Honors College versus College of Art and Design square off on the flag football field of battle

This is the Liberal Arts version of combat - flag football

Pre-game coin toss, NCF in blue, Ringling College in black

 This Sunday, I was invited to witness the "tie-breaker" in a series of five athletic challenges between the "Fighting Armadillos" of Ringling College of Art and Design and the New College of Florida team (who apparently failed to agree on a name).  Perhaps a fund raiser to "Name That Team" for the Relay For Life/American Cancer Society will follow this afternoon's event.

Ringling College failed to tie the game as time ran out in their own red zone, failing to score the point which would have sent the game into overtime.  So, the record now stands at 3-2, based on today's nineteen points scored by New College, and a valiant eighteen points by the Fighting Armadillos.

Now, the concept of a red zone in flag football, played by seven on a side, all wearing belts of "flags" to be substituted for a real man's tackle.  The game becomes more of an evade and escape exercise, and most scores came from running, although a fair amount of passing was attempted but to little success.   I thougt that Michael Long of New College was the better passer, but the QB from Ringling seemed more agile in the running game.  
That's Long in the blue uniform, number 0, and Hunter Thomposon of Ringling in the black, number 1.
Hunter ultimately sacrificed his dark head of hair as the loser, but his father (who is President of Ringling College) had a worse fate.
The Presidents of each university agreed that the losing educator had  to sit in the dunk tank while people threw softballs and tried to soak them for fifteen minutes following the game.

It was a fun day, and I've posted quite a few additional pictures to my FaceBook page.  I think the best comment was "New College was best at playing the game, while Ringling excelled at filming it.        

Seven Critical Thinkers from New College

Michael Long, winning QB

Beautiful daughter, beautiful grandson

The picture on the left just arrived today, where Cole Robert was enjoying the afternoon with his mom and other neighborhood women.  The subdivision is a very sociable place, where after work "winding down" is the order of the day.

The photo on the right is perhaps a week old (circa April 1, 2013) and shows Cole sitting on his dad's lap.  Caitlin of course is flashing that winning smile.  People say she cannot deny being my child (nor can her brother JB) although I just keep getting older and she looks better each year.  She will reach the dreaded (by some) 30th birthday this year, and will reach that wonderful time in her life when a woman truly comes of age - knowing where she's been, where she's going, and having developed a plan to get there.  Cole turns 18 months later this month, and each time I see him through the wonders of iPhone technology, he continues to amaze.  Grandchildren truly are a blessing, and you only wish they lived closer.