« Battle of the Lakes, Part II | Main | Friday Night Lights »
October 10, 2007
Working on the Chain Gang
"That's the sound of men working on the chain gan -ay ang" - Sam Cooke.
This past weekend I had the opportunity to work the chains at Scott's football game. It gives you quite a view of the game since at most you are right there at the sidelines within 10 yards plus the distance between the players on the field and the sideline.
Scott's team rolled to an impressive 26-0 victory. I tried to take credit due to my exceptional placement of one the sticks and tautness of the chain. Scott would have none of it. It's a good thing we raise such bright children.
In the gazillions of football games I've seen over the years, I've never paid much attention to the guys working the chains. It's really quite an inexact science, especially when one considers how games can be decided by mere inches. The side judge estimates where he wants the pole measuring the spot of the football to be placed, and one of the poles with the ten yard chain is place at this spot. The other end is placed by pulling the chain tight. At least at the junior pee wee level, this is nothing more than a rough guess on the placement. At that point it becomes gospel.
We never had the opportunity to trot on to the field for a close measurement. I think in large part it was because this was the refs fourth game of the day and they were tired. On anything close, they had us "move the chains" to signal a fresh set of downs. More importantly to them, it kept the game clock running.
I'm hoping to parley this experience into a gig at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium for the Horns games. The effort is not too great, the view of the game is nice, and price of the ticket is avoided... heck I'd probably even make some cash in the deal. The downside is of course getting creamed by some linebacker or safety as they make a tackle on the sideline.
Until that big-time stint happens, I'll keep taking those opportunities to work the junior pee wee chain gan-ay-ang!
Posted by Jim at October 10, 2007 11:55 AM