The T-Shirts being sold at the merchandise
stall proudly stated: "Leicester Panthers 2007 - Mid-life
crisis".
The true extent of that crisis will probably only be truly
felt when certain players crawl out of bed the morning after
their first game in 11 years or more.Aside from the obvious
aches and pains, the Panthers' re-formation for a one-off
game at Welford Road in aid of the Matt Hampson Trust Fund
was a triumph of organisation, willpower and physical determination.
Former Panthers quarterback Dave Hagger and
kicker Rex Harrison pulled together a group of more than 50
blokes ranging from their late 30s to their late 50s.
Six months of training later and the "experienced"
Panthers took the field for one final time to play university
whipper-snappers, the Loughborough Aces, for the Matt Hampson
Bowl.
Getting them all together was an achievement
in itself but the Panthers' performance, coupled with a big
crowd, drums, chants and cheer-leaders meant the memories
of yesteryear were all too apparent.
If you shut your eyes, you could have been
at Saffron Lane in the late 1980s or early '90s.
Anyone who followed the club through some
memorable times in those days would have gone all starry-eyed
as the likes of Denny Walker, Phil Badami, Warren Sweetman
and Mike Culver were read out over the Tigers' PA system.
There were also a couple of notable additions
to the Panthers squad for their comeback, led by a San Francisco
49ers fan and a former Panther junior from Market Harborough
called Martin Johnson.
The Tigers legend does not seem to have lost
his appetite for competition since hanging up his rugby boots.
Appearing on offence, defence and special teams, Johnno was
typically here, there and everywhere.
To see him prowling the touchline at Welford
Road was nothing unusual.
To see him smiling and waving to people in
the crowd during the game certainly was.
The scriptwriters were at it again as Johnno
caught an 11-yard pass for the Panthers' third touchdown just
before half-time in their 20-3 victory.
The tight end's catch ended a drive which
began when the 6ft 7in Panther snared an interception as a
defensive lineman.
But the day was about a whole lot more than
Martin Johnson.
Running back Warren Sweetman was a hugely
physical threat with ball in hand, livewire defensive back
Denny Walker still has more energy than a Duracell bunny and
quarterback Mike Culver - one of six players who flew in from
the USA for the game - is class.
The commitment on both sides was fully evident
in some crunching hits throughout the game which led to a
double-figure count of personal fouls. This was no patter-cake
friendly.
The Aces are the most successful team in British
Collegiate American Football history and they had their chances
to reduce the 20-3 half-time deficit but dropped crucial passes
or were intercepted at just the wrong time.
A fantastic crowd which all-but filled the
Crumbie Stand gave the Aces and their Panthers heroes a standing
ovation at the end of the game after which head coach Kevin
Scott was given the mandatory "Gatorade-style" soaking.
The mid-life crisis might be over but the
friendships made during the sport's halcyon days in the '80s
and '90s have been fully rekindled. |
