Of my 21 (22 momentarily) nephews, at least three are playing football this season. Holden and Woody play for their high school varsities. Their first games were last week. Holden broke his thumb but is hoping to be back on the line in a week or two. Woody scored three TDs against what experts (Bill) described as a weak opponent. What a blast! I may go see Woody’s team play tomorrow. They’re at home and the home field is arguably the best in the twin cities.
But broken bones and hat tricks aside, the best football story in the family this week came from my brother Andy, whose youngest son, Charlie, is playing flag football.
From Andy:
Went to Charlie’s first flag football game of the season. He said the first (and only) practice was “not much fun”.
ON the way to the game, he would only talk about cars. “I said, ‘that’s great, Bones, but let’s think about football now, and the fun you’re going to have.”
He responded, looking out his window “football brain is gone, dad. It’s been tookin’ over by cars brain.”
He looked slightly bored as he lined up at guard. He did block well, however.
With the game clock about to expire, the score was tied at 6 and neither team had moved the ball in either direction more than five yards. The closest Charlie was getting to the ball was being allowed to practice being the center on the sidelines. All I kept thinking was ‘just let him carry it ONCE’.
Finally, he got his one carry. Around the corner, beat the end and throttle down, baby.
60 yards—gone!
Nobody called him crippled* but one guy did say “Wow, that kid is fast.”
I had to run over to Hattie’s game, so other than a quick ‘great game!’ I haven’t talked to him. I wonder if football brain is back.
If that didn’t bring football brain back, it’s gone for good.
*Back in the 80s, when my brother Bill was the star running back of the #1 offence in the nation, he could barely walk due to knee problems but with a football in his arms he could outrun the Flash. Fans used to say “Wow, that crippled kid can run!”