The approval of one
I played my last organized football game on Thanksgiving Day 1978. I was a senior in high school and, as tradition had it in Massachusetts, Thanksgiving marked the end of the regular season and for our team, an abysmal 1-8, the last game of our season. Growing up I had dreams of football glory and had actually displayed some signs of gridiron proficiency, but as time went on my 5'5" frame made it clear that a future in football would be relegated to the world of dreams. I was deep on the depth charts, but on Thanksgiving Day every senior got to play. This would be the day I would prove everyone else wrong. This Thanksgiving every coach would rue the day they overlooked the diminutive #18. And I did get to play I was on the kickoff team and my primary goal was to make a tackle and hear my name announced over the public address system. To hear "Todd Catteau makes the tackle" echo through the chilly New England air would be at l...