1.	Birthright, Heroes, Sandlot, God

	Birth in a state (Texas) synonymous with football.  Life is predestined to play football

	Inspiration from uncle and grandfathers noted pasts, Uncle Chuck is first mentor

	Developing skills and strengthening love for the game in neighborhood contests

	Summer camp teaches honesty and Christian faith as essential for success in athletics



 2.	Launching Dream and Aggieland

	Playing flag football in 5th grade, initiating expectations for a fortuitous career

	Encumbered by non-contact rules, looking forward to full pads in Jr. High

	Dad takes me to sold-out A&M vs. Texas game, one of biggest rivalries in nation

	Crowd goes wild witnessing miraculous upset, enraptures my soul to football all the more



3.	Putting on Pads and Learning Pain

	New seriousness in Jr. High, soft physical condition and leg-lifters daunt dream

	Recognition of talent on blocking-sled and pleasure of hitting restore hope

	Fractured wrist results in proving toughness, introduction to playing with pain

	Ignoring pain required, necessary to achieve a starting position



4.	Prejudiced Stranger in Strange Land

	Fear of playing at an all Black school forces examination of conditioned prejudice

	Prejudice learned from elders and a life of segregation is now challenged

	At Black school we mingle and explore with intimidation of the unknown

	Play begins and all things merge together on the commonality of the field



5.	Starting, Winning and Nurturing Dream

	Retained starting positions all year and boasted winning season

	Three consecutive victories halted by tie with Moore Jr. High

	Broke finger in triumph of last game over rival Hubbard, tested courage once again

	Worthy self-success, instincts and skills geared to game, dream appears reachable



6.	Piney Woods to Gulf Coast

	Opposition to move disappears on learning of new town's winning football program

	Attend camp to strengthen body, every waking hour devoted to football mastery

	Differences both geographical and societal, exposure to unfamiliar ethnic backgrounds

	Disillusioned when first friend is non-football player, share love of game with him



7.      Orientation and Second String

	Tour of modern air-conditioned school and meeting with coach makes me anxious to start

	Luxuriant new equipment, haircut sacrifice, encouragement of making the stronger "A" Team

	On bench for opening game, first experience under lights and out-of-town excursion

	Best effort and clear dominance earn no promotion to first team, hope for next year



8.       New Acquaintances, Introduction to The Man

	Involvement in football provides a medium for initiating friendships in new surroundings

	Learn of Lamar Consolidated Mustang's winning past from old year books, swear to restore lost glory

	Robert and Warren's forthrightness helps me to see my superficial self

	Varsity head coach Lucky speaks to us.  Held in awe by his  of dedication and winning 



9.	Dreaming to High School, Dedication Betrayed

	Wonder of entering high school level stirs fond memories of past games in Rose Stadium

	Revered acclimation to high school football facility during devoted summer of workouts

	Introduction to school's adamant philosophy of winning, I embrace it wholeheartedly

	Discipline of summer and supreme effort at season's outset go unnoticed as I don't start



10.	Justice Prevails, Undefeated Frosh

	Changes after tie of second game put me at starting guard on both offense and defense

	Positions held all year as we go undefeated, am recognized as a team standout

	Finish season escaping serious injury, no failed starts despite nagging back strain

	After great year, off-season is optimistic and expect nothing  but good results in the future



11.     High Hopes, Bucking Bales, Soph. Jinx

	After strong spring training, feeling positive about making JV

	Promising summer finds Marc and I working with 3 varsity linemen in the hayfields 	

	Overwrought at not making JV.  Start play with Sophs hoping for promotion that never comes

	Mediocre season and Lucky calls me a coward causing distrust, but commitment to the dream remains steadfast



12.     Post Play Drudgery, Stickball, Hay Field

	Enter off-season upbeat to disprove charges of cowardice, qualify for Bench Press Club

	Quit baseball to put energies back into football, admonished by Lucky for quitting

	In hay fields, confront the vulnerability of my bigotry with help from Roy D.

	Enlightenment of illicit dealings within Lucky's regime by boss, confirming doubts, and verifying suspicions



13.    JV Humility, Promotions, Taketh Away

	Not on varsity, start Junior year on JV's, more demoralizing than being on Sophs.

	Questionable promotions to varsity, pulling strings to acquire place kicker

	Player dies of a ruptured spleen from trainer's errant diagnosis and negligence

	Football mentality and racism of system summon accusations of murder from players



14.      Paying Respect, Continuing Madness

	View Warren's body in grief stricken funeral parlor, deceived by absence of soul

	Supernatural eulogy transports funeral to promised land, Lucky shows no emotion

	Unable to gather sufficient killing intensity, Mustangs lose the game following burial

	Conditioning lets us continue season, but all question validity of game that kills

 

15.	Off-Season Urgency, Indifference Goes to Pot

	Lucky pushes harder than ever for district crown still unachieved as time grows short

	Bending of rules justified to gain advantages; I ease efforts now certain of making varsity

	Join baseball despite football, apathy turns me to marijuana, its evil not dreaded

	Praise from Lucky is enjoyed but shortly, as he snubs friend's attempt to re-join the football team



16.     Construction Intermission

	Commute to Houston for summer job, away from football environment and friends

	Discover more of a real world where obligations and dreams are beyond football

	Befriend boss' son, ex-schoolmate and known rebel, more time spent on drugs than sports

	My mind was converting to non-football attitudes yet still desired to play varsity



17.      Varsity at Last, Injury, Romance

	Make varsity simply for being a senior, but chances good for becoming the starting nose-guard

	Unknowingly break neck, feeble hitting days later urges Lucky to send me to a doctor

	Bad diagnosis allows me to play as punter and resume contact in 2-3 weeks 

	Exquisite coed exclusively seeking varsity beau picks me and I am instantly infatuated



18.     Vengeance and Glory

	Wear black arm-band on day of game against arch rivals and culprits of Warren's injury

	Dismissed prior to game for hair length, but given reprieve as Lucky admits to injustices

	Lucky reproaches arm bands, but we rally from behind to take victory as I punt well

	Sweet celebration with Lori at dance, but irate at Lucky's false public dedication to Warren



19.     Shame and Expulsion

	Lofty hopes to win the second week, first of my high school games attended by my Dad

	Humiliated by dreadful punts in front of my Dad, which contributed to us losing game

	Avow to make amends in next outing, Lucky pulls me from class to kick me off team

	Dire identity loss as I struggle to deal with sudden shock of no football in my life



20.	Rejection, Second Opinion, Tongs

	Girlfriend dumps me for being non-team member, I distance myself from the game

	Houston neurologist detects my broken neck and fearing paralysis puts me in hospital

	Traction applied with steel tongs piercing skull, excruciating pain and loneliness

	Six weeks of bed-ridden ostracization has me bitter but weak, go home in clumsy brace



21.      Unwelcome Home, Surgery, Drugs, Deception.

	Alienation back in school as physically impaired freak and football dissenter

	Four months of traction and brace fail to heal neck, surgery needed to fuse vertebra

	After surgery I use any illicit drug to dull pain; LSD and Quaaludes become favorites

	New viewpoint makes me realize the futility of football and the waste of my dedication



22.      Epilogue

	Go to college in Montana seeking new life, but turmoil inside me won't allow normalcy

	Back in Texas more reckless living leads to another broken neck with full paralysis

	Alleged steroids given by Lucky, blamed for causing cancers in players of '74 class

	Learn my blood is Warren's type, his death perplexes me again, sour legacy for Lucky 

Bud Finlayson
2024 Winding Ridge Circle
Eagle Pass, Texas 78852
(830) 773-1873