Someone called the police. I really don’t know why. Several patrol cars suddenly descended on the dark parking lot, where we had gathered. The year was 1978. I was participating in a high school debate tournament in Odessa the night the cops showed up. To be more precise, I was in the parking lot of the hotel where we were staying. A group of us decided that evening to play toga football in the parking area adjacent to our rooms. It was innocent enough. A bunch of guys all wrapped up sheets taken off the beds from our hotel rooms.

My friends immediately tapped me out to be the spokesman on behalf of our group. What are you doing? The officer inquired. I calmly informed him that we were simply playing toga football. I think he was trying very hard to keep his composure. He told me they had received a call of a fight in progress. In all innocence, I told him we were just having a little fun. Thankfully he was amused and not irritated. No doubt he had done such things as a teenager. He did not even roust our teacher out of bed that night. It would not have been a pretty sight for us, and for some he reason he knew that.

I am leaving this morning to serve as a sponsor on a high school debate trip. This is Daniel’s last year to compete at the high school level. This is my 5th year to work with his coach and serve as a sponsor. She is highly competent. I have not shared everything that we did back in the day, but I think she has strong suspicions. For some odd reason Jan always lectures me about being a good influence and not Daniel, when we get ready to depart for tournaments. I have yet to figure that one out.

Jan has little to worry about. I have given up toga football. I have no intentions of making out on the bus, unless she wants to join us on the trip. There were other things done during tournaments that won’t be mentioned. The statute of limitations ran out on those offenses several years ago. Actually I really don’t have time to get into mischief anymore. I have a completely different purpose.

It has been a real privilege to get to know the kids as we travel all over the DFW metroplex. Some of them come from great homes. Others are nearly raising themselves. All of them are trying to find their place in this world. Taking the time to listen to them is my first priority during the down time on tournaments. Watching their events and working in a word of encouragement is near the top of the priority list as well. Having fun during the process is of course of utmost importance. They are all great kids and I have grown to love each of them.

I have been in a patrol car with a police officer more than once when the need to respond to a fight in progress arose. But I strongly suspect none of my officers have ever responded to such a call that ended up being a bunch of knuckleheads playing toga football. I am glad we able to enrich an officer’s professional life in Odessa in 1978. Who knows? Our hotel tonight has a roomy parking lot. An officer from Dallas PD could be enlightened in such a way tonight! But wait a minute…I promised Jan…