Flag football: The end is here

[1987alum]

With a tear in my eye, I must admit that it's over.

Your Philly Flag Falcons went out in a blaze of glory Wednesday night.

My favorite highlights: Penn State eats up almost the entire first half with a long TD drive. We return the ensuing kickoff for a TD. Sweet.

On the first drive of the second half we try a pretty complicated trick play that blows up, then Noah runs our patented reverse for 50 yards (that was actually part of the mere four minutes of video I managed to shoot - a keeper!). A quick "bubble screen" (read: lateral pass) and we're in the end zone again.

Here's what I really enjoyed about the evening, though ...

Twice one of our players got teary-eyed after taking a shot (once when he went totally horizontal to make a TD-saving "tackle") and had to be walked off by my assistant. Both times his teammates made sure he was OK and Noah walked off the field with him, holding his hand.

Every time we got in the end zone (TD or conversion) the kids acted as if they'd scored in the National Championship Game and mobbed each other. I'm sure we would have been flagged for several excessive celebrations.

I had a little surprise for the kids, too. The Alumni Association sent out a box of those plastic megaphones and pom-poms they always have at games. The parents got them at halftime. After the game, we did our AZZ cheer and I had the boys walk off hand-in-hand toward the sideline as the parents gave them a real loud Orange standing ovation. The kids were mesmerized.

Noah actually cried after the game because he was so sad to see the season end. I told him I wanted to cry, too.

Awards this weekend and the kids we'll get to see the AZZ.com ad congratulating them on their season. I can't wait to see the looks on their faces. There are 10 more BGSU fans than there were at the beginning of the season!

[Falcon Fanatic]

Thanks for your stories. I found them very heartwarming and wonderful to read!! I love it that both the little kids AND the big kids had fun!!!! Tell them congratulations and that we here at AZZ are very proud that they carried the Falcon name so well!!!!

[BGSUfanatUT]

definatly a highlight of the football board. Always put a smile on my face and made me laugh. GReat stories, and it sounds like many more to come.

[1987alum]

Parents from other teams took notice of the orange trinkets, too, and when they found out our alumni association sent them out, I think it made a very positive impression on a lot of people. A number of people have been made aware of the university this season!

I think they'll get a kick out of seeing the AZZ.com ad congratulating them.

Forgot to mention ... when we ran the reverse it was great to hear the Penn State coaches trying to follow the play ... Brad (QB) goes right, gives to Ryan (RB) going left. Coaches start moving in Brad's direction, then start backpedaling, shouting "Reverse! Reverse!" Noah plays it perfectly. Standing statue-still until Ryan gets the ball, then zooming right and turning upfield. The Penn State coaches start backpedaling again "DOUBLE reverse! DOUBLE reverse!" After Noah was finally stopped, they just looked at me. "Double reverse?"

Of course, I didn't take the time to explain that, no, it wasn't a double reverse, because that detail didn't seem too important.