Small Potatoes, So What? Try Again.

SMALL POTATOES, SO WHAT? TRY AGAIN! ...

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

What is a head shinker? Are you a head shrinker?

Hebrews 12:12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the

way; but let it rather be healed.

I have always enjoyed sports and the opportunities that a person can have to get

off the couch and away from the TV and video games to become part of the team

and learn.

I have always enjoyed the ROSE PARADE AND THE ROSE BOWL in California.

I read this amazing story from January 1, 1929.

GEORGIA TECH was playing the UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.

There was a player for California that started the game and that was having a super

game, his name was ROY REIGELS.

In the first half, Roy tackled THOMPSON, a Georgia player, we call it a SLOBBER-KNOCKER

play. Roy's tackle was so hard it knocked the football out of the players hands.

The home crowd was screaming to the top of their voice.

ROY SCOOPED up the football and started running. The coaches and the players

were all screaming, Roy's adrenaline was really pumping fast and furious.

ROY RAN 65 YARDS with the fumbled ball.

ROY WAS TACKLED ON THE 2 YARD LINE...

WHEN ROY LOOKED UP, IT WAS HIS OWN PLAYER THAT HAD TACKLED HIM.

In the excitement and daze of the moment ROY RAN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

As Roy lay there the crowd was angry with the young man.

On the next play Georgia Tech hit so hard that they tackled the Cal player in the end

zone for a touch back, 2 points to Georgia Tech.

Now the crowd is screaming "WRONG WAY ROY!"

At half time the Cal team went into the locker room, everyone was so quiet, even the

coach had little to say. Normally the team would be encouraging and saying kind

words to the other team members.

ROY REIGELS WAS COLLAPSED IN THE CORNER OF THE LOCKER ROOM

CRYING AND MUMBLING ---

THE REFEREE SHOUTED IN THE DOOR, THREE MINUTES, THREE MINUTES AND

THE SECOND HALF BEGINS.

SOME THOUGHT: WHAT ABOUT REIGELS? WHAT IS COACH GOING TO SAY

TO THE TEAM AND TO ROY LAYING IN THE CORNER CRYING?

The coach stood up and said: THE SAME 11 THAT STARTED THE FIRST HALF

WILL STARTED THE SECOND HALF.

The team jumped up and ran out to the field. ROY stay in the corner crying.

The coach walked over and knelt down in from of the broken player.

The coach quietly looked him in the eye and said:

"Roy, I said the same team that started the first half will start the second.

WE NEED YOU, MAN! GET OUT THERE AND PLAY!"

Roy said: "I can't, coach. I let you down, I let the team down. I ruined the game

and embarrassed myself and the school. I CAN'T GO BACK OUT THERE NOW!"

THE COACH REACHED DOWN AND LIFT HIS CHIN AND LOOKED HIM EYE

BALL TO EYE BALL AND SAID: "ROY, THE GAME IS ONLY HALF OVER - - -

NOW GET OUT THERE AND PLAY."

ROY REIGELS IS KNOWN AS THE MOST FAMOUS PLAY FROM THE CENTER

IN ROSE BOWL HISTORY AND THE MOST FAMOUS MISDIRECTION PLAY IN

COLLEGE FOOTBALL...

GEORGIA TECH BEAT CALIFORNIA THAT DAY: 8 TO 7.

THE POINT IS SIMPLE: ENCOURAGE SOMEONE ---

YOU HAVE TO GET OUT THERE AND PLAY --- LIFE IS NOT OVER.

TRY AGAIN...

DO YOU LOVE LIFE?

I had a 12 hour day at Vandy Hospital in Nashville. As I was leaving I called Linda

and she informed me she had cooked a big supper and it was waiting for me.

I had not had one drink or bite all day, so per her orders I knew better than get

something to eat. I had been whistling VICTORY IN JESUS much of the day.

I stop in Madison at a gas station to get a drink.

There was a very frail, sickly man behind the counter. He had to sit on a stool

to wait on me. He said I could help but notice you were whistling VICTORY IN JESUS.

HE SAID: I LOVE LIFE! I SEE YOU LOVE LIFE TOO.

Then he went on to explain he had a battle with cancer. He had 40 chemo/radiation

treatments and had been in remission just to find out the cancer returned with a

vengeance and he had another round of 40 treatments and had been bedfast for

some time. He was now able to return to work and HE LOVED LIFE.

I had my diet Coke in my hand and drove home thinking: HOW BLESSED I AM!

I SHOULD LOVE LIFE AND APPRECIATE EACH DAY MORE THAN EVER.