Manson's Memo - six man football

Football season is upon us. It's not as big a thing here as it is in some parts of the country. Texas is famous for its high school football frenzy. When I was in Texas I officiated football games. There are definite parallels to religion when you go to Texas high school football games.

A couple times each year I'd be assigned to call a six man football game. Most people know nothing about six man football. Six man is for schools that aren't big enough to field a regular football team. These are mostly rural schools, but now some small private schools are playing six man. There are various rules differences including the size of the field, and yards needed for a first down. It is a very wide open game (there aren't many players on the field so there's lots of room to run.) It was fun to watch (although it involved a lot more running for officials), and sometimes we got done early because there is a mercy rule (a team ahead by 45 points after the first half wins).

Earlier this year I read a book, Where Dreams Die Hard by Carlton Stowers, that followed a six man team through its season. It reminded me of what those games were like. Some officials really didn't like to go to six man games (we got paid according to the gate, so such small schools would mean small pay). But I liked the change. And I treated the games as important as I did the NAIA national playoff games that I worked on the side lines.

These are not players that dream of careers in the NFL (except for Jack Pardee who played in Christoval before being All American and All Pro.) They only want to do well with the chance they have -- to represent their school and their families and their community. Their mission isn't a scholarship or endorsements, it's just to do what they can do.

We aren't all called to be stars. We are all called to do what we can do.