I was raised in Brownwood and went to Coggin Elementary (Ward) through the seventh grade. Back then, grade school went through the seventh grade. We also played real tackle football starting in the fourth grade. (Not me, but the big boys.) We had memorable games against rivals South and Central through those years.

Mid-term of my senior year, Gordon Wood took over as the football coach at Brownwood High School. He had previously won two state championships at Stamford, and we figured this was “Mr. Real Football” when he came to town.

We thought we’d probably start football in first grade with him in charge. But surprisingly, one of the first things he did after he arrived in January of 1960 was to eliminated contact football in grade schools. The helmets, the pads, whatever, went into storage and grade school football as we knew it was canceled. That meant we didn’t play football until the eighth grade.

What did the kids do? They simply played some form of pass tag through the seventh grade. We thought the guy had lost his mind. In Brownwood, Texas, you could only begin playing football in the eighth grade. Crazy! But, it kind of worked out.

Seven state championships later, I would say it worked out real good. I asked Coach Wood later in life, “Why no football in the grade schools?” He said, “In my opinion, the only thing you can accomplish by having competitive football prior to the eighth grade is getting kids hurt, that’s all.”

Apparently, a lot of folks agreed with him. People like Archie Manning. His sons didn’t play organized ball until eighth grade and both Peyton and Eli turned out pretty good.

Of course, Coach Wood left the scene as coach in Brownwood in 1986, and suddenly pee wee football came in. That’s not UIL sanctioned, and certainly not sanctioned by the Brownwood ISD, but pee wee football literally came in and took over. This was competitive football – helmets, pads, coaches, whatever.

I’m kind of torn on this issue. I had a grandson in Mason that was part of two super bowl winning teams in pee wee football and I loved watching him and his friends play. By the same token, the thing I hated to see was a 9- or 10-year-old on the sidelines at those games in crutches. So I understand both sides.

What should you do as a parent? I believe that should be totally up to you. My advice would be to not let a want-to-be coach or an overzealous parent talk you into something that might not be right for your child. This is a very serious and important decision. Be sure you make the decision, not them.

Until next time, so long everybody.

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‘Out of the Box’ with Dallas Huston is published each Monday morning at BrownwoodNews.com. Dallas was the radio voice of the Brownwood Lions and Howard Payne Yellow Jackets for more than 55 years. He currently is Pastor of Center City Baptist Church and hosts a Men’s Bible Study in Brownwood on Monday evenings. Your comments are welcome at [email protected].