High School Playoff Football

Years and years ago..a friend and I went to Notre Dame University to run a marathon. It was in June, and it turned out to be a tough day. Hot. But..I'll never forget the finish line. We entered the football stadium through a tunnel..emerged on to the field..and there he was. Touchdown Jesus. In one of their end zones..on an adjoining building..is a giant mural of Christ with outstretched arms. He was welcoming us in after a hard 26.2 miles. Emotions were hard to control.

It's not quite the same at our local high school. What would you call that? Touchdown McDonalds? If you win the quarter..do you get a quarter-pounder? If a touchdown you make..do you get a shake? If you reach the end-zone..do you get a cone? If you score on Saturday..do you get a sundae? If you get a touchback..do you win a Big Mac? PLEASE STOP ME!!!

40 years (GASP) ago..I was playing on this same field. If you scan the numbers on the field..you won't see the number #56..my number. 10 years after I got out of school..they retired my number. That's what happens when you catch 33 touchdown passes in 2 years. Nothing quite like crossing the goal line. TOUCHDOWN MACDONALDS!!!

My old team was holding their own. As a fair-weather fan..I left at half-time. The score was tied 7 to 7. It was 40 degrees out, and I went without gloves. I hope they can pull it off. I'll have to watch the local news at 11:00.

Just a joke about the retired number. (A guy can dream..can't he?) I did start one game in my senior year. It was an awful rainy night..so we didn't throw the ball much. One ball was thrown my way..and it sailed 5-6 feet over my head. The only good thing was coming back from a 14-0 halftime score..to win 28-14. One of their players got so frustrated that he grabbed my face-mask, and threw me to the ground..face first. A face full of mud. I tattled to the ref..and on the next play..he did it again. 15 yards and a first down. YES! I still remember his name, and if I ever see him again..I'm going to sucker punch him, and see if he can catch me. Maybe my marathon legs will return.