Six Man Football

   
   "Six Man Football"
  
   They say it's still big up in Montana; anyway, my family knew this shy child, him not even able to speak until he was at the age of four; moreover, once he learned the gift of language, he didn't use it much.  So, when he put on the pads in the fourth grade, playing on dirt fields in Arkansas, where it was half African-American and half Hillbilly-American, they were astonished at his mercurial speed and skill.
   The kid was All-County Quarterback that year, scrambling continually, and running back the kick-offs--nobody could touch him, mostly.  He once had three touchdowns in a game.  And it was Iron Man football; as a result, he played Safety.  Still remembers the words of his Coach:  "Boys, it's a crispy Autumn night, and I want you to go through the other team like a hot knife through butter."
   When this anti-social punk made it to Junior High, they said he was too short to play QB; hence, the coaches put him on the corner.  All they did in Junior High was run the option.  His Defensive End always stumbled, and his job was to be blocked to the outside and let the Safety do his thing; however, the agile Cornerback didn't listen, dodging until leading with his helmet, and had an interception every game that year; thus, they let him return kicks, mostly due to his swift forty and vertical leaping ability.
   He soon became the Captain of the Defense, called the plays, returned kicks, played QB when they needed to run the option, and knocked himself out twice in one game before the Razorback Great, Kevin Scanlon lifted him up into a state of consciousness.
   Into High School with all the social aspects of the locker room, he wanted no part; still, made Special Teams, and fractured two bones.
   Yet nothing could match his Dad.  Pennsylvania's little tank.  Cigarette burns under hypnosis in the locker room for fuel; next, running it down their throats in College Ball like John Riggins.