Rivals make fashion statements

Cape Girardeau Central and Jackson high schools will wage a football battle at Houck Stadium tonight, but there is something of a trash-talking T-shirt war going on between the two schools' student governments, as well.

For several years, Central's student senate and Jackson's student council have sold T-shirts to promote the game and raise money. This year, Central's shirts poke fun at Jackson's "hillbilly" heritage. Jackson's shirts embrace it.

On the back of Central's shirts, it reads: "Jackson, where the family trees don't branch. Home of Farmer's Hill. North Cape. 34-7."

Farmer's Hill is the name given to where Jackson students hang out before school. The 34-7 represents the score of Central's victory last year.

"They're always centered around hick," said Central student body president Katie Porter about their T-shirt tradition. "It's just a big joke. It's all in fun."

Jackson's shirts show an Indian driving a tractor. Behind the tractor is a Tiger half-buried in the dirt.

On the front, it says, "Till up the Tigers." On the back, it reads, "Ain't Skeered."

Kat Sampayo, a member of the Jackson student council, said Jackson's shirts were designed in response to Central's shirts.

"They're just jealous because we're going to beat them," she said. "And you can quote me on that."

Jackson's shirts cost $12; Central's cost $10. Central raised $900 for the United Way. Jackson sold more than 300 shirts and will use the money for various events such as a senior citizens dinner and the Special Olympics.

There are two other anti-Jackson T-shirts circulating in Cape Girardeau, too, but they are not sponsored by the student senate.