Senior Paul "Tacky" Middlekauff gets ready to set the ball at the line of scrimmage Thursday at the intramural championship when the seniors handed the Faculty and Staff their first loss of the year. Triangle photo by Jordan Pilgrim.
Ericka Simpson
Staff Writer
A blustery day met the two teams of men who gathered on the practice field to fight for the Bryan Intramural Flag Football Championship title on Dec. 10. The game was epic as the seniors pummeled the faculty and staff 15-6.
The intramural football teams played six or seven regular season games this season, according to Jerri Morgan head of intramural sports. Going into the tournament, the faculty and staff were 6-0, juniors 4-2, seniors 4-3, sophomores 2-4 and freshmen 0-6.
The tournament began on Nov. 30 with the sophomores playing the freshmen, and the seniors playing the juniors. The sophomores won and advanced to play the faculty and staff on Dec. 2.
Whilethe sophomores lost to the faculty and staff 28-18, they did better than they expected, according to sophomore Vincent Smith. They worked well together but did not make plays when they could have. Smith said he enjoys playing intramural sports because it creates a better bond with the faculty and staff in the classroom.
“It’s always interesting watching your Bible professor, Dr. Turner, lie on the field,” Smith said.
The seniors defeated the juniors 26-22 and advanced to the finals against the faculty and staff on Dec. 10.
The unbeaten faculty and staff team had high hopes going into the game, according to Resident Director Tim Shetter, who plays center.
“We play together every year and have an easier time with team chemistry,” Shetter said.
He said the faculty and staff were missing two players who generally come up with the game plan. One player missing was Exercise and Health Science instructor Danny Ruehling, who serves as the team’s quarterback and calls the plays in the huddle.
“The key is a decent defense,” Shetter said.
The two best teams this year played in the final game of the year, according to Shetter, and the seniors played a good game.
Even though the faculty and staff would have liked to win, he said that the game is about connecting with the students outside of the classroom.
“Intramurals is a great venue for people to connect and build community,” Shetter said. “And it brings all parts of the school together.”
He said that the faculty and staff are competitive, so it is hard for them to lose.
“We hope to set an example for the students, but we can lose are tempers too,” he said. “And it helps students realize that we aren’t perfect either.”
Sports help level the playing field between students and faculty, according to Shetter. Both sides are competitive and want to win.
Smith said that it shows the true side of the faculty.
“They are just big kids,” he said.
After losing to the seniors in football, Shetter said that he is excited for intramural basketball to start. He said that the faculty and staff have a strong core of players who are ready to get on the court.
“We are planning on dominating in basketball!” Shetter said.
Tags: Ken Turner, Tim Shetter, Vincent Smith
