Aug 11, 2008
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Play To Win
By Mikel R. Virdell…recording the history of the Fighting Llano Yellowjackets since 1973.
I was asked once “why did I waste my time writing about the Yellowjackets every week”? “No one cared.”
At that time, I had no answer, but today I know.
The first part of the answer is that I wanted everyone to remember. It is as simple as that. I wanted people to remember Henry Hammonds. I wanted people to remember Sammy Rabb, and Tommy Duncan. Would anyone ever remember Jim Everett? Would anyone ever remember how good and how fast Dayton Leifeste was? Would they? There would be only one way, and that was to have a record of their accomplishments. A record of what they did. My heroes were very important to me, and these along with hundreds of others needed to be remembered. For what reason, may never be clear, but in 1973, I thought it was the most important thing I would ever do. Perhaps I have kidded myself about the importance of the subject. But remembering heroes is not very cool anymore. Remembering the old days is very old fashioned. But, selfishly, remembering the people that shaped my life, and made me who I am, was very important.
In 1971, Freddie Steinmark played for the University of Texas. Freddie was a defensive back, all 5 feet, 10 inches, and about 160 pounds. He had been a starting defensive back for two full seasons for the Longhorns. In the final game of the 1969 season, Texas played Arkansas in Fayetteville for the National Championship. The game would later be named, the “Big Shootout”. Texas won with a great game by Freddie, and the Longhorns were bound for the Cotton Bowl to play Notre Dame.
Six days after the Arkansas game, Freddie was checked into M.D. Anderson Hospital and diagnosed with a bone sarcoma, and his left leg was amputated. 20 days after the amputation, Freddie stood on crutches and watched his teammates beat Notre Dame. His teammates had dedicated the game to him.
One year later, with the help of Blackie Sherrod, sports editor of the Dallas Times Herald, Freddie released his autobiography, I Play To Win. A story of his life, football, and his faith in God. Approximately 5 months later, June 6, 1971, Freddie Steinmark died.
I remember watching Freddie on the sidelines of the Notre Dame game. He was so happy, so full of joy just to be where he was. I had never witnessed such inner strength. I was 20 years old. I knew I did not have that kind of strength, while at the same time Freddie was only 19 months older than me.
I have no idea why Freddie Steinmark made such a strong impact on my life. I just know that he did. Through the past 47 years, I have often wondered what Freddie Steinmark would have done, had he been me, when I faced the obstacles of life. And having no idea of how he would have handled a particular situation, I did know that he would never have given up, never have backed down. Maybe he would have been afraid, but would only have gone forward. I just seem to know that about Freddie Steinmark.
The first game of the season in 1973, I watched as Ken Gray coached his first game as Llano’s Head Football Coach. I decided to write the story of that game. And over the past 35 seasons, and 374 games, I have been there except for four. I wanted everyone to remember. I wanted these games to have meaning and life, even 35 years later. And to me, every game still lives. For in every one of those 374 games, a lesson was learned, and a memory made.
In my first articles, I had little problem in coming up with a title. If it was to be the only article I ever wrote, I wanted to remember it by honoring Freddie Steinmark. I still don’t really know if anybody cares. But I did, and I will bet you that Freddie Steinmark would have not minded that I stole from his title, I Play To Win. For Some unknown reason tonight, I decided to tell this story. I have never told anyone about the title and its origin until now. My quest is to record the history of Yellowjacket football, where every game, lessons can be learned, and memories made.
August 16th, Llano travels to Sonora to scrimmage. My understanding is both JV and Freshman will get some time in. Sonora was 5-5 last year, and sophomore quarterback Ethan Moore started as a freshman. Sonora is in District 4-AA.
Back to Jacket Field on August 21st to scrimmage Early. And the following Friday, Llano travels to Rockdale for the first time in history. Llano played Rockdale in 1976 in Georgetown in the playoffs, losing 10-9.