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My grandson, Ryan Mathews, played his last football game as a High School player last Friday night at Rabbobank arena in the Blitz Bowl. It wa sgreat to see him play again. He ran the opening kickoff back for a TD and didn't disappoint anyone all night with his play. The whole family was there plus quite a few friends, enough so that we took up two and a half rows of seats in one section. Obviously the Arena format is nothing like the traditional format, but a sensational player looks good anywhere! Ryan was actually having fun and didn't have his usual dour, serious gameface on as he stalked the sideline as he did during football season. When one of the family would shout to him he'd turn around and flash his winning smile whereas at the regular season games he might turn around and give you his "I'm working" look. He ran and caught all evening and put on quite a show garnering the MVP award in the process.

After the game, the media set up some tables so all the players could chat and sign autographs. It was really cool and it seemed that most of the players who chose to participate had plenty of attention, but it was Ryan woh had a line and a crowd gathered around him. I didn't even go there, but walked around chatting with and congratulating all the other players, even finding out that one of Ryans teammates was the nephew of a guy I work with.

As I walked around that arena I realized that it was the last hurrah for all these kids. They are all seniors and none of them will ever play another down for their alma maters. While Ryan is the only one I am actually linked to, all of these young men must have been feeling elated and nostalgic, or bummed, or whatever and that had an unexpected effect  on me..I felt a little sorry for them all. I know hat they are going to miss next year, even the ones, like Ryan, who will go on to college will be leaving something they can never get back.

I am proud of Ryan and all he has accomplished, but I am proud of the other kids too. The ones I don't even know. That game will be something they will all be able to tell their grandkids about someday and that is a cool feeling. I guess I am just glad I got to be there for their last hurrah!