle between two unbeaten teams.' Then I'll say, ‘One of the most unique fields,' then go down to the field."
The shot went exactly as planned.
So did the landing, although doing that live shot every week means the helicopter arrives at its first stop about an hour before kickoff. No one runs to greet them. No one hoots or hollers. No claps or clamors.
Not like they did at McLoud.
"Everybody come out here," Kilbourn directed the three or four dozen kids.
They were as slippery as uncontained mercury. They squirmed. They bounced. A couple even climbed onto shoulders of their friends.
Finally, Kilbourn had them grouped together just beyond the tip of the helicopter's rotor blades. He turned his camera on, and the kids went nuts, the body-painted Haderer included. Even though his parents would see him on TV, he would end up missing it.
Haderer didn't seem to mind. He'd missed seeing KFOR's helicopter a couple years ago and wasn't about to pass on this opportunity. He watched the chopper land so close that he felt the breeze from its spinning rotor. He hammed it up for the television camera.
"It just makes us get a little more excited," Haderer said. "That's pretty neat."
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KWTV News9 sportscaster Curtis Fitzpatrick, left, and photographer Ken Kilbourn climb a mountain over the stadium for a pregame shot before the Purcell played Plainview on Oct. 13. BY STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN Friday Night in Lights High school football is big news on Friday night in Oklahoma City, like it is in many locales across the country. Here's a look at the metro's other high school football highlight shows:
Friday Night HeroesThe station: KFOR-4
The host: Bob Barry Jr.
The lowdown: The metro's longest-running show dates back to the '80s. Barry flies to two games in Chopper 4 every week. High School XtraThe station: KOCO-5
The host: Mark Rodgers or Chris Callahan
The lowdown: The station's tricked-out Hummer, which has become a fan favorite, appears at the game of the week.
Gridiron FridayThe station: KOKH-25
The hosts: Kris Roberts and Brent Skarky
The lowdown: The metro's newest show began this season when the Fox affiliate brought back its local sportscast.
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