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Runners, part 2 - In Trouble

Shadana running free, scoring another TD.

The runners get all the glory.  The runner's names are called by the public address guy.  My first impression of the Outlaws was hearing announcers mispronounce Monica's name.  How do you say Gauck.

I have dozens of shots of Shadana running free to the end zone while opponents give futile pursuit.  Shadana is easier to say than Gauck.  Announcers get lots of practice calling her name.

Runners get the glory.  I was a lineman.  Too big, too slow to be a runner. 

I wish I could be a running back.

Be careful what you wish for. 

Runners get hit.. Hard.  Sometimes with elbows.  Ouch.

There's more to running than scoring touchdowns. 

That ball in your hands is like a magnet attracting tacklers.  That ball gives opponents a license to hit you.  Hard. 

There are downsides to being a runner.  First, sometimes you get caught - it is hard to run with linemen  hanging on to your legs.  Second, you get grounded.  The ground is hard.

The dark side to all that glory. This and the next posting feature the dark side.  Getting caught.  Getting taken to the ground.

This posting features runners getting caught.  The next will feature runners getting grounded.  (Be careful what yo wish for.)

It is difficult to run with someone hanging on to your leg.

Difficult to run with tacklers ganging up on you.

 Hang on to that ball!  Where are the blockers?  Three against one.  Not fair.

"In the grasp" is a common phrase in football telecasts.  With two
tacklers wrapping their arms around you you are in the grasp. You're
not going anywhere.

More in the grasp.

 This is how tacking should be done.  Get low.  Wrap arms around
runner's legs.  Shoulder to he belt buckle.  No free run to the
end zone for this runner.  

Runners tend to be smaller than everyone else.  That's nature's way of creating speed. 
Less wind resistance. 
Good.  Except not so good when in the grasp of three or four tacklers.  Big and bigger.
If you wish you were a runner this photo might just give you pause to rethink that ambition.

This series on runners was intended to feature Outlaw running backs, to add just a little more glory
to these ladies who get their names called by the game announcer.  But I decided to include at least
one shot of Outlaw defenders bringing down an opposition runner.  I can't make out the number
of the Outlaw on the left but that's Soho on the ground and Bridgette Brown closing in. 
Sure tacklers.  Glad they're on our team.

I played in the line, sometimes defense, sometimes offense.  My name was called by the public address announcer only once - and that was when our linebacker Denny Manchester was wearing my jersey and the announcer thought I was making those tackles.  There's not much glory for the big guys.  That's why many of my posts will feature the big ladies of football.  The ones who don't get recognition during the games. 

The recognition given the running backs is... well, earned.  Viewing game photos makes clear that runners have a tough job.  Sometimes they get caught.  As the photos above demonstrate.  Running is difficult with people hanging on to you.

Sometimes they get taken down.  As the photos in my next posting will show. 

Caution about that next posting:  The images may be disturbing to some audiences. Viewer discretion is advised.

Random Fan Photo

I enjoy these candids of groups.  I'm shooting the fans so there
must not be action on the field.  But something must be happening
because most of the fans are responding.  Except the one young
woman at the left in second row has noticed I'm capturing the moment.

Runners

This has become a photo blog. 

Not sure who this is.  Can't make out her number.
This was shot a Waco scrimmage a couple years
ago - that's why you can see a spectator so close
to the action on the field.  Everyting informal.

One day soon we'll get back to being more traditional.  It was intended to talk about the sport of women's professional football, to profile some players, to have a little fun with my humor.  And to throw in some photos to support the narrative.   But the narrative is lagging - I just haven't had time to interview players at Starbucks to get the story behind the pictures (we retirees are busy busy busy!).

Today and on at least a couple more posts I'm featuring photos of runners.  In the next post it will be runners in trouble but today it is just runners running.  If I know the runner's name, I'll include it.  For those not named, please help me out.  Tell me who that is and I'll edit in her name for posterity.  And for search engines.

These are photos I selected because I like them.  Hope you like them, too.

I believe this is Fuller.  Lots of shots of her from the last
game of the 2011 season.  She's good!

Fuller again.  This is the first of two.  No doubt she is
 going to elude all those would-be tacklers. 

See, I told you so.  There she goes.  She does get
caught a little further up the field but only after a solid gain,

I believe this is Ammerman.  Sometimes running is like slogging through mud.  Well, slogging through a
pile of players.  I like this photo because her legs are churning.  She isn't going to
stop, they're going to have to stop her.

 

Fuller again.  She was busy. 
Being a runner can be hazardous.  Look at all those white-shirts just determined to
bring her down.  But speed trumps determination.  She's getting away.

This was taken at a scrimmage at Waco a couple years ago.  I think the runner is really
a quarterback - Fiedler.  It is legal for quarterbacks to run once in awhile.  Ask
Tim Tebow.

The runner's goal is to get away from the crowd.  Sometimes that takes extra strength, as when
someone has a hold on your jersey.  I believe this is Lyons - Outlaws talented kicker.

Runners best friends are blockers.  Monica is opening the way for this runner (I really need to get to
know the current players' names!).  The runner is quick and tightropes along the sideline for
a substantial gain.  Fuller again. 

This from the Dallas game a couple years ago.

 How do you get to be a great runner?  Practice.

Well, I doubt it.  I think runners are born, not made.  As evidence, I couldn't be a runner no matter how much I practiced.  I'm not built for speed. 



















You may have noticed the absence of photos of Shadana Hurd.  That isn't a mistake.  I'm planning a separate posting (or two or three) featuring that outstanding Outlaw runner. 

Random Fan Photo

Faces of Football (more)

This is Marisa Rivas shot during a practice a couple years ago.
She has played defense and more recently Quarterback.  We'll
do a player profile on her as soon as I can make enough time to
meet her for an interview. 

Up close and personal - that's a tag  some television show used to introduce celebrity profiles.  A few years ago we included a "Featured Player" section on the Austin Outlaws website, thinking fans would appreciate the games more if they met the players up close and personal.  I've included a few of those profiles in this blog and expect to do more in the future.

But this has become a photo blog.  Photos can be up close and personal. In a couple previous postings we featured close up photos of players.  Here are some more.  Most are candid shots.  Some taken during the game or practice with a little perspiration from the exertion of football.  Some catch intriguing facial expressions, more intriguing because they're presented here without context - can you tell from the expression whether we're winning or losing?  Others just because I liked them.

I've had fun culling these photos from my galleries.  I hope you enjoy them, too.

This is Malie Capers Cristobal, one of two Outlaws from Hawaii.
I'm fascinated by the ink on her face.  Must have some special
meaning.  Sister Malia has a similar design tattooed on her
shoulder.  One of these days we'll profile the sisters - and
we'll include explaining the meaning behind the facial art.

This is Patricia Kincheon, a defensive linewoman.  I just liked
this photo.   Why is her hand in the air?  See next photo.

The previous photo of Patricia was taken from this larger view.  It is pre-game introduction time.  Patricia has
just been named by the public address announcer.

Ski Tejeda is always one of my favorite
Outlaws because of her blue-collar
aggressive style of play.  I like this
shot just because of the facial expression.

Lorin Smith - I think this is right after
pre-game warm up.  You'd think all that
"warming up" would make one too
tired to play the game.

Yet another favorite of mine (I have lots of favorites), this is
Veronica Vero Narvaez.  I'm interested in her expression, a little
contrast compared to background players.  
She's a fierce blocker with a remarkable story.  I have featured
her in this blog - check the "Profiles" label
at the upper right side of the blog.

This is Precious CPR Benitez, a hustling defensive back.  She's a
fascinating woman full of life and energy.  An intriguing person.  I asked her
for an interview so I could profile her and she said sure.  Now it
is just up to me to meet her over coffee.

Shadana Hurd, the outstanding Outlaws running back.  I love the low
camera angle because it portrays her as I see her, bigger than life.
I'm going to update her profile from what we published on the
website a few years ago.  Just have to meet her for another interview.

Random Fan Photo