TONY DEMARE

Friday night’s home opener mixed the community’s love of the game with a special remembrance.

Friday (Feb. 4), schools all across the state are taking time to lift up the Oxford Community. They’re doing it by asking students, parents, and staff to wear Oxford Strong t-shirts, with 80% of the proceeds going directly to Oxford High School.

That’s because Feb. 4 has been labeled by the MHSAA as “Stand Up For Oxford Strong” night. The movement is called Stand Up For Oxford Strong, and I think what we’re seeing is the entire state of Michigan is displaying strength. Seeing the Oxford Strong shirts displayed locally and in all corners of the state of state has not gone unnoticed. “Our lunches are going on right now and more than half of our kids are wearing Oxford Strong shirts,” DeMare said. Graphics is selling the official Oxford Strong shirts through the website SupportOxfordStrong.com.

Nearly two weeks after the tragic school shooting at Oxford High School, the school’s athletic teams begin the journey back to competition this week. “The greater community of administrators, schools, athletic directors and coaches have been just overwhelming with the support,” DeMare said. The JV and varsity girls basketball teams will return to competition on Tuesday night at Lapeer High School. Oxford’s freshman girls basketball team will not play on Tuesday because Lapeer does not offer a freshman-level squad this season. As a gesture, Lapeer will accept donations at the door for Tuesday’s girls basketball games in lieu of selling tickets.

MHSAA executive director Mark Uyl spoke with MLive as he tried to process the tragedy that happened a day prior. It’s just -- this is every parent’s worst nightmare.”Uyl confirmed that he has been in private contact with Oxford athletic director Tony DeMare. “We’ve had some private communications with their athletic director,” Uyl said. This hits pretty hard.”More on MLive:15-year-old charged as an adult with terrorism, murder in Oxford High School shootingWhat we know about the three students killed in the Oxford High School shootingPetition aims to rename Oxford High School stadium after shooting victim Tate MyrePolice release names of victims in deadly shooting at Oxford High SchoolHurting Oxford community comes together after school shootingPolice deny existence of threats prior to Oxford High School shooting that left three students deadGov. Whitmer orders flags to half-staff in honor of Oxford High School shooting victims‘My heart goes out to the families,’ President Biden says of Oxford High School shootingNational trend of school shootings strikes Michigan, shaking delicate sense of security‘This wound will never go away:’ Local officials react to Oxford High School shooting