After the regular November layoff, 'Wam football ended the year on Sunday, November 28th, 2010. While Mike Balsam did not show up, Jay Tilley finally did, bringing with him a slice of the past.
Signature Phrase
We should all have one. Who has one? Jay Tilley.
The phrase echoed as Tilley was playing defense and the ball floated his way. Before he intercepted the ball, he shouted, "Hey now!" I hadn't heard the phrase in many years, but can tell you where I remember hearing it before: Just as the pitcher wheeled to second base, picking off the runner and getting him in a rundown. Who received the ball? Jay Tilley, the second baseman. Ball in mid-air, he shouted, "Hey now!"
While simple, the phrase carries layers of meaning. On the simplest level, it means, "something good's about to happen." On a more sophisticated level, it also means, "I'm going to MAKE something happen."
I knew that. Christopher Burns, Tilley's co-defender, did not.
After intercepting the ball, Tilley deked right, jumped left, and flipped the ball behind his back to Burns, who simply watched it drop to the ground. Un-schooled in Tilleyisms, he did not recognized the opportunity that was about to be afforded him.
In Memorium
Though many players have contributed to the quirky style of touch football we play at Wigwam today (most notably Bobby Strauss, and his touches of wit and humanity), the brand itself was born on the Salem Commons in the 1950s, and its progenitors were brothers Hank, Jere, and Bill Burns. Last December, Jere Burns passed away at the age of 82.
Please note from the video clips below, that the fast count has a rich history.
Rule Changes Required
Hank Burns, who on some of the slower 'Wam days has been genetically responsible for a full 5/8ths of the players, suffered a stroke in June. While the recovery has been swift so far, there will be two major rule changes when Hank is rushing: 1) The rusher no longer has to count -- the quarterback does -- to 30; 2) Before each snap, the quarterback must drop a hula hoop to the ground and keep both feet in the circle until the ball is thrown.
Passing the Torch, or Toe...
