2019 Scrimmage: Bluff Dale at Bynum

I ended my week with a trip to Bynum to watch them scrimmage Bluff Dale. I entered a nice metal gate set back from the middle of the endzone. A few fans had already set up their lawn chairs off to one side of the endzone. I could already tell it was going to be a beautiful evening for some football. There were gentle rain clouds building and the temperature was in the 90s. Not to mention the wonderful breeze.  
 
I settled in on the visitors side to keep the sun behind me for taking pictures. A nice group had traveled in from Bluff Dale. There was even a chain gang for the scrimmage and they were selling drinks in the concession stand. The Bynum cheerleaders were out in full uniform as was their mascot a bulldog. I was very glad it wasn’t 100 plus degree day when I saw the mascot in full uniform. 
 
My youngest daughter was a mascot for a while and I can tell you she suffered through lots of things. During the speech at an outdoor homecoming pep rally she saw ants crawling inside her uniform head. She had to stay calm and finish the pep rally. I have to say that was the fastest I ever saw her get out of that uniform when she got back to the truck. Her hair also got caught in the little cooling fan inside the head once. That was the last time she used the fan. So, when you see the cute mascot just remember it’s not all butterflies and rainbows; there is a tough kid in there making it look easy.
 
As the scrimmage got under way I quickly determined that Bluff Dale had a good runner and Bynum had a kid with a great arm. It was interesting to see how each team worked to shut the other team’s key assets down. It’s fun to watch scrimmages because you are seeing the rough edges being worked out. Coaches can see their big issues quickly and know what to work on before the first real game of the season. 
 
There is always interesting conversation and activity on the sidelines. One of the chain gang had a very nice belt with lots of bling. When the sun caught it just right it was dazzling. Another kid was admiring it and asked him where he had purchased it. A kid on the bench was equating the struggle on the field with the struggle it takes for an egg to be fertilized for us to even be born, Betting that was a recent lesson in school and I couldn’t help but chuckle that it had made its way to into a relevant football example. A crew of girls were keeping everyone hydrated by making frequent trips around the field with water bottles. Luckily the weather was such that those trips weren’t as needed as they often are. The experienced referees where watching the new ones and giving them lots of pointers on how to do things. The new ones were eagerly listening knowing next week they will be on their own.
 
I visited with Coach Conner after the game. I found out where all he has coached and that he is a coaches’ son. I even got to meet his dad who had come to the scrimmage. I always enjoy hearing the stories of how people came to six-man. Did they grow up on it, did they stumble into it? Coach Conner stumbled into six-man at his first coaching job and is now part of the six-man family. He told me once you see a really good six-man game you’re in. You can tell he really loves his job when he talks about the school and community of Bynum. 
 
After my visit with Coach Conner I headed over to get an interview with Coach Ware and Coach Johnson. I impromptu decided to interview them both at the same time. They were good sports and we made it work. Some coaches love to be interviewed and others would rather dodge the limelight. I have to admit I always struggle with names of coaches and towns the minute I push the record button so I completely understand the fear. Not sure why that happens to me but it does. 
 
See you on the sidelines!
Dency