My First Year Photographing High School Football

            High School Football is finished for the season here in Columbus. Before this year I have never photographed football before. I must admit I actually fell in love with it. It brought back memories of my only year playing football. Looking at me now people wouldn't believe that I was a scrawny little guy trying to play wide receiver at San Pedro High School. I only played one game as we were trouncing Narbonne High. I remember the crowd that night at Daniel's Field; loud and crazy. All of a sudden I heard my coach yell "Brent, get in there!" He gave me the play and I ran out on that field as fast as I could. I made it to the huddle and I gave them the play. The huddle was broken and I went to the line. All of a sudden I heard the back up quarterback yell "Brent! Your on the wrong side!"
             To my utter horror I looked to the sidelines and my Coach was frantically pointing to the other side. I faked it and ran the motion. The play called for me to block the defensive back that was covering me. I don't remember hitting him and leveling him, but that guy wasn't going to get passed me and he didn't. When I got back to the sideline the starting quarterback grilled me, "What are you doing, Clark!" he thundered.
             "Having fun." I replied. The interesting thing is that I got a chance to play the rest off the game. I never caught a pass or scored a touchdown that night. I didn't care. I was on that field and for one night I felt like I was a part of that team. You see, I was the worst player on that football team. There were guys that hated my guts just because I was there. They hit me, and hit me they did. Some tried to injure me. Hey I was the 6'1 135 lb. kid with long hair of course the were going to stick me. I just came back for more every time they slammed me to the ground and talked trash. The point is I never gave up even though everyday it was the same thing. Finally, that night I got a chance to play.
            The first night I shot football brought back those memories. When I was playing, I was that kid on the sidelines wishing I was fast enough, strong enough, athletic enough. As a man years later, I was still on the sidelines photographing the game thanking God for the opportunity to do this, a talent that was being developed. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you my first year photographing High School Football.