Goal Line Stand

A while back I posted a blog about "Lucky or Good" in which I related a story about my sophomore year in football. I was put in at linebacker, a position I'd never played nor practiced and made a couple of good plays. Was I lucky or good? Well, the following year, against the same team, I had another lucky or good episode. But this one is even better. Yes, it's a true story too, although you may have your doubts. But I guarantee, it's the truth.

The year was 1967, I was a junior on the varsity football team and once again we just happened to be playing the Spalding Irish at Peoria Public Schools Stadium. I had been having a pretty good game at halfback in passing situations because I was a good pass protector. I had a great cut block. (illegal today in high school ball) I had only carried the ball a couple of times for short yardage. Anyway, Spalding was whipping us pretty good as always and the game was winding down to the last minute with Spalding on our three yard line ready to score again. Spalding went 10-0 that year and was coached by the great Merv Haycock. Coach Traficano, our head coach, was pretty frustrated and turned around looking at all of us guys on the sideline yelling, "Does ANYONE want to play?" He looked square at me and yelled, "Grant - you do! Get in there at left tackle!" Without a word I obeyed my coach and headed toward the huddle.

I've said before, I was small. How small? Well, by my junior year I had "grown" to about 5'5" and weighed 128 pounds. That's not exactly defensive tackle prototype. I was in fact, THE smallest player in the conference. As I ran out onto the field I was thinking, "D tackle - where do I line up?" I got to the huddle and announced I was in at left D tackle. A player left the huddle, I don't even remember who it was. I knew I was on the line, but beyond that I wasn't sure where to go. "Where do I line up?" I yelled. As Spalding broke the huddle my teammates helped me with my alignment. I was in a three point stance directly in front of a 190 pound guard. He looked 265 but I know he wasn't. The quarterback started his cadence and as I looked at him to my right I couldn't help but notice Spalding had very wide splits and there was nothing separating the QB from me but about four feet of open space. I couldn't believe I was so close to him. In a split second I decided I was going to shoot the inside gap and crush that QB! The ball was snapped; I shot the A gap so quick the guard missed me and I was in free. The QB reversed out and booted to his right. Now he was to my left. I had shot the gap so quickly that I overran him. "Oh no, I missed him", was my thought. I planted my right foot quickly and rerouted to my left and reached desperately with my left hand. As I was diving I got my left arm around his thighs, wrapped my other arm around his legs and brought him down for a two yard loss. Whew! I barely recovered. My teammates were pattin' me on the back congratulating me. But I had learned my lesson. I was NOT going to shoot the gap again. On the second play they came right at me, probably expecting me to shoot the A gap again. They didn't even block me as the right guard veered to my left. They ran a dive play right at me and I made the tackle on the line of scrimmage. All the guys were slapping me on the back as they pulled me to my feet. I had practically single handed made a goal line stand but they NEVER blocked me. Heck, I should have made those plays.

The game was over and I was headed toward the locker room when I heard a voice behind me. "Grant!" I turned and looked. It was Coach Traficano. He had a little smile and put his hand on my shoulder. "Nice job", he said as we continued toward the locker room, "Thanks Coach".

Now I ask you, was I lucky or good? Let me know. Chiefpigskin.com

Toiling In Obscurity

By now some of you parents may have noticed that the atmosphere at the lower levels of the high school football team is pretty laid back. Whatever your school calls it - Junior Varsity, Freshman, Sophomore, or Frosh/Soph, the lower levels simply don't get the same treatment as the varsity. In fact, they got more attention in Youth Football! I don't think it's that tough on the kids, but tough on the parents. There are no cheerleaders, fanfare, announcers, band, or crowd. Just the game. Some parents may feel their sons are getting the short end of the stick, that they deserve more attention. After all, aren't they part of the team? Didn't they put in work over the summer and weight train just as hard? Well, I would submit that this low profile approach might actually serve as motivation and could have other benefits as well.

Looking back to my high school days I remember we played our freshmen and sophomore games on our practice field at Woodruff High School in Peoria, IL. This field was about fifty percent grass, forty percent hard dirt, and ten percent cinders. An old cinder track that the track team used for practice encircled the field. The more cinders we threw off the field the more showed up by the next practice or game. There were no bleachers, no P.A. announcer, no scoreboard, and no band or cheerleaders. I can still see my Dad walking the sidelines right next to the team. That's what the fans did, just stood along the sidelines next to the team. But you know what? We didn't care. Heck, we'd have played on bricks if we had to. We just wanted to play football and I knew that when I played varsity I would get to play at Peoria Public Schools Stadium. "The Stadium" as we called it had the lushest grass, brightest scoreboard, prettiest cheerleaders, biggest crowds, and best doggone P.A. system in the country. (At least that's how I remember it). It had two large bleacher sections, one on each side, and one had a roof. The end of the stadium that had the scoreboard was lined with pine trees. It was and still is a pretty stadium. It motivated me to work hard so I could play varsity someday. But if I'd had to I still would have played varsity ball on the old practice field.

There was no pressure in those JV games, we just had fun. We were playing football and that's all that mattered. It kept us humble and made us realize we had to pay our dues like the juniors and seniors had. A lot more due paying than one summer of work. Did we desrve to have our names called out like the varsity on the loudspeaker? Maybe. But heck, with all the noise out there and the wind whistling through the ear holes of my helmet I never heard a P.A. announcer while I was playing in my life. I was into the game. And admit it parents, when your son's name is called out on the loudspeaker for a great play, it's not for his ears, it's for yours. YOU want to hear his name.

Many years later I attended a JV college game that my son was playing in. The scoreboard was on but that was it. Colleges don't play many JV games and I was just thankful he was getting a chance to play. He played well that night, caught several balls from his wide receiver position and had a lot of fun. It never occured to me to be upset that this game wasn't getting the same treatment as a varsity college game.

So, my advice is don't worry about the extras, his day is coming. The coaches don't worry about it and neither do the players. Just relax and enjoy those freshmen and sophomore games. They're learning how to be varsity players, and that's what counts.

Chiefpigskin.com

Me and Uncle Bill

My uncle Bill passed away about a year ago; he was only about 68 but had been in failing health for a couple of years. At his funeral I couldn’t help but think back about all the time we had spent together. I was pretty close to all my uncles but probably closer to my uncle Bill than any of the others. He was a good guy, very patient, kind and generous. I used to go squirrel hunting with my Dad and uncles and sometimes I’d tag along and hunt with Dad and sometimes I’d tag along with Uncle Bill. He was always willing to take me along. But our favorite activity to do together was to go to a high school football game every weekend. Starting when I was about 11 or 12 we would pick out the local game that we thought would be the best and then we’d go. We saw some great games over the years but the one that stands out the most took place on Friday night November 5, 1965 at Peoria Public Schools Stadium in Peoria, IL.

Spalding, the city of Peoria’s catholic high school of about 900 students and tough every year, came into the game at 7-0 and was coached by feisty, little Merv Haycock. Pekin, a nearby community of about 30,000, coached by veteran Joe Venturi, also came in at 7-0. Pekin had roughly 3,000 students. They were tied for the conference lead and this game figured to determine the champ. There were no playoffs in those days so winning the conference championship was the ultimate goal of every team. Pekin was a big strong team with talented skill players. Probably their best team ever. Spalding was smaller, quicker, and although undefeated also, the underdog. This game had been anticipated for the past month by the entire Peoria area. Uncle Bill and I knew which game we were going to that weekend.

The game started at 8 p.m. and we knew we had to get there early. Peoria Stadium held about 7,000 people and we figured it would be a full house. By 5 p.m. about 200 persons were waiting outside the ticket windows, which opened at 6:30. That’s when we got there. The stadium was already half full but we got a decent seat. By 7 p.m. it was full, but the crowd kept pouring in. It was a calm, cool night, perfect for football. By 7:30 there was a thick haze that hung over the field like a heavy fog. It was cigarette smoke! Heck, everybody back in those days smoked and there were no restrictions as to where smoking was allowed. I had never witnessed such a site in my life nor have I since. Finally, in front of an overflow crowd of 10,100 the game started at 8. I was pumped.

Spalding struck for a touchdown on the second play from scrimmage, an electrifying 62 yard pass play from QB Dick McQuellon to halfback Bob Beckman. As the clock showed 10:42 to play in the first period Beckman kicked the extra point through. Spalding had another first quarter assault underway after forcing a Pekin punt, moving from their own 32 to the Pekin 16. Pekin’s defense toughened up and stopped them cold. Pekin came back to tie the score in the second quarter, Steve Tumilty climaxing an 80 yard drive with a one yard plunge. Dennis Hurley kicked the extra point and with 4:16 to go in the second quarter it was tied 7-7. That’s how the half ended. The game was living up to its billing.

The second half was dominated by Pekin as Spalding rarely got the ball. Pekin played ball control and was able to move the ball well. Their best drive came at the end of the third quarter when they got the ball on their own 3 yard line after a 63 yard Spalding punt. As the quarter changed Pekin moved from their own 3 to the Spalding 8 before stalling at that point. Spalding was held to a three and out and punted out to the 40. There were 4 ½ minutes to play. After trading turnovers, a fumble and an interception, Pekin had one last chance. They reached midfield and ended with a swing pass to the flat. The headline the next morning of the Peoria Journal Star read:

Spalding 7, Pekin 7 in Thriller
Beckman, Tumilty Score
As 10,000 See Game

We couldn’t believe it. A tie. We drove home talking about the game. Uncle Bill figured Pekin outplayed them but Spalding held when they had to. Both teams went on to finish 9-0-1 and shared the conference title. There were no playoffs in those days so when the season was over that was it. By the way, could one of the teams gone for two after their touchdown? Nope. That was before high school had the two point conversion. You could run or pass it in but you still only got one point. We saw a lot of games, my uncle and me, but that one was the best. Thanks once again to www.chiefpigskin.com for providing a place for my stories and more football news. Happy Thanksgiving.