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We had our next-to-last game Monday night and we only had 8 kids, so there were no subs and we were missing 2 key players.

Nonetheless, the Falcons looked great and, if anyone were keeping score (which we weren't), BG would have come out on top.

One Marshall player - yes, Marshall - was whining that Noah kept holding him (and his coach was echoing the sentiment) and was pushing Noah. Now, Noah is a pretty emotional boy and he started to tear up - "I didn't do anything wrong." I gave him a big hug and told that he hadn't done anything wrong and to just make sure he kept his hands open next time. He was still wiping away tears when we lined up for the next play. At the snap, he extended his arms, palms flat and just pushed the Marshall kid off his feet. The kid flew back about three feet and landed flat on his back. The opposing coach looked at me, picked his player off the ground and dusted him off. "Well, he didn't hold you that time, did he?" was all his coach said.

Other classic moment: Setup - Noah didn't get the ball at all Saturday (long story) so I promised him that he'd get it twice Monday. Well, a lot of our plays were blowing up in the backfield and, long story short, he barely got the ball before his flag was pulled. We get to the 2-yard-line on one drive and I put Noah at QB. The game was getting a bit physical by this time and there always seems to be a lot of grabbing and pulling near the end zone. So in the huddle, I tell Noah just to get the snap and run up the middle. "Just like Omar, Dad?" Yup, just like Omar.

He gets the ball and two kids immediately grab his jersey - not the flags, his jersey - and he proceeds to drag them into the end zone. Noah looks down at them and says, quite calmly, "Next time, try grabbing the flag."

We're off until the 27th. Just one game left. I'll be so sad when the season ends.

1987alum wrote:At the snap, he extended his arms, palms flat and just pushed the Marshall kid off his feet. The kid flew back about three feet and landed flat on his back. The opposing coach looked at me, picked his player off the ground and dusted him off. "Well, he didn't hold you that time, did he?" was all his coach said.

That's hilarious!

1987alum wrote:He gets the ball and two kids immediately grab his jersey - not the flags, his jersey - and he proceeds to drag them into the end zone. Noah looks down at them and says, quite calmly, "Next time, try grabbing the flag."

PRICELESS!

Heck, if you lived closer I might actually go and watch one of these games! Every post you make about them seems like the games are hilarious and fun! I can't imagine watching some of this stuff happen but then again I never played football at that age...

FWIW, there is a flag football program in BG. They play Saturday afternoons outside the East side of the Doyt. Two age groups, fifth and sixth graders and then second, third and fourth graders. My son played last year and I helped coach. It really was a lot of fun. I think they will still be playing next week. So if you are out tailgating early, you could stop and check it out.

I didn't coach Noah's team last year (we missed most of the season because of vacation) and I'm amazed at the difference in perspective. In baseball and basketball, parents are close enough to the game to get a sense for what's going on between players and players & coaches. On a football field, I'm privvy to so much more. Coaching is fun, but just being on the field with the boys is entertaining in its own right.

Warthog wrote:FWIW, there is a flag football program in BG. They play Saturday afternoons outside the East side of the Doyt. Two age groups, fifth and sixth graders and then second, third and fourth graders. My son played last year and I helped coach. It really was a lot of fun. I think they will still be playing next week. So if you are out tailgating early, you could stop and check it out.

My Saturday's are shot when there are home games! Marching band practice starts early in the morning