Page 81 - Life's Outtakes 13

became the new kickoff person.

I mostly loved to kick off, but there

was one thing I hated about it. Our head

coach, Coach Dale, said I had to stay

back and be the last defender. From

playing in my other position, I was used

to going quickly down the field, usually

getting in on the tackle. As the kicker, I

had an even better chance of getting in

on the tackle because I was at the front, I

was going full steam, and I also knew

where I was aiming the kick.

We were doing our first kickoff in

the second game after I became the

kicker, when I forgot Coach Dale’s

admonition. I kicked the ball into the

end zone, and by the time the ball carrier