More power to old gridiron warriors (Video)

Many sports can stick with an athlete long after their playing days are over.

Golf, running, swimming and tennis easily come to mind, immediately. Any gym or driveway hoop can lead to a pickup basketball game and there are leagues for those guards and forwards with the competitive fire. Softball can be a reasonable substitute for baseball. Some of my more enjoyable summers in recent years including playing in a baseball league with a group of high school friends.

But, football? Tackle football?

The unlikely scenario of reliving high school glory days on the gridiron became a reality for more than 115 former Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Linn-Mar and Marion players last Saturday at Kingston Stadium. Other schools like Tipton and North Cedar and Vinton-Shellsburg and Center Point-Urbana have had their own games put on by Alumni Football USA.

Just from social media (Twitter, Facebook) many have shown interest in future games. Alumni Football USA team Coordinator Jason Chance said he expects the teams and games to expand next year. The organization has become very popular in other areas of the country.

See who played, results and a feature on some of the families involved.

Watch former Linn-Mar player Matt Greer throw a touchdown pass to Bryce Peterson in the Lions' alumni 28-18 win over the Indians.

They went the whole nine yards. Pads, tackling, school colors and even pre-game drills. Absurd was the first thought that came to mind coupled with scenes from the movie "The Best of Times." IMDB.com describes the movie as "A small-town loser determines to have one more shot at the big time by winning a football game." The line refers to Robin Williams' character who tries to gain the respect that escaped him for most of his life in an alumni football game against a rival team that beat them in the high school playoffs.

These games, however, were nothing like that and the player's quest didn't resemble those over-the-hill trying to fix shattered dreams.

Many of the players were in their 20's and early 30's, but there were some older veterans who were closer to 40 than 30. Some played high school football when Berlin had a giant wall separated East and West Germany and reality television was commonly referred to as the "news."

“This feels like home,” Former Jefferson standout Cody Northern said. “Just having it at Kingston is even greater.”

Then there was Gary Albaugh, who graduated high school before many of the other players from last weekend were born. Albaugh, 55, graduated from Marion in 1974 and suited up for the Indians' alumni squad, which included his son, Troy, and nephew, Brent. Albaugh said practices - yes the teams put in a lot of practice leading up to the games - were tough, causing plenty of aches and pains.

“When they contacted me, at first I wasn't going to do it,” Albaugh said. “Then I thought putting the pads on would be great.

“No player likes to turn in their football pads when it is all over."

Watch Marion's Pat Stalkfleet throw a TD pass to Trent Fish.

The games provided these players to grab those pads one more time. A feeling that can't be duplicated anywhere else, and barring those players who played in college, hasn't been experienced since the final high school game. Sure, you get to relive a time in your life when you were younger, but it wasn't as if the players took the field for redemption or praise.

No one was trying to hurt anyone (although there were a few injuries but less than I expected), but don't mistake that for a lack of effort and wanting to win. The players played, hit and ran hard, but didn't take the field with their self-worth or lives depending on the outcome. You can bet there was plenty of tape used beforehand, as was the case when I approached former Jefferson player and Cedar Rapids Washington assistant football coach Chris Buesing who had his ankles and knee tended to, and a lot of ibuprofen swallowed after and during the last couple days. Something Nelson Evans, 36, a senior lineman for the 1992 Jefferson playoff squad, hinted would be in his future.

There were some awards, honoring offensive and defensive players and the oldest players. I doubt anyone took the field with those in mind or thought about them as teams shook hands, posed for pictures and held a prayer together afterward.

The players, 18-55 according to the organization's website, suited up to play with their own family members - like the Albaughs or brothers Ashton and Cody Northern of Jefferson and brothers Mike and Will Morio from Kennedy - and the teammates they considered family for at least the four years in high school. They played for the rush felt when you hit helmet-to-helmet, the pop from shoulder pads driving into an opposing player or synchronized movements of 11 players to execute a play with precision.

“It was great,” Brent Albaugh said. “Playing linebacker and hitting people."

Fans actually came out and supported the event. Jefferson had the largest following, helping produce an estimate crowd of more than 2,000 for the nightcap. To be honest, Jefferson supporters haven't had much to cheer about in recent years. An event like this can help reconnect the players of today with those who helped build the tradition of the past. Maybe a group of alumni can rejuvenate the excitement in the current players, showing them exactly what type of passion made the program successful in the past.

As skeptical as I was in the beginning, I am even more of a fan now. Not a big enough one to ever put on pads and play, but I certainly will go watch. For those who do have the ability and passion to suit up and take the football field one more time, more power to you. I hope this year was a cornerstone for an annual event.