Five clever and quick-on-the-draw students will soon be representing UCO on statewide television where, along with teams from 15 other universities, they will vie for the title of Mind Games champion—and part of a $200,000 scholarship prize.
Mind Games, a game show running on a quiz bowl format, will air on independent network KSBI OK-52 starting in early October and running through the spring. Teams have been divided up by seasons, with a field of schools competing in the fall and another one competing in the spring.
KSBI’s website says Mind Games “will showcase Oklahoma’s best and brightest students.”
Each team will receive $1,200 in scholarship money for winning the first and second rounds and $800 as a consolation prize, and $2,000 for each win in the third and fourth rounds and $1,200 as a consolation reward. Questions will be drawn from a wide array of subject matter, like history, mathematics, pop culture, science or religion, to name a few.
The Chickasaw Nation has signed on to be the title sponsor of the event, and the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board has lent its support to the fledgling program.
UCO’s team had its first informational meeting last Thursday, where interested students became oriented with the question format for the first time. Brandon Lehman, the team’s adviser, estimated the turnout at about 15 people.
“It’s great to have so many people,” he said. “But I’ll have to narrow the team down to five people, because you can only have three active players and then two bench players.”
According to Lehman, the producers of the show went to the presidents of each university and explained the purpose of the show as one that “showcased Oklahoma’s academic talent in a quiz bowl type format on TV.” The presidents then went back to their universities and chose coaches who could put competitive teams together.
The stakes are high.
“It is a single-elimination tournament,” Lehman said, “and pretty much you win or you go home.”
UCO’s first match is on Oct. 11, and if the team wins that match, they’ll go on to the next round, which will be on Nov. 1.
If UCO makes it through the fourth round of competition, scheduled for Nov. 15, they will have a chance to challenge the winners of the spring competition for the top spot as Oklahoma’s academic champions.
“If ratings are good enough, they’ll do the TV show again next year,” Lehman said.
The final team roster for UCO will be decided on Oct. 4. The Mind Games season premiere is Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. on KSBI OK-52.