Go Friday Night

In Summation

By Lew
July 29, 2005

Editor's note...
The next two entries were written by David Redwine, Class of 1969 Sweetwater High School. He is writing about the historic game between Lubbock Estacado and Sweetwater on October 17, 1968.

Sweetwater lost that game 7-0 and Lubbock Estacado went on to win the state championship that year. Estacado never had as close a game than the game against the Mustangs. Since Sweetater and Lubbock Estacado were in the same district, Estacado advanced because of that night in October 1968. Later, that Mustang team carried the title "one of the best teams in Mustang history NOT to have gone to the playoffs."

Much has been said about that one game in Sweetwater's history. To this day, players from both Estacado and Sweetwater say that was the hardest fought game they were ever in.

Here now is David Redwine's take on how it affected him, and a large part of his life.

Lew

New!
From: David Redwine 1969 Jul 28 2005 5:33:18PM
To: Catharine Greer 1965
(98) Your LEAST favorite teacher (in reply to 96)

Joe,

That was a very special night. Sometimes now I hold that chin strap and I squeeze it very tight. It is just an inanimate object, leather with some snaps on it, but it has my blood all over it and it was there that night. It is almost like an old friend. I can't tell you how much pain that night caused me over the years. It took twenty two years for Coach Boyd to bury that demon for me. I use to go to the Bowl and walk around on the field and I could remember exact plays that took place and where I was and second guessing why didn't I do this or why didn't I do that. Now I go to the Bowl and watch a game and I just enjoy watching the guys play ball. When I think back about guys like Danny Foust, Robert Rivera, Benny Pace, Make Reed, Barry Davis and so on, I can't believe I got to be a part of that. I know those guys all played on some pretty special teams but at that time people in town talked as if there had never been anything like that night. I will never forget walking down tht ramp that night. I had my helment in my right hand as we went to the bottom of the ramp and usually I would put it on as we ran across the field to the sideline. That night I didn't want to put it on, I wanted to listen to the sound and look at all those people that were there. Even after playing in front of 40,000 people in college I have never had anything that exciting in my life. You know Joe, I thought winning that game and going on to the State Championship was the ultimate prize, but today I don't feel that way. High School football games are won and lost everyday the chance to experience what I did that night is a once in a lifetime thing. The ultimate prize was being there. I was on the field with folks that were so much above my playing ability that I should have been charged admission to be there. It was a great night, for the players, for the school and for the community.

I was told weeks after the game as were all the members of that team not to let 48 minutes of football be the high point in your life. I didn't think I was going to make it for a few years but as nice as the memory of that night is, overall it is way down the list. I have been truly blessed in spite of myself.

David

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