Every Friday night, Saturday afternoon, and Sunday afternoon during football season, teams square off against each other on the high school, college, and professional levels.
We all read and hear about the backs, receivers, and kickers that score the points by either touchdowns or field goals.
These guys are constantly patted on the backs and congratulated for their talents after their scores. The television reporters and newspaper writers are in their face to get a word about how they scored. These point makers bring the excitement to the game and the crowds to their feet.
Although they are the ones that put the points on the scoreboard and are a valuable part of their team, there is another group of players that walk in the shadow of these heroes-the linemen. These "human bulldozers" provide the way for the scoring heroes. They are the ones in the ditches that get all the dirty work on every play. Most of these players have braces on their legs, caused by cheap shots to the knees, or being twisted in the middle of a tackle pile up. These players are pinched, hit, and mangled on every play, and most of the action is unseen by the fans and officials. But this is part of their job and they expect it and take it.
When the game is over, they see the fans, media, and cheerleaders congratulating those that put the points on the board, but they proudly accept it. For in their hearts, they know that had it not been for their work on the line, most of the scoring would not have taken place.
They know that in the locker room, those that did the scoring are going to come up to them and thank them, or tell what a good job t hey did up front. All of this is in the life of a football lineman.
So the next time you attend a football game on any level of play, go up to the guys that wear the 50,60, or 70 numbers, and pat them on the back and tell them what a good job they did, because they are, the "Unsung Heroes ".
