Where Would You Sit?

When there's a pause in the action on the field I turn my camera on the fans.  I love Outlaws fans.  I often just print close-ups of fans.  Giving them a few moments of fame on this blog. 

Recently, being a philosopher at heart, I got to thinking as I viewed my fan photos.   I wondered if money were no object, if I could sit whereever I wished, where would I sit?  Ordinarily tickets to games include an assigned seat.  I attended a UT game a few years ago.  My assigned seat was way high up there.  At first I was disappointed.  Then I realized the perspective gave me a view of the entire field.  I saw a UT receiver catch a pass about ten yards beyond the line of scrimmage and I knew it would go for a touchdown because I could see the entire field and no defender was anywhere close to the receiver.

If I weren't assigned a seat, where would I sit?

When I go to Outlaws games to shoot pictures, I stay on the sidelines. The goal is to get close up shots of the action.  But that perspective isn't very good for viewing the game.  To paraphrase an old saying, I can't see the game for the players. 

If I were attending the game just as a spectator, where would I sit? 

Someplace in the middle of the bleachers?  I'm big and I love having space.  The fan in the photo below isn't big but she has lots of space.  I'd like that.

Would I sit in the middle someplace?  I'd like having all that space.

Would I sit at the top?  Remembering my remarkable view at the UT game, the view from the top is cool.  Now I'm unlikely to select this because to view from the top you have to climb a lot of stairs.  Hauling my large self up a lot of stairs might be good exercise but I wouldn't be so large if I liked exercise.  It would be different if I were attending a University of Michigan game.  There you enter their stadium at the top and walk down to the closer seats.  I don't mind walking down but everything that goes down must come up and that would be exercise and I don't much like exercise.

How about the very top row?  The problem is you have to climb
all those stairs to get there.

Or would I get as close to the field as possible, sitting right on the front edge of the bleachers?

I should know the name of Shadana's daughter.  I've known
her since she was very little.  But my memory for names
just doesn't work very well.

Would I sit with just a couple close friends?  One of these fans has a little dog. 

Three friends enjoying the game together. 

Or would I sit with a bunch of friends?

A group of friends. 

I've admitted before I'm kind of shy and kind of a loner.  It is very likely I'd be someplace all by myself.  If I need company I can phone home on my IPhone.

This could be me.  I'm a loner.  I like space and privacy.  He's got both.

One thing I'd consider is whether to sit on the sunny side or the shady side.  The sunny side has a nice sound to it, like the old song "Keep Your Sunny Side Up."  But in Texas the sunny side has other implications.  Hot.  Sunburn.  I hope the fans in the photo below wore sunscreen.  I wonder if their sunscreen had that coconut smell?  My wife likes visiting the coast and lazing on the beach.  We haven't had much time to do that in the past few years so sometimes she'll smear on a little sunscreen so the special delicious smell will remind her of days relaxing on South Padre Island.  At sporting events you tend to sit on the side of the field where your team is, without thinking sunny or shady.  The Outlaws graciously allow the visiting team the sunny side so I'm naturally on the Outlaws side which is the shady side.  But if the Outlaws were on the sunny side, which would I select?  Sit with my favorite team?  Or sit with the enemy in the shade? 

As a wannabe photographer, I always want the sun at my back because that provides the best lighting for my subjects.

Professional courtesy.  The Outlaws always allow the visitors to enjoy the sunny side of
the stadium. 

Okay, your turn.  Where would you sit?



Defense in Action

Get the ball carrier to the ground.  That's the role of the defense.  Simple.  Not easy. 

Every play begins with a wall of blockers determined to keep
the defense away from the ball carrier.  Every play becomes a
battle.  Isn't football a great game!

First you have to get to the ball carrier.  Through a wall of blockers.  Do you see any gaps in the wall above?  It is difficult to even see the ball carrier, much less find and tackle her.

I browsed my defense photos from the Mustangs game.  Did a little Photoshop magic to help see what is happening out there.  Because I'm an Outlaws fan, I selected photo sequences where the Outlaws make the tackle.   Where the wall comes tumbling down.  Or at least Outlaws find a way over, under, or through the wall...

First is a three-photo series.  Outlaws #12,  Tenea Clay, zeroes in on the Mustang running back.  Tiffany James, #41, is coming to help but won't be needed.



This looks like a difficult play because there are two
blockers closing in on #12, Tenea Clay.  She's going to
get one chance to pull the runner down.

Something difficult to see in still photos is the force of impact when a ball carrier is running one way and a defensive tackler is running the other.  In the photo below you'll see the impact spoiling a perfect shoulder-to-midsection hit.  But Clay gets a firm hold on the runner...

I'd like a lower hit, grabbing legs instead of waist.  But Tenea
gets hold of the runner and gets the job done.

...and drags her to the turf.  Not the prettiest tackle you'll ever see but it achieves the objective, stops the ball carrier.  Good job Tenea.

I think Tenea Clay must be very strong.  That isn't a perfect
grasp but she hangs on in spite of the runner trying to
pull away and the blocker trying to help.

Next is a series of three shots where Tiffany James - with red sleeves - grabs the runner from behind.  Sometimes in the jumble of players you block your own teammate.  You see another Outlaw behind the runner with Tiffany but she doesn't get hold of the runner because Tiffany is in the way.  In front of the runner is #29, Kelly Herbert, who is going to be instrumental in stopping this run.

Tiffany's left hand grabbing the runner's left arm, her right arm reaching around the middle.
#29 Kelly Herbert, eluding a large blocker and taking aim.

Next photo has Tiffany hanging on low with Kelly coming in high.  Coming from the right is #8, Ski Tejeda, who is about to collide with Mustangs #61, a large blocker.

Tiffany James slowing the runner down while Kelly Herbert is closing the deal.

In the following photo, the play is about over.  Notice that Kelly appears to have hold of the runner's face mask.  I don't know if the officials saw that.  If so, this would have been a penalty against the Outlaws. 

Tiffany has hold of the runner's legs - you can see her red sleeve and gloves.  Kelly Hebert
may be grasping the face mask.  Sure looks that way, although the camera just catches
a instant in time; it may not be a grab, just a hand passing by?

Okay, three more photos of the defense in action.  Once again Tiffany James is instrumental in the play.  Now you know Tiffany is a long time outlaw and one of my favorite people.  But I didn't just select photos because she was in on the play.  I select photos first and then notice which players are making the play.  Honest.

In the first shot Tiffany is adjusting her line of attack as the runner veers right to evade her.  Jennifer Chancellor, #11, is coming to help.

Tiffany, with red sleeves, and #11 Jennifer Chancellor, closing in on the runner.

In the shot below, Tiffany drives her shoulder into the runner midsection, just as I've taught her to do, while Jennifer grabs hold from the other side and #1 Fuller comes to help.

Tiffany and Jennifer make the grab.

In the following photo, Tiffany and Jennifer drag the runner down.  This isn't exactly how I've told her to do it.  She's on the bottom.  It is better to land on top of the runner. 

And drag the ball carrier to the turf. 

Okay, you know I didn't really give all that sage advice to Tiffany.  Or to anyone else.  I have lots of ideas about how the game should be played but I'm not a coach.  I might be good for a little Monday-night-quaterbacking but I'm no good at coaching.  Still, when viewing these photos on my photo editor, I often can see how maybe I would have done it if I'd been out there. 

Which is total nonsense.  When I was out there I was barely adequate.  That's why I'm shooting sports photos instead of retiring from a career with the Detroit Lions.

Ugly; Nice

A chess board.  Two players sit at opposite sides each with sixteen pieces, each taking one move at a time, everything out in the open for anyone to see.  Gradually, like magic, one player gains control.  I'm a pretty good chess player. Not master's level;  I don't see the entire game the way real experts do.  I win the game by winning on single moves.  Each move I make is just a little better than my opponent's move.  The accumulation of many little wins eventually gives me total control. 

Every play in a football game starts with two teams of eleven players each, lined up face to face, ostensibly equal.  Each play is eleven different contests.  Eleven offensive players trying to control eleven defensive players.  Eleven defenders determined to escape the blocks and get to the ball carrier. 

In football it all happens quickly.  They start lined up eleven versus eleven, then two or three seconds later... 

... one ball carrier is surrounded by three defenders.   

So how does that happen? 

With my 300mm lens and my Nikon camera recording the action at 2.5 frames per second, my fancy photo-editing software allowing me to zoom in and analyze things, I often see what happened. 

In the photo above, how did Cookie get into that predicament?   Well let's take a look.

The play started innocently enough.  I count three Outlaw blockers on the left side of the line and three defenders.  But there's another defender we can't see in this frame.

She is coming from the left and the Outlaw's left tackle is moving to meet her, as you seen in the photo below.  The trouble is, that leaves three attackers to be handled by the remaining two Austin blockers (you can see the number 5, our left guard, and the white towel tucked into the togs of our center).  Three tacklers, two blockers.  Not good.

In this photo, our left tackle is engaging the Mustang's defensive end, #58.  The left guard is hidden from view but is engaging one of the other three tacklers.  That leaves our center, #62, to take on the two remaining attackers.

The center has a difficult job.  She has to snap the ball to the Quarterback so she isn't able to establish a strong three-point stance.  Then, if her blocking assignment is not directly in front of her, she has to move laterally to get in front of a would-be tackler.  You can see in the above shot the defender has an advantage; our center will have a difficult time getting in front of her for an effective block.

Things get really ugly really fast.

The center doesn't get the block and the left tackle loses control of her opponent.  Suddenly two defenders, #58 and one other are converging on the quarterback.  A third defender is getting loose from blockers on the right.  The next photo in the sequence is the one I put at the top of this post where Cookie is fighting off three defenders.   

The end has #58 closing the deal, giving Cookie a big unfriendly hug.  One way things turn against the offense is the defense having more attackers than we have blockers.  It is  complicated when the blockers can't get a good line on the tackler or can't hold the block long enough (this sequence took only 2 seconds).

Let's take a look at another little sequence.  This time Outlaws win the play.  I like this one because it shows tenacity.  Football is messy.  You rarely get a clean shot on your opponent.  You have to fight off blockers,  climb over bodies.  

This sequence has the Outlaws on defense. 

There is an Outlaw on the ground.  She was slammed by a huge blocker.  I don't have a good shot of that block but it was effective.  So we have the runner at the left and the Outlaw's #1, Fuller, fighting off a block.  If the runner can cut to her left, keeping the blocker between herself and Fuller, she could make a good gain.

But Fuller is quick and slick.  She discards the blocker and grabs the runner.  A couple things to note.  Fuller has been fighting the blocker so she is a little off balance when she reaches the runner.  Second, another potential Outlaws tackler is being held.  Isn't that illegal?  It is if the official sees it. 

I hope you can make out what is happening here.  Because Fuller couldn't get a good solid hit, she is just hanging on to the runner.  She is on the ground hanging on to a leg or two.  Coming to assist is Tiffany James, wearing the red-sleeved shirt.  So Fuller is slowing the runner down, James is coming in to complete the tackle.

If you look closely you'll see a red glove reaching over the runner's back, grasping her right arm.  That glove belongs to Tiffany.  You can also see her left arm (red sleeve) reaching the ground with the runner's left arm.  You can also just make out Fuller's right arm still hanging on.  All that remains is the runner hitting the turf.

I've included the final picture even though it is superfluous, because I want to point out for all to see that Crash (Tiffany Jame's nickname) has learned to land on top.  In many of my earlier Tiffany photos, she is pulling the runner down on top of her, which is part of how she earned her nickname, Crash. 

Slowly in chess, quickly in football, the game turns on individual contests.  A tackler escapes a block and the defense wins the down.  A blocker holds and the offense wins the down. 

In earlier posts I featured blocking.  It is important.  And difficult.

Memorial Day

I haven't been posting over this Memorial Day weekend because most Outlaw fans are busy with other things than my little blog.

Being retired, I get to spend lots of time doing whatever is most interesting.  I'm a news junkie, watching cable news shows and listening to talk radio for hours every day.  I've become a libertarian in my political views - if you're an adult and what you want to do doesn't harm me or my family, then it is none of my business.

I'm alarmed at the way government is eroding our liberty, expanding control over our lives.  At best, it is annoying and inconvenient.  At worst... 

...at worst it costs lives. 

We send young volunteers to far away places where their lives are at risk.  We, or our elected leaders, establish rules of engagement, making certain our soldiers, the good guys, play fair even if the enemies don't.  Career politicians in fancy offices with great security send our military into hostile territory.  And many return maimed.  Or don't return at all.

It isn't just on Memorial Day that I think about this.  But moreso today. 

Life is precious.  Sometimes a cause is big enough that prevailing is more important that life itself.  I think of Pearl Harbor.  I think of 9-11.  Events where a vigorous response was warranted, where the cause  great enough to justify putting lives at risk.

Which events are that important?  I wonder about Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq - are they worth the price?  Iran - are we doing enough?  I don't know. 

Some families are losing sons, daughters, fathers, mothers... because of decisions made inside the beltway, where the motives are suspect, where getting reelected is more important than soundness of policy.  Decisions about which causes are worth putting young lives at risk.

On Memorial Day I'm reminded of just how ugly it all is. 

Favorite Photos - From Mustang Game

Sometimes through no fault of my own I get good photos.  At a typical Outlaws game I'll shoot 700 images.  When I view them on my computer I'll delete the really bad shots.  Then I'll use Photoshop Elements, my photography editing software, and examine the remaining photos.  Most will be "ok."  Not great, not terrible.  Adequate. 

Then there will be a few that I really like.  That make me think maybe I do have the makings of a photographer somewhere inside of me. 

Sotonye Dikibo, out of action
today so I got this candid
portrait.  I just like this photo.

Today I'll post a few of my favorite photos from the Mustangs game last Saturday.  I'll tell you why I like certain photos.  See if you like them, too.

This shot of Sotonye Dikibo for example.  In my initial scanning, this grabbed me.  Maybe the reds - red shirt, red tones in her hair, red track.  Maybe the depth of field - you can see Outlaw Annie in the background but out of focus.  Maybe just the expression on Sotonye's face, the position of her hands.  Maybe just the contrast from all my action photos.  And maybe it is seeing her so calm and peaceful when I know on the field she is one of the best, most aggressive tacklers on the team.  I don't know exactly why but I love this shot. 



The next one that caught my interest is a one-on-one of QT Preston blocking.  I think QT is nearly 6 feet tall but she appears smaller than her Mustang opponent.  I like this shot because of the eyes of the Mustang player and the slight backward slant.  Clearly QT is winning this contest. 

QT Preston battling a would-be tackler.  The Mustang is
bigger but QT is winning.

Lucinda Benitez fighting a blocker, while the runner
adjusts her route.  CPR doesn't make the tackle but
does make the tackle possible by forcing the play
inside where the rest of the defense is waiting.

The next shot is Lucinda "CPR" Benitez fighting off a Mustang blocker.  CPR is one of my favorite players because she's always in the area of the ball.  She isn't very big but she has a lot of talent and a lot of fight.  I think #22 has the ball and she is definitely having to change her route toward the center.  Where the rest of the defensive players are.  Benitez isn't going to make the tackle but she is forcing the play to the inside where a lot of other Outlaws will be able to stop the runner.

I like the clarity, the eyes of the players, and the
suspense - will the tackler catch the runner?

I like this next photo because of pretty good clarity.  Technically it is almost perfect.  I like the depth of field, runner with ball and tackler in close pursuit right behind.  I like being able to see the eyes of the players, the focus.  The only thing I don't like is the Mustang is gaining yards.  I'm an Outlaws fan and I prefer photos where the Outlaw is winning.

The next three are photos where the Outlaws are winning.  They feature one of my favorite players, Tiffany "Crash" James.  Making tackles.  You need to understand that football is a whole lot more difficult than it appears when you're watching on TV.  These photos help you "see" just how hard it is to stop a strong runner. 

Tiffany tenaciously grabbing the runner and dragging
her down - on top of Tiffany.  Ouch.

Tiffany got her nickname, "crash," from her giving herself up for the good of the team, the way crash test dummies sacrifice themselves for science.  One habit Tiffany had, one she hasn't completely unlearned, was grabbing the runner and pulling her down, on top of Tiffany.  It is much better to be the one landing on top.  But often you just can't get a clean shot at an opponent so you grab hold and drag her down.  Even if she does land on top of you.  (Ouch.)

The next two photos are really just one.  The first is a wide view of Tiffany grabbing the runner and holding on until teammates can arrive to complete the tackle.  The second is a closer view, cropping to let you see just how tenacious my friend Tiffany is. 

Tiffany "Crash" James grabbing the runner by the foot and holding on.

If you can't get a clean tackle, grab on to the runner any way you can and hang on until help arrives.  Runners aren't going to gain much ground dragging a 140 pound tackler.  In the past I've posted a few other shots of tacklers grabbing a runner's foot.  I think of this as blue-collar football. 

Annie the Outlaw.  The gun isn't real. 

One more favorite photo from the Mustangs game.  This is Alex... er, Annie Outlaw, the team mascot, hamming it up for Dennis the wannabe photographer.  Shooting a gun, shooting a picture, you need to aim, keep a steady hand, and fire.  And sometimes, as in the pictures in this post, you even hit the target.

I have more favorite photos I'll publish in future posts.  And if it doesn't bore you, I'll do a post of un-favorites.  You've heard the expression, even a blind hog finds an occasional acorn?  Well, the same concept applies here, even an amateur photographer gets an occasional good picture.

Toni Fuller, #1

I'm intrigued by jersey numbers.  Kurt Warner, quarterback for the Cardinals and Rams, wore #13.  He's a Christian and I suspect selected that number to express confidence that God is stronger than luck.  As proof of the point he played in two Superbowl's. 

Jim Otto wore "00".  He played center for the Raiders from 1960-71 and played in six AFL title games and one Superbowl. 

Writer George Plimpton wore #0 when he did his book, Paper Lion.  Plimpton was more intellectual than athlete.  He wrote several books where he, as a layman, tried out professional sports.  I've read most of his books - Bogey Man, about golf, Open Net, about hockey, Shadow Box, about boxing.  He never played in real Lions game, but did run a few plays in a pre-season game.  Still, he probably doesn't belong in this discussion of jersey numbers.

In fact, this isn't really about jersey numbers in general. I'll save that for another post. 

This post is about number one. 

What kind of player wears number one?  Number one seems to have a special meaning.  If you're number one you're the best.  I Googled number one.  Warren Moon wore number one playing for the Oilers.  There were a few others but not as many as I expected. 

Toni Fuller, number one, carrying the ball.

For the Outlaws Toni Fuller wears number one.  This is her second year with the team.  Last year she wore number twenty-three because number one was taken. 

I noticed Toni's number because I kept seeing it in my photos from Saturday's game against the Mustangs.   I saw her on offense.  I saw her on defense.  She's listed on the roster as defensive back and running back. 

I have a few photos of her carrying the ball but I'm not sure whether these were from the line of scrimmage or kick returns. 

When you have the ball you attract hostile attention.

This is first of three photos where number one
has the ball...

...encounters some opposition...

...and goes to the turf stretching for another yard.

Her defensive play impressed me more.  She is tied for the Outlaws lead in number of tackles with twenty-six.  Now to be honest, that's not really good.  It is good to have lots of tackles but I'd rather not have the defensive backfield leading the team in tackles.  Better the line and linebackers - stop the opponent before she gets into your defensive backfield. 

But Toni's performance is impressive. 

A key to effective tackling is to hit the runner low. 
Grab the legs and hang on.  It is difficult to run the
ball when someone is hanging on to your legs.

A flying tackle. 

First of three photos.  I wonder if you see this as I do.  I'm posting large because I want
you to see the expression on the runner's face, the concern in her eyes.

Open field tackling is difficult.  Try it sometime.  Toni
doesn't get a clean hit but she does get a hold on the
runner.

And brings her to the turf, hanging on to a foot just to be sure.

Possibly the biggest defensive play wasn't a tackle.  Some of our opponents have improved their passing game.  Long complete passes can do lots of damage - as witness the game against the Diamonds.  The Mustangs have a decent passing game, too.  One of Toni's big plays Saturday was batting down a pass.  It was on target and the receiver had a clear path to the end zone.  But Toni had a better idea and leaped high to knock the ball down.

Are you interested in sports photography?  Someday I'll do a post just about managing the
camera to get sharp photos.  Of which this is not an example.  My eyes water when I look
as this photo for very long.  I think my camera is focused on #29.  Or maybe on the
official to the left.  Certainly not on Toni.  The camera has auto focus which is far
better than my own manual focusing.  But sometimes the camera doesn't know where
I want the focus to be. 
Enough on the photography.  Toni saves a score by leaping high and deflecting the
pass away from the receiver.  Great play.  Pass defense is difficult, too.

Nice People - Former Outlaws

Last Saturday was alumnae day at the Outlaws game.  A couple of my favorite alums were there, Laura Eddy and Mary Nguyen.  I had profiled both of them for the Outlaws website.  At that time Laura was the biggest Outlaw and Mary the smallest so I made certain to include photos of the two of them together.  They were good sports and did  some silly poses for me. 

At my request Mary and Laura agreed to clown around a little
to emphasize the biggest/smallest player theme.

Laura Eddy and Mary Nguyen

Both are high on my list of nice people.  They sat together at the game and I managed to get a photo of them I really like.  What is remarkable is Laura's weight loss.  Since leaving the Outlaws she has been doing things I need to do - watching her diet and working out - and she is substantially smaller than when she played.  And she's really looking good.









Another former Outlaw and one of my favorite people is KJ Scheib.  There's a profile of her somewhere in this blog - check the profile label to find it.  KJ was the first Outlaw I profiled on the website.  She was a student of the game and worked harder than just about anyone at building strength and learning the skills.  She has a masters degree and made our interview interesting with profound insights into football and life. 

At the game she was seated with a couple other folks - one is a long time Outlaws fan who has shown up in this blog several times.  I don't know the other.  But I love the candid photo.  KJ's expression tells me she has just used her I-Phone to prove a point.  Reminds me of our interview...

KJ Scheib in the center. 



Lorin Smith

Lorin Smith was at the game. She's one of the original Outlaws. I've profiled her in this blog. Just check the "Labels" section to read her story. It appears she was put to work for the team. Not sure why extra chairs were needed

Another former Outlaw came not to spectate but to participate.  You maybe didn't even recognize her.  Alex Allen is the new Annie Outlaw.  I love her enthusiasm and energy and I'm posting several photos of her in costume. 

Alex Allen as Annie the Outlaw

Annie/Alex heading out on the field for the half-time Pinata party.

Handing out bags so the youngsters will have a way to carry away
the goodies that fall from the pinata.  I didn't stay to photograph
the pinata demise.  Sorry.

A part of Annie's responsibility is to engage the younger members of the Outlaws audience.  At half time she hosts a pinata party.  In a future post we'll feature more kid photos.

Outlaw players and fans are some of the nicest people I know.