Just like the big guys

Fourth in a series

As an early morning wind drops the temperature into the 50s on a clear, October Saturday, fans filter into the stands at Lexington's McMeans Stadium, ready to cheer their favorite team to victory.

These fans aren't here to see the varsity version of the Golden Bears continue their journey toward a state football championship.

Instead, they have piled into the stands to watch their sons, nephews and grandsons take on the Wilson Warriors in what has become an annual rite of passage for children all across the country: youth league football.

"We are in Alabama in the fall and it's Saturday, so we are going to be playing football," said Wilson youth football president Lance Delia. "There is no better way to spend your day than watching these kids go out there and play the game they love. It's something special."

Often reserved for watching Alabama and Auburn claw through the dogfight that is the Southeastern Conference, fans at McMeans Stadium insist there is something more special about braving the cold to watch their young athletes in action on Saturday mornings.

Christy Blasingame, whose son Jacob plays for the Wilson mini-midgets (7-8 years old), said youth football offers a pure escape from the ever-evolving circus that is college and professional football.

"These boys come out to play because they love the game," she said. "When you are 7 or 8 years old you aren't worried about scholarships or fame or money, just playing football. It is really nice to see the sport in its purest form. There is nothing else quite like it."

Likewise, Mary Ellen Smith, whose nephew plays for the Lexington micro-midgets (4-6 years old), said the youth games offer a level of entertainment not found anywhere else.

"Where else can you go to see a 4-year-old running around in football pads that are three times bigger than his body," she said. "They all want to act tough in front of their friends and family, but they are just precious when they are out there. I would choose being out here over watching the big guys on television any day."

Make no mistake, though, this is where the game's future stars begin their journey.

"It's something that's always been there. I think it's placed there by The Man Up Above," said Auburn running backs coach Curtis Luper. "My earliest memory, I wanted to play football. You heard Tiger Woods say, when he was like 3, 'When I get older, I want to play the big boys and break Jack Nicklaus' records.' That's something that was there for him at an early age. It was there for most of us. I can only remember wanting to be a running back and wanting to play professional football. I don't know where that came from. It was always there."

Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher credits youth league football for getting him started on the path to the pros.

"I was so fortunate to be exposed to this game at an early age in a youth football organization," he said. "I've really been playing ever since. I had a great high school experience with great teammates and a great high school coach. I thought that was going to be it, and then I got the opportunity to play ball at Southern Cal. But it really started at an early age."

Although there is a youthful innocence about the game, there is a decided college and pro influence on Saturdays. They might not have the jumbo-sized egos of their college and professional heroes, but according to Blasingame, at the end of the day boys will be boys.

"There are no shortage of victory celebrations after someone scores out here," she said. "Every one of these boys is a pretty big football fan, so they try to emulate what they see on television or in video games. There will be high fives or chest bumps after every big play or hard tackle, because that's what the big guys do. It really is a sight to see."

Contrary to what most would believe, it isn't the long touchdown that gets these little guys fired up.

Instead, it's the big defensive play that excites them the most.

"I really love getting to hit other people," Jacob Blasingame said. "Tackling is my favorite part of football, even more than scoring touchdowns. It's fun hitting people knowing you can't get in trouble for it."

Nearly every player on the field echoed the sentiment.

"I love trying to put a good hit on the other team," said Bryson Parrish, a member of Wilson's mini-midget team. "Every time I'm out there I want to try to make someone cry. Defense is so much more fun than offense. It's not even close."

For 6-year old Evan McDaniel, being on the football field is about more than laying big hits or scoring touchdowns.

"All of my friends are out here, and I really like playing with them," he said. "Football is really fun, but playing with my friends makes it a whole lot better."

According to Delia, who has coached the current Wilson pee wee team since the micro-midget level, McDaniel's feelings are pretty consistent with those of the other players.

"These guys keep coming back every year because they love the game, and they love their teammates," he said. "Most of these guys are in class together in school and have grown up together since they were toddlers, so they really just love being together. I won't say that football has formed all of these friendships, but it has definitely made them stronger."

Like most other kids their age, these boys don't confine themselves to just one sport. Most compete in basketball and baseball as well as football.

For most, however, football always will reign supreme.

"I want to play football for as long as I can," said 10-year old Skylar Edwards, "I like playing other sports, but I love playing football. It's the best."

It's that passion, said Delia, that makes his time on the field so worthwhile.

"As a parent or a coach you devote so much of your time to running a program so these kids can get out here and play," he said. "It is by no means an easy task, but seeing how happy these guys get when they win, or do something big, makes it worth all the trouble."

Some of the players likely will go on to star for their high school teams. A few might even end up playing for the Crimson Tide or Tigers.

One thing is for sure, however, most of them will end up steering their children in the direction of football - because football isn't just a game, it's a way of life, even on the youth league level.

Calvin Cooley is a sports writer for the TimesDaily. Contact him at 740-5748.

Sports Editor Gregg Dewalt and Auburn beat writer Luke Brietzke contributed to this story.