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. 

Marisa and Rubi, a Tale of two Quarterbacks

Marisa "Cookie" Rivas

A recent posting to this blog profiled Marisa "Cookie" Rivas.  It was one of the most visited blog posts because  you like Marisa you like profiles.  

Let me know if I should do whatever it takes to profile more players and if so whom would you like me to feature.  Especially players who live near me in the Round Rock ares so it should be easy to schedule interviews.










Profiles give me one way to gain enormous respect for individuals who step outside of social norms, for women who play football.  Another way I gain respect is just watching them play. 

Rubi "Rae" Reyna

In a recent post I noticed stats that showed Rubi "Rae" Reyna is effective at quarterback and had some statistics to prove it.  Rubi has intrigued me because she strikes me as quiet, almost shy?, and petite.  She doesn't look like a football player.  Or she didn't until I started paying attention.  I have photos of her throwing the ball with authority.  I have photos of her running a pass route and receiving the ball. 











At Saturday's game with the Dallas Diamonds, I made a point of watching Rubi and Cookie.  And I came away impressed.  These are two quality athletes. 


TIn a separate post I'll talk a little about how difficult it is to get your offense in gear.   Offense requires coordination, timing, blocking, controlling opponents.  With a largley rookie team, offense is going to take time to develop. 

When the offense isn't scoring there are lots of reasons.  You try lots of things to see if you can fix it.  One thibng to try is switching quarterbacks.  Especially if you have the luxury of two good quarterbacks.  Especially if the one not playing quarterback can contribute at some other position.

In Saturday's game, Cookie got the nod and worked at quarterback.  Rae lined up in the backfield as running back.  How did that work?  Well, that's the point of this post.

Quarterback Cookie to quarterback Rae. 

First I was impressed by Rubi's play. She may seem to me physically petite but she plays big. As running back she took some abuse - that Dallas team was something else!  But she just kept on playing.

Having the football in your arm attracts attention.  Not
the kind of attention you want.  Rubi made a run for it
but it is hard to go fast with #47 hanging on to you.

This is the end of the above run.   Running backs take a lot of abuse in football games.
I was impressed at the way Rubi kept on jumping up and taking the game to the Diamonds.

I have a few shots like this one, Rubi making
certain the defense doesn't get to the punter.
She is close to a hold here but she has already
contained the defender long enough that the
kick is about in the air.

Rubi didn't back down, not once.  I was especially impressed by her punt blocking.  She lined up in the backfield to the punter's right and she wasn't about to let a defender get through.

She played some defense, too, and didn't hesitate to take on a much larger blocker.  Sometimes you aren't going to make the tackle but you can help your team by taking out the blocker.  I admired her grit when she threw herself into the blocker when it was obvious she couldn't get to the ball carrier. 

Rae takes on a much larger blocker.  Another Outlaw
tackler is coming up behind her.  If she can occupy the
blocker, her teammate may be able to make the tackle.

Meanwhile, Cookie was doing a pretty good job at Quarterback.  Against a really tough opponent.  Sometimes handing off is a whole lot better than keeping the ball.  And better to be hander than handee.  In spite of the best efforts of the line, sometimes tacklers get through. 



Handing off to  #34 Adriene Futrell.  Futrell had a pretty
good game.  But on this play?  Not so much.

Marisa passes left handed.  The key is to get rid of the ball quickly.  And appreciate  your blockers.  I've never fully understood how quarterbacks are able to find receivers when there is a wall of large lineladies in the way.

Cookie in the pocket looking for a receiver. 

Throwing the ball usually ends the quarterback's work on the play.  But sometimes a tackler
catches up just as you let the ball go.  That is a solid hit on Cookie. 
Lifted her right up off the ground. 
Ouch.



Cookie suffered a shoulder injury late in the game.  It wasn't on the play pictured here. 

Both Cookie and Rae are good athletes.  Both play hard with skill. 

The Outlaws' season is off to a rough start but don't worry.  This is a team of mostly rookies.  It takes time to get all the elements together.  With athletes like these two quarterbacks, the Outlaws will come together.  They will win some games. 

Nice People

It was alumnae day.  I don't know everyone's name in
this photo so I won't list the ones I do know.  I will just
observe these are nice people. 

There are lots of really nice people associated with the Outlaws.  Players, fans, volunteers.  Even opponents.   

This post is inspired by something the Dallas Diamonds did at the end of the game Saturday.  It showed  they're not only talented, they're really nice people.  I'll report on that at the bottom of this post. 

This got me thinking about the nice people I've met since I've been shooting Outlaws with my camera.   I'm not certain exactly how but I'm going to introduce a "Nice People" theme with this blog featuring photos of some of the nice folks who are part of the Outlaws story.   At first I thought I would devote one post to the topic but I quickly realized I have far too many nice-people photos for just one post.  So I'm going to make this a theme, kind of like the "Random Fan Photo" thing I did in the early months of the blog. 

Today's posting is just a beginning.  Today I'm posting a few shots of fans,  volunteers, and former players.  And of course opponents, the Dallas Diamonds who so impressed me at the conclusion of Saturday's game. 

I'll start with few fan photos.  Sadly I don't know names.  If you'd like to give me names I can always edit them into the blog posting.  But these are photos of people who just strike me as nice folks.

Showing her Outlaws shirt is a fan who used to be part of the
tie-dye club, a group who wore tie-dye shirts at every game in support
of KJ Scheib.  KJ is here, I just somehow managed to leave
her out of the photo.  I'll make up for it one of these days.
I don't know the names but the wife and husband have been
to just about every Outlaw game.  Someday maybe I'll get
and interview and tell you more about them.

T

I don't know names, never met him or his daughter.
But I love family shots like this.  I think daughter and
dad photos fit my nice-people category.

They don't know me but quickly respond when I point my
camera their way.  I get a good feeling when people respond
with a smile when I, a stranger, aim my camera at them.
Nice people. 

That's a Nikon camera she has in her hand.  When she saw me ready to take her picture
she decided turn-about is fair play and we each got a picture of someone taking
our picture.  Only my picture of her gets published in a blog.
Of course I use a Nikon camera, too.  We Nikon people are all very nice.

This is MaryLou Spence.  One day I'll
do a posting just featuring her.  I
take photos at some Outlaws games.
MaryLou takes photos at all the games.
And at fund raisers and other events.

As I'm picking photos to publish I'm thinking I should do a featured fan series, or maybe featured nice-person series.  MaryLou Spence, for example, is the team photographer.  She attends every game, including the road games, and publishes hundreds of Outlaws photos.  She has been doing some interesting things in her spare time - seems to me she took part in a bicycle marathon?  I'll have to interview her and give you her story.

Now for the  classy thing the Dallas Diamonds did, that inspired the "Nice People" theme for this post.  At the end of every game it is a tradition for the teams shake hands.  Each team forms a line that files past the other team line in single file.  Players shake hands and offer some friendly comment as the pass opponents. 

It is a cool display of sportsmanship. 

Saturday one of the Outlaws, #31 Stephanie Marshall, was sidelined with a leg injury.  She watched the game from the bench with her leg elevated (on a trash can!).  The Dallas team, seeing Marshall's situation, kept their greeting line going.  All the way  to the sideline where Stephanie was sitting.  They came and gave her the same friendly greeting they had just extended to the Outlaws on the field.  

The Dallas Diamonds extending the post-game greeting line to include injured Outlaw
Stephanie Marshall, sidelined with damage to her leg.

The Diamonds even extended the greeting to include a young Outlaw fan.  The little girl
with the striped shirt sitting next to Marshall - I'm going to have to find out her name. 

I don't recall ever seeing anything quite like this.  I decided the Dallas team is not only extremely talented, they're good people, too. 

But I still want to whip 'em when we travel to Dallas June 9. 

Profile - Marisa "Cookie" Rivas

Marisa "Cookie" Rivas

Quarterbacks have a special DNA.  When I first saw Marisa “Cookie” Rivas at team tryouts I said “there’s a quarterback.”  I could see it in the way she carries herself.  The way she holds the ball. 

Two seasons ago Coach Narlen asked Cookie, then a defensive safety, if she’d like to take a few snaps.  His starting quarterback was hurting and he wanted Marisa ready as a backup.  Coach worked with her Tuesday and Thursday.  Friday the Outlaws traveled to Jacksonville for a playoff game. 

In the fourth quarter he asked if she was ready. 

She fibbed,  “Yeah!”  

In fact she had doubts.  Football is a mental game, especially for the quarterback.  “It can be overwhelming, trying to know what everyone around you is going to do, learning and watching what the defense is doing.” 

After a couple seasons she looks confident
and in control as Outlaws quarterback.

Coach gave her the plays he wanted her to run and sent her to the huddle.  

Marisa says “One of the most important things for the quarterback, even if you don’t know what’s going on, when you’re inside the huddle you have to be able to convey assurance and confidence.  I remember thinking be firm, be assertive, let everyone know you know what you’re talking about.” 

Even if you don’t. 

“I ran to the huddle and called the play…

…and everyone said ‘shush’.” 

She was so pumped up she was yelling and her teammates feared the other team could hear.



Cookie making a tackle with teammate Benitez.  Cookie started as
defensive safety and was good at it.  But she likes playing
 offense better.



This is Cookie’s fourth season as an Outlaw, her third as quarterback.  She started as defensive safety but she’s much more

comfortable on offense. 

That’s where she belongs.  

She grew up in a sports minded family.  Her dad played baseball and basketball, her mom volleyball and basketball.   Her sister is a great volleyball and kickball player.  Marisa ran cross country.  She played four years varsity in basketball and softball.  In golf  she carried a 1-handicap (that’s good) and qualified twice for regional and once for state.  

She is competitive.  It is in her nature.   “I can do this faster, quicker, better.”  

In any athletic activity.  In everything else. 

With things as simple as grades, “I wanted to have the best grade in the class.”  She finished in the top ten percent of her high school class. 

In book buying, she lined up at Walmart to be the first to own the newest Harry Potter edition. 

In band, “I always had to have first chair.”  She played the alto sax from sixth through twelfth grade and had to compete for first chair.  In the marching band, she competed for the drum major job and held that position in her junior and senior years. 

Even in math, she was a part of  Mu Alpha Theta, a math club she describes as “a group of  nerds”  who got together after school and competed with other schools solving math problems. 

Her hobbies include reading, and not just Harry Potter.  Recently she has read “Kite Runner” and “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” Her favorite author is Eric Jerome Dickey. 

She loves jazz.  She plays the alto sax and drums.  She DJs on the side.  She loves “anything involving music.” 

In school she was a part of a group called PALs (Peer Assistance and Leadership) involved with the multiple community projects and mentoring children.

She is working on her Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise and Sports at Texas State University in San Marcos.  She hopes to be teaching high school within the next two years.  “I love school, learning, teaching.”

Cookie is employed as Inventory Coordinator for the Four Hands Home Furniture Store in southeast Austin.   Her job is to count inventory, make sure the numbers correlate and are accurate here in Austin and showrooms in Nevada, Georgia, and North Carolina.  Her employer supports her playing football and has been an Outlaws sponsor the past two seasons.

Asked about the physical demands of football she says I am obsessed with the weight room. She can bench and squat 135 pounds for ten reps.  Working out is “my means of relieving stress and it’s fun for me.”  She does plyometrics, “explosive exercises” to help her as to get faster and quicker and stronger as quarterback.  She also loves running as a great stress reliever.

When shown this photo Cookie studied her form and decided she was doing it right.
Note the concentration.  She is focused even in pre-game warm-up.
Photo by team photographer MaryLou Spence

She works hard at the football, studies technique and critiques her own performance.  When team photographer MaryLou Spence showed Cookie a photo taken during pre-game warm-ups, Cookie studied her form. 

And judged herself good. 

Her nickname comes from her favorite movie,  “Men of Honor.”  In the film, Carl Brashear is a man of determination who worked himself up to be an elite Navy diver.  He had started as ship’s cook - and was nicknamed "Cookie."  A classic scene in the movie depicted him qualifying physically by hauling a 290 pound pack twelve steps - after having had one leg amputated.  The officer in charge challenged  him:  “I want my twelve, Cookie.”    Marissa was so inspired by the scene she often quoted that line and eventually inherited the nickname.

Do You Believe in Miracles?

The 1980 Winter Olympics, Ice Hockey, USA versus the Russians.  In those days the United States sent amateur athletes to the Olympics while other countries sent their very best, their professionals.  The Russians were a team of professionals, the Americans not.  It was like pitting the Stanley Cup champions against a college hockey all-star team. The USA amateurs didn't have a chance.  The Russians were prohibitive favorites.

I watched the game on television.  The most exciting sports event I've ever seen.  When it ended with the US on top, the announcer screamed into the mike, "Do you believe in miracles?  Yes!" 

I love this photo.  Would love it more if it was the Outlaws.
What a great play when the runner has blockers opening
a path for a big gain.  Runner is Tiffany Hill and you'll
see plenty of her Saturday.

Folks, come to the Outlaws game Saturday and cheer for a miracle.  It will take a miracle for the Outlaws to defeat the Dallas Diamonds. 

Dallas is the prohibitive favorite.  They lead the WFA (Women's Football Alliance) in scoring with 243 points scored over the first three games - averaging 81 points per game.  They've allowed only 8 total points by three opponents.  They won their last game against Arkansas 99-0.  They beat the Houston Power 54-8; and the Power defeated the Outlaws 28-0.

I believe the Dallas runner is #24, Alberta Brydson.
She can be stopped but it isn't easy.  This was a
successful tackle by #27, Stevie Ammerman.

Dallas has a balanced attack, with a strong running game and efficient passing game.  And they have lots of veterans on their team.  And they were good last year. 

Dallas receiver gets open and quarterback hits her for
the touchdown.  Dallas has an excellent passing attack.

By contrast, the Outlaws are more than half rookies.  By my count, we have 17 veterans and 20 rookies.  We have plenty of spirit and talent.  You know that if you've seen my blog posts with photos from 2012 season tryouts and practices.  A lot of heart. 

But most of the Outlaws have (now) only three games of experience.  Practice can't adequately prepare you for real on-the-field competition.  You can grab passes all day on an open practice field; it just isn't the same as trying to get open with 21 other players running around.  You can drill on blocking in the lane between tackling dummies but it isn't the same as lining up nose-to-nose with a stranger in a different colored uniform. 

The Outlaw's record is 1-2.  They've scored one touchdown in three games.  Not one in each game; one touchdown on the season. 

Okay, Dennis, is there any good news here? 

Well, the Outlaws played the Diamonds in their last game last season.  Although we lost, we were competitive. 

Marisa "Cookie" Rivas playing quarterback escapes the Dallas defense and gets
the pass off for a completion and big gain. 

I checked my photos from that game.  One showed Marisa "Cookie" Rivas  fighting off a ferocious Dallas pass rush to complete a pass for a good gain.  It was a tough game but our talented quarterback wasn't intimidated.

And I had several shots of Toni Fuller eluding the Dallas defense for big gains. 

Toni Fuller outruns a bunch of Dallas tacklers for a big gain in the last game last season.

It was a loss but the Outlaws held their own against a really good opponent.  They can do it again.  They are inexperienced but now have three games of experience.  They have an idea of what to expect. 

And it will be a home game - let's get lots of fan support out there!  LOUD.

If they play the way they practiced, the Outlaws can slow down that Dallas machine.

In fact, we could even win.  I believe in miracles.  I was there in 1980 when the USA knocked off the Russians.  And I'll be there Saturday.  To see yet another miracle in sports.

Go Outlaws! 

Stats

Tiffany

Of all the players on all 63 teams in the WFA (Women's Football Alliance), who do you think has recovered the most fumbles?  Right.  Our own Tiffany "Crash" James.

Tiffany has recovered three fumbles in two games.  That is good.  That is the best in the league. 

How did I find that out?  I visited the WFA website and checked out the statistics section. 

In my last post I just looked at Outlaws' stats and noted Diedra Holland and Rubi Reyna were leading the Outlaws in a couple categories.  Today I started just looking at the stats for the league. 

And came up with at least one disturbing observation.

Of all 63 teams, which do you think is the leader in scoring?  The Dallas Diamonds.  Sound familiar?  They're in our division.  We'll be playing them twice this season.  They're gaining an average of 571  yards per game, 220 rushing and 351 passing. 

It is never a good idea to look beyond your next game.  But maybe the Outlaws want to take a little peek?  We'll be playing the Dallas Diamonds at home on May 12.  All that pass defense practice Bobbie put us through is going to be tested on May 12.

But before May 12 the Outlaws travel to Houston to play the Houston Power.  What do the statistics tell us about them?  Well, they are 1-1 on the season.  They lost to Dallas 8-54(!).  They've gained an average of 273 yards per game - compared with the Outlaws 116.  They look to be a good match for the Outlaws. If you can make it to Houston you should see a good game. 

Statistics are deceiving.  Especially after just two games.  It is clear Dallas is a great team.  They were great last season and I see a lot of familiar names on this year's rosters, suggesting a lot of veterans are back this season.

But let's talk a little more about the Outlaws. 

Toni

We have the league's leader in blocked kicks, Toni Fuller.  She has blocked two kicks in just two games and she is credited with an additional three tips.  Blocking kicks is good. 

I don't have photos of Toni on defense or special teams.  Last season she was a running back.  This season she is listed as both defensive back and running back. 

Toni leads the Outlaws with 18 tackles, followed by Charmaine Jackson with 17 and Ski Tejeda with 10, Tiffany James and Tanea Clay with 9 each.

Statistics can be interesting.  But I'm easily bored.  Starting to get bored looking at numbers instead of photos.  Time to end this post. 

Stats and Stars

The WFA (Women's Football Alliance) has a website.  One of the features there is "Statistics."  Very interesting stuff. 

Saturday the Outlaws play the Houston Power at Houston.  Houston's record is 1 and 1, same as the Outlaws.  Houston won their first game 31-0 versus the Gulf Coast Riptide.  They lost their second 54-8 versus the Dallas Diamonds.  (The Diamonds are looking good again this year.) 

Based on the records alone, the Houston/Outlaws game should be a good match. 

Rubi Reyna

The site gives stats for the league and also for individual teams.  They appear to be incomplete and I'm not certain why.  Gathering statistics at a game is a big job and then getting them entered to the league site has to take time.  I believe the stats for the Outlaws, as of today, only reflect the first game, the win at home versus Tulsa.  A couple things caught my attention. 

The first is Rubi Reyna.  As quarterback she has completed 5 of 10 passes - averaging 13.4 yards, and she has carried the ball 5 times for an average of 5.2 yards. 

I'm big.  When I'm around the Outlaws I'm often aware of the reality - women aren't as big as men.  The Outlaws are almost all smaller than I.  I've seen Rubi at practices and I think she is smaller than average.  I'll have to ask next time I see her.  She also strikes me as quiet.  I was impressed when I saw her stats for the game.  Really wish I'd been there.  Inside that small quiet person is a football player. 

Rubi catching the pass in practice, and heading
toward the end zone.

I checked my Outlaws practice photos and found a few of Rubi.  I have a good one of her receiving a pass and then heading up the field.  She looks like she knows what she'd doing. 

Another is her passing.  Not a great photo because it is from the perspective of the receiver and Rubi is far from the camera.  But once again you get the impression that she's capable.  It shouldn't have been a surprise that she has been effective in Outlaw games.

Rubi throwing a long pass in practice.

Practicing taking  the hand off.

The other Outlaws stat that caught my attention was Deidra Holland.  She had 10 carries for 46 yards.  Averaging 4.6 yards per carry is good.  Very good,   So I started checking my photos for shots of Deidra.  I found some but none that reflected how talented she really is. 

Deidra reaching for a pass thrown a little too tall.

I had noticed how focused she is.  Whether practicing taking a hand off from coach or reaching for a high pass her facial expression showed concentration.  Focus and effort in practice leads to positive results in games.

I guess I should have known she'd be one of the stars out on the field.  But I didn't.  Not until I started studying stats.  And then I thought, "Of course!" 

Deidra at team meeting with her son.
I still don't know his name. 

Deidra bring s her son to practices.  I like his total involvement.  I wonder if someday he'll write an essay for an English class:  "My Mom is a Football Star."  If so, it won't just be a proud son bragging.  He'll have the stats to prove it.

I'm going to spend more time browsing stats and, in future posts, offering profound insights about what I find.