Pigskin Rants and Raves!

Hello and Happy Tuesday everyone. Hope you are surviving the week of summer...

Sunday afternoon absolutely wore me out after a lengthy walk in the early afternoon. Napping wasn't so bad an option once the errands of the day were done. Sunday felt oppressive. Monday was just...hot! Topping out at 104 was a bit much. Weatherman says we might top out at 106 today. This leads to a phenomenon I call 'Immediate Sunburn!' Confused? To wit.

In almost 12 years of southwestern summer living, when you reach this time of the year you learn a few tricks of the trade for survival. For starters if you have a leather interior may you never wear shorts! The first time you suffer this fate you'll know. Something about dry skin being peeled away from hot leather makes a for nasty mark. No fun.

Secondly it helps to have a wet towel nearby. The first time you try to touch the steering wheel it's going to burn. Five good minutes of air conditioning will alleviate that issue. It's also important to note that you wait for a good two minutes before sitting inside your vehicle. THEN you can go about going to your destination.

In this case, Monday night took me to Allen, Texas for some indoor playoff football. A Deja Vu moment if you will with a few changes.

Back in early March I was in Wrangler country for a matchup between the Allen squad and the Wichita Wild. A game won handily by the Wranglers 86-57. Terell Owens was a factor in the game.

Darius Fudge and Ramonce Taylor also had big games. Packed house at Allen Events Center that March night. Not so on Monday night.

In what was to be the best game of the year the Wichita Wild would come from behind to beat a determined Allen team with 19 seconds to go 43-40. David Knighton had a chance to lead the Wranglers to a field goal and a possible score only to be picked off at the goal line.

Ramonce Taylor was the main cog for Allen in a well played game. Rushing not an option against the Wild. They had a quarterback who proved to be too difficult to defend against. Marcus Jackson made many of the 1,000 in attendance think about a young Donovan McNabb with his arm and his legs. The Wild at times outplayed Allen and in the end it was to their favor.

In a year where a star Cowboy player was released and a coaching change was made, kudos to the Allen Wranglers for a sucessful 9-5 season. Lots of great things to look forward to in 2012-2013 if you like IFL Football. 

My thanks to Brittney Wynn, Tommy Benizzio, Jon Frankel, Drew Pearson, and to play by play voice Sonny Clark for their insights, assistance, and access. I had alot of fun covering this team in 2012. The time between now and training camp is a mere month away. One year removed from a lockout I look forward to follow the ebb and flow of a training camp leading up to September 5th when the Giants and Cowboys lace em up and pound the pads.

Make it a great day!

Over and out in Big D.

Mr. Will