Good Morning America; It's Friday! Game Day!!
Friday is my Favorite Day!!!

The playoff excitement is gearing up across the land as teams strive to get farther down the path to the Championship.

It is a beautiful day for the playoffs here in the Northwest.

The Rangers are hosting a second round playoff game here in Estacada. Should be interesting.

I will not be able to go as I have a Certification Clinic in Southern Oregon in the AM and out here states are bigger than many back east and it is a 6-7 hour drive. That means I would leave a midnight, drive all night to be able to get started in the AM. Over the Hill guys like me do not do things like that anymore.

Interestingly . . . I will go to the North Valley Knights game tonight since it is on the way. I coached the Knights to a State Championship in 1984. The Head Coach of the team now played Fullback on that team - 24 years ago . . .

Here's the story: we were rolling along with one loss to a non conference, larger class team upsetting people along the way because no one thought with a new coach and the graduating class, could the team get it together for another run in 84. Everyone was saying you may be doing well now, BUT wait till you have to go to Henley and play there. You have never been homered like you can get homered in Henley (and they were the favorites to win it all).

Long story short, yes, we did get homered . . . but late in the game with time running out, we ran a "747" pass and scored, barely according to the official to tie the game and Todd Williman, the FB, went on to the field to kick the extra point to put the Knights ahead, in first place, League Champions, and top seed for the playoffs. The snap, the hold, it's up, it's GOOD! The fans and team go wild. Massive dogpile on the field. The lights are not too good there. Right after the goal posts it gets really dark in a hurry. The ball disappeared into the darkness and was never recovered. Legend has it that it is still sailing over the school in the distance.

Maybe not.

But we never did find the ball.

This is what you are in the business of . . . creating lifetime memories for the kids you coach. They will never forget. . . . and neither will you.

I have another story to tell . . . but no time for it this AM.

Final FreebNote: If the Rangers and Knights both win tonight . . . they would play each other next week in a third round game. Wouldn't that be interesting?

I would love to go to that game . . . but I will be in Ohio on business.

Be11!

RF