Tackled by a Mud Puddle!

By Terry Futrell

As I sit here near the close of the TSSAA dead period thinking about the ramp-up in intensity as we approach the upcoming high school football season, I am reminded of the time when I was once tackled by a mud puddle while playing intramural football at the University of Tennessee.

I never played football in high school, only basketball. I was always really skinny, at least in those days, and high school football was out of the question for a 6-1, 120-pound weakling. But by early in my sophomore year of college, I had ramped up to about 150 pounds through weight training in my PE classes. When the opportunity came to play intramural touch football, I was all in.

Living in Hess Hall on the UT campus, our intramural program included teams from each floor of each section of the dorm – there were more than 30 teams in the league. We had our own shirts made, gold with red trim and a big K-1 on the front, signifying the first floor of K-section. Several of the guys on our team were good athletes and had played high school football – they just weren’t good enough to play at the college level. For me, it was an honor to be a part of the team, even though I played very little.

As the season drew to a close, we had one last game with the championship on the line. We trailed when I went into the game at wide receiver. My number was called and I caught a long pass running down the left sideline. I had about three steps on the defender and there was nothing between me and goal line, or so I thought. You see, it had rained the night before and there was a large shallow mud puddle directly ahead of me.

I was so focused on the goal line and already feeling the glory of my upcoming touchdown that I failed to see the mud puddle in time to avoid it. Suddenly, my glory turned to despair as my feet flew out from under me and I slid along the turf on my stomach. I then realized how Mudville’s Casey at the Bat must have felt when he struck out in Thayer’s famous poem.

I have relived that moment many times over the past 54 years, seeking to answer “what if?” What if I had seen the mud puddle and moved around it? Could I have juked the defender and still made it to the goal line? But, those what-ifs would only have been relevant as I was running toward the goal line. Sadly, it is too late for any action on my part to change the outcome of a past game. I was so focused on the goal line that I failed to see or understand the intermediate steps required to get there.

I still have my K-1 shirt. Both of my daughters used it as a nightgown when they were small, so it is really tattered. The shirt still serves as a reminder to me of a past failure.

So, what does this have to do with high school football? Actually, quite a lot, I think. High schools in our area have had modest success in reaching the playoffs and in sending players on to play collegiate football. But I’m sure that many other players have had their dreams shattered by failing to achieve either of these goals. How can a high school football player maximize their chances of success?

Obviously, the process begins with a goal – the burning desire to achieve success and perhaps to play collegiate football. But, unlike my feeble attempt in intramural football, there are a number of intermediate steps that must be pursued with the same level of passion. Steps like diligently working in the weight room, eating the right foods, getting the right amount of rest and sleep, practicing with intensity and discipline,  and following every bit of guidance provided by the coaches. Oh, and dare I say hitting the books in the classroom? The list goes on and on …

Yes, goals are essential, but it is a disciplined approach that allows one to achieve those goals. For all of the young men who will soon begin their 2019 football season in earnest, I urge you to give the game your all in every aspect of preparation and disciplined execution. May you never be tackled by a mud puddle!