With football season in full swing, and because I have had a TERRIBLE Fantasy weekend against my bro, I thought I’d throw-back to happier times and one of my favorite high school moments – Powder Puff.
To me it was a right of passage but of course things have certainly changed over the years. Girls are now being allowed on football teams, they even have their own football leagues, but back in the day the only chance we had to partake in the sport other than in a few scrimmages in PE, was when you signed up for Powder Puff.
Powder Puff took place during Homecoming Week and was always on a Thursday, the night before the real game. We’d play on the big field under the bright lights and then we’d have a bonfire afterwards, throwing a dummy into the flames and cheering antiquated taunts that our upcoming opponents couldn’t hear. It was awesome. The girls of each class would get as many players as they could to outfit a team (it was iron man football at its finest) while any boys who had a good sense of humor and absolutely no shame would be the cheerleaders. Essentially one big role reversal for an evening, if you will.
It wasn’t tackle, it was flag, but we played like it was tackle. All of the classes above and below mine were much bigger in size, so they had more girls from which to pull a team together. Which is one of the reasons I was always so proud of our girls. We were hands down the underdogs every time. If we made a first down, it felt like a miracle. Though I will note we had several remarkable athletes on our wee little team, so I really shouldn’t have been so impressed with the little things. Just one more reason I loved my class and my Powder Puff girls. We. Were. Hoosiers. (any true Hoosier knows what means)
I honestly cannot remember if we ever won a game, but I remember the feeling of being on the field, of running the ball, of chasing a running back or blocking a wide receiver. It could get violent. Girls sneaking in shoves and hair tugs and elbows anywhere and everywhere. Pretty sure one of our players had to see a doctor about her jaw after some unscrupulous Junior kicked her in the face… but from our entrance to our exit, every pass, catch, tackle, huddle, and whistle blow was exhilarating. And we were a team.
To the girls in my class who stepped up every year so we could field a team, and to the boys who put themselves out there in short skirts and pom-poms, you have a special place in my heart now and always. Thanks for making my football dreams come true…
I think this was senior year. Regardless, these were some kick ass young ladies and I was proud to call them my teammates.
Running onto the field was the BEST!
The boys who had no shame … you were perfect in every way.
Cheering their little hearts out.
Something great was happening …
