Did we hijack this thread or what?!
Evan "wild man" Real1 - huh? seems to flow nice! It was called "rover" when I started playing it, and we also started calling it "monster back". Great position though! For some reason, I just liked running with the ball a little more than hitting people (but it was close!). I think it was more because of the so called "glory" you got playing offense. The next day, people seemed to remember the TD's more than any hits you made during the game. If I had to do it all over though...........?
I remember Cliff Harris! That boy would hit you! My "guys" were Jack Lambert and Walter Payton. Wore 34 in HS no matter what sport / season it was (except my fresh year I wore 6 in basketball....for Dr J !).
I was considered a "rare breed"........I was white / and quick! I ran a 4.3 in pads and that enabled me to run away from most tackles in HS. College though, they know how to play as a "team" on defense and it was hard to break away for big gains. My freshman year Coach Bruce decided to get away from a "finesse" type team and go to a powerhouse backfield with guys that could run over people. Wish he would have told me that before I signed on! I was 6'0 195. We had a guy named Keith Byars that would flat out run you over if you were in his way! He was 6'1 235. 'Nuff said! They tried to get me to play reciever but we had a pretty good one already that got mad if you didn't throw the ball to him (Chris Carter). Hey, he could play, so I didn't argue. I started to "beef up" because I wanted to play TB when Byars left (he was older) and got up to 210. Coach got mad because he wanted to start playing me at DB! Plus the extra weight wasn't good for me during Track season. I was "quick" but wasn't considered "fast" by track standards (9.7 100). I ran the 60 in college (didn't have that in HS) and finished a whisker behind Willie Gault (Chicago Bears) in an '83 indoor meet. He was older (I think he was a Sr) and we talked the rest of the meet. He watched me compete in the long jump and we were supposed to run against eachother in the 440 relay but he pulled a hamstring in his hurdles race and had to scratch in the relay. That boy could FLY! He called me "white lightning" which I took as a compliment coming from him! He would have smoked me in the 100 though, he had that "extra gear" that real "track guys" have. I'd keep up with most for 60 - 70 yards, but after that the real sprinters in college would pull away.
A lot of memories and I got to play ball with a ton of great guys (HS and College). Never got to play DB though because of my shin. Still have the x-rays from the hospital!
Now I play in a flag football league on Saturdays! Yipeee! Actually, it's pretty competitive; we have some former N. Western and Illinois grads that play along with a lot of MAC school grads. It's fun but I'm getting to be one of the oldest guys out there and the wife is telling me to "give it up old man!". I'll stick with softball and the church Basketball league next year. Sucks getting old!
Hope to meet up with you at DVSFIII ! Have a few beers and talk trash about the good old days!
