{"id":25834,"date":"2023-11-18T12:34:30","date_gmt":"2023-11-18T17:34:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=25834"},"modified":"2023-11-18T12:35:58","modified_gmt":"2023-11-18T17:35:58","slug":"fwd-episode-913-football-became-an-addiction-a-dangerous-addiction-1954-to-1961","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=25834","title":{"rendered":"Fwd: EPISODE 913: FOOTBALL BECAME AN ADDICTION…A DANGEROUS ADDICTION 1954 TO 1961"},"content":{"rendered":"
Fwd: EPISODE 913:   FOOTBALL BECAME AN ADDICTION…A DANGEROUS ADDICTION  1954 TO 1961
<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n
Alan Skeoch<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Nov. 15, 2023<\/p><\/div>\n


<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Left handed Alan Skeoch could not skate well because skates were hand me downs and too large.<\/div>\n
He ankled his way across the ice. Hockey was out of the question   His athletic career was football centred.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Victoria University team\u2026Alan skeoch far right, front row,  Russ Vanstone beside him. Eric Skeoch fifth \/sixth? person back row right side.  Who has most mud on face?<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
HOW utterly boring.  Who in their right mind would want to read about my football career.<\/div>\n
I never scored a touchdown.   Never trounced the football except once between 1954 nd 1961\u2026<\/div>\n
from High school to University of Toronto .   Who would care if it did?  Not you, especially <\/div>\n
if you are female.   Most males would not give a damn either.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Here is a reason to read these episodes.  I was scared to death a lot of the time.  I was nothing really.<\/div>\n
No glory.  A lineman and inside linebacker.  Not worth watching.  Then why was I so scared?  I was <\/div>\n
afraid I would let our coach down.  Afraid I would make the wrong move.  <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
I had difficulty telling left<\/div>\n
from right.  Being left handed meant being different from 90% of the population.  It is a right handed world.<\/div>\n
At Kent Public School the teachers tried to \u2018break me\u2019\u2026to make me right handed. The result was<\/div>\n
not good.  I have always had difficulty telling left from right.  Still do.  If asked to use left hand my thumb <\/div>\n
moves fast \u2026 left thumb touches left little finger where there is a bump.  That is my left hand.  And that \u2018bump\u2019<\/div>\n
is a big part of my athletic career.   That little finger was crushed.   More will be told about that bump.  But not now.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
PRIDE AND BRAGGING ARE DIFFERENT<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
I am enormously proud to say that I conquered the handicap.  Became a Toronto City All Star on both<\/div>\n
city all star teams\u2026.Daily Star and Telegram.  Was winner the Wildman Trophy as well.<\/div>\n
Bragging?  There is a difference between bragging and having pride.   When winning the accolades I have<\/div>\n
always been well aware that many players must have been better than me.   One of my best friends<\/div>\n
and fellow lineman, Russ Vanstone, had a forearm smash that was something to be envied.   Rich Mermer,<\/div>\n
our high school halfback was the best athlete I have ever seen.  The same applies at University to our<\/div>\n
fullback, Don Seeback.  Ed Jackan\u2019s cleated leather boot rescued me from a violent incident\u2026kicked the guy<\/div>\n
who was making hamburger out of my face. I have always had good friends.  Ed kicked the gy between the legs.<\/div>\n
Cooled him down fast.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
I still get s warm feeling when thinking of those football days.  Just being an integral part of a team<\/div>\n
was like being an integral part of a Canadian army platoon.   We depended on each other.  We knew <\/div>\n
that.  Our top athletes like Mermer and Seeback knew that and never let their ego loose.   Gest gas who<\/div>\n
became great men.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Our coach, Fred Burford knew the importance of team work . \u201cAlan, the reason you got those all star awards was the team.  We are proud of you<\/div>\n
and hope you recognize your success was team success.”<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Why are you reading this?  I will tell you why.  Some very bad things happened to football players.<\/div>\n
Life long events.   I am 85 years old now and in a few weeks\u2026on Dec. 12, 2023, will face knee<\/div>\n
surgery to make me walk normally again.   So this is more a story of injuries than glory.  Are you still with me?<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Eric\u2019s Humberside jacket has hung in our barn for 73 years\u2026.a little ragged now.   The jacket has been waiting for 68 years for<\/div>\n
me to do this story   Be understanding.   Avoid criticism.   Russ Vanstone\u2019s jacket is perfect he tells me.  Different barn I guess.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
OUR COACH FRED BURFORD<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
 Fred Burford believed in football<\/div>\n
as some believe in god.   The game dominated his waking hours even at the expense wife and family.  His son joined our<\/div>\n
Old boys club shortly after Burford died.  His observation says it all.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cOne day I went to see Dad\u2019s Humberside team play a game against another TSSAA team.   I was shocked.<\/div>\n
The team from Humberside came on the field like a well oiled machine\u2026.every move synchronized.<\/div>\n
I was flabbergasted.  I knew Dad loved football but I did not know he had made the top team in Toronto in 1955.”<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
I WAS SCARED TO DEATH MOST OF THE TIME<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Now I would like to give my observation on those football years in a series of personal anecdotes.<\/div>\n
Surprised to say how many incidents involved injuries.  Some awful things happened. Some of which may sound silly.<\/div>\n
Some, in later episodes, were horrific.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
WHISTLING INCIDENT<\/div>\n
1) I was scared when I joined the Huskies back in 1954. Only a second string lineman and occasional Inside<\/div>\n
linebacker. I sat on the bench most of the time.  Scared I would actually be sent to actually play.  Scared I would let the coach down because <\/div>\n
had trouble telling right fro left.  When the teacher at Kent Public School tried to break me, she failed. Left? Right? Got<\/div>\n
me confused.   Football is a science of right and left diving fullbacks and racing halfbacks while the humble linemen<\/div>\n
try to bash holes in the defensive linemen\u2019s position.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cOK boys, let\u2019s try a left reverse.  Left Gard will pull and smash the left cornerbacker.  Do it on count of three.\u201d<\/div>\n
So spake the quarterback in this imaginary huddle.  My job as left guard was to take out the outside corner backer with<\/div>\n
a flying cross body block (now illegal). <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
 IN the fall of 1954 I was scared and was only sent into the huddle when <\/div>\n
the first stringer got hurt.  But I became noticed by Burf.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cWho is whistling?\u201d<\/div>\n
I raised my hand. ( Whenever I feel afraid I whistled a happy tune as in The King and I.) <\/div>\n
\u201cSo it was you.\u201d  (I am not sure if Burf knew my name back in \u201954.)<\/div>\n
\u201cCome over here and stand on this bench\u201d<\/div>\n
I did so but did not know what that had to do with whistling.<\/div>\n
\u201cBoys, gather round.  There is nothing worse than over confidence in a football game.<\/div>\n
Whistling shows overconfidence.  I want you boys to be quiet..to think about your<\/div>\n
game..to be sure and know all the plays on the mimeographed sheets.  We are going to <\/div>\n
win this game.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cOK Skeoch, step down\u2026no more whistling.\u201d<\/div>\n
I was mortified.  If I could have crawled under the bench I would yhave done so. Seemed that <\/div>\n
every boy in the room looked at me as if I was the anti-Christ.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
All coaches try to think of a way to get teams up for games. Burford was good at that.<\/div>\n
I think he knew he had made a mistake picking on me but he never said so.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
   I am a joiner.   I\u2019m nor a quitter.  Mom said  to me when I filled at skating. \u201cAlan, you<\/div>\n
will always start at the bottom but rise to th top.  Was she just trying yo boost my morale?   I never told her about<\/div>\n
the whistling incident.   And Certainly did not tell dad.  He might have laughed or, worse, he might have gone thundering<\/div>\n
over to see Burf  like Gengis Khan<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
QUARTERBACK HAS NO SHOES<\/div>\n
2)  Burford seemed agitated.    We were all assembled in an east Toronto locker room. Enemy territory.<\/div>\n
Something was wrong.  Tension was higher than usual.  Like the wire on a guitar\u2026tense, tight, close to breaking.<\/div>\n
\u201cBoys we have a problem.  Our quarterback left his shoes at home. One of you will have to<\/div>\n
lend him shoes which means you will not be able to play today.  Quarterback is essential.<\/div>\n
Back up Quarterback, Jim Romaniuk, missed the preparation chalk talk.  We have a crisis.<\/div>\n
Who will give up his shoes?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cI will , sir.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cLet me look at you boots.\u201d<\/div>\n
 My shoes were the bottom of the team shoe distribution bag.  They were old <\/div>\n
and cracked in half.  Something like Bozo the Clown would wear to flap around a circus tent,<\/div>\n
\u201cSorry.  These shoes are no good.  Surprised  you could even wear them.”<\/div>\n
That rejection hurt as much as the whistling incident.<\/div>\n
Other shoes were found.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Humberside C.I had three football teams\u2026Bantam, Junior and  Senior.    Nearly a hundred boys<\/div>\n
had to be strapped into equipment.  Shoulder pads, kidney pads, boots, helmet, padded pants, .  <\/div>\n
\u201cYou boys will have to buy your own jock straps\u2026make sure the jock has  a cup to<\/div>\n
protect your hardware.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
TOTAL COMMITMENT<\/div>\n
3)  Joining the Huskies was like joining the Canadian army in wartime.   At least it seemed that way to me.<\/div>\n
Schoolwork was important but the football war against other high school teams demanded total <\/div>\n
allegiance.  World War II  had only ended 8 years before Ientered grade 9 in 1953. A long time in the past for me<\/div>\n
bt not so long ago for Burf who I Believe had been in the Canadian navy.There was a relationship that <\/div>\n
was akin to the gap between officers and enlisted privates.  Salute and do what you are told.<\/div>\n
So every lunch hour of my high school career was spent in Burf\u2019s hoe room studying endless <\/div>\n
mimeographed sheets of plays.    No chance to scout out the girls .  This was war.  The victories<\/div>\n
were all important. Noting else mattered.  We had around 1,000 stents at Humberside.  Only 100<\/div>\n
were members of the football team. The chosen few. Football was war.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
DON PHILLIPS HAS CONVUSIONS<\/div>\n
4)  One lunch hour I was sitting with the rest of the Junior team in Burf’s room while he reviewed<\/div>\n
 a recent game.  We probably won for we had   a terrific team and eventually<\/div>\n
won\u2019t the TSSA championship that year (1955). The room was silent as Burford<\/div>\n
went over the game.  <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
The silence was broken suddenly b a rattling\u2026then a deep surging.  I turned around <\/div>\n
and looked at Don Philips in the middle row.  He was twitching\u2026emitting some kind of bubbly gutteral nonsense.<\/div>\n
 foaming at the mouth.  Then he fell from his seat twitching.  I was dumbfounded.<\/div>\n
Though Donnie ws going die   Burford quickly ran down the aisle and put a ruler in his mouth at right<\/div>\n
angles.   Later I was told this ruler prevented Don from biting his own tongue.  It is Hard to describe<\/div>\n
the silence in the room tht day.   Once the convulsion stopped there was dead silence.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Never head what happened to Donnie.  He never played football again although he <\/div>\n
completely recovered.  The scuttlebutt round the school was that Don had bashed his <\/div>\n
head in a direct tackle in the previous  football game. Spearing.  Seemed some teachers were blaming Burford<\/div>\n
But that was only said in whispers.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
It was not Burf who was at fault.  He trained us  to never ever use our head as  a\u201dspear\u201d<\/div>\n
when  taking down a ball carrier.  \u201cUse your shoulder, never your head and get him blow the knees<\/div>\n
\u2026.clamp onto him.  Nice clean tackle.  No \u2019spearing\u2019.   Had Don forgotten that rule?<\/div>\n
Or did Don have a previous ailment?   We would never know.  But that moment shook me<\/div>\n
and for the rest of my long football career.  I used my shoulder and tried to hit low.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
THE CROSS BODY BLOCK (now illegal)  <\/div>\n
5) No one gives a sweet goddamn about linemen.  It took me  a while to realize this.<\/div>\n
I thought girls liked football  and being part of the team would lead to romantic conquests.<\/div>\n
That never happened.  Girls , I think, found the game boring.   Certainly my part<\/div>\n
of the game.  no one could see me.  Except..except \u2026 except when given the chance to<\/div>\n
throw s Cross Body Block.  That happened when the ball carrier was trying to out run<\/div>\n
the defence  players\u2026particularly the Outside Corner Backer.  If left side play  I had the chance to run<\/div>\n
beside our halfback and takeout that cornerbacker with a Cross Body Block.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cAlan,  To throw a good Cross Body Block you must put your whole body lengthwise<\/div>\n
in the air.  Six feet of body flying in the air.  Knockdown the corner backer and help <\/div>\n
us get s touchdown.  Be accurate\u2026.just one chance.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Picture: Left Guard Alan Skeoch, Fullback Grant Weber  (Grade 13\u2026less scared than I was in 1954))<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
SURGERY \u2014 KNEE REPLACEMENT.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
   This year, 2023, on Dec. 12 I will be having<\/div>\n
my knee replaced by surgery.  My knee has given out and I blame the Cross body<\/div>\n
Blocking I did from 1954 to 1961.   My knees got bashed badly\u2026.ribs as well.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cHow do you know you were good at it?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cBecause Bob Cwirenko said I was good at it.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWho is he?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cHe was one of our high school team\u2026.a corner backer.  Bob played for SPS,<\/div>\n
the engineers at U. of T.   I played for Victoria  and threw a cross body block on Bob\u2026<\/div>\n
took him out.  When he got to his feet he said \u201cGood block Al\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
(Aside: Marjorie Hughes was an SPS Cheerleader who would later accept my<\/div>\n
brown bagged engagement ring from the glove compartment of our old 1953 Meteor.<\/div>\n
I wonder if Cwirenko noticed her?)<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
ROGER PUGH BLOCKS A KICK<\/div>\n
6)  I set some limits  after I saw Roger Pugh block a kick with his face.  A lot of<\/div>\n
the guys congratulated Roger.   \u201cWay to go \u201cPugh!\u2019  I was impressed by his courage but<\/div>\n
resolved to never put my face where the cleated shoe of a kicker was about to come up full force.<\/div>\n
Bad things happened while playing football.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
alan <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
NEXT EPISODE 914  \u2014 \u201cIF Eric begins a convulsion shove this needle in right away, Alan\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Postscript<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Ed Jackman and Marjorie\u2026hE played left tackle at U. of  T., later became a priest.   A good friend now gone.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Alan Skeoch married Marjorie Hughes in 1963<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Below: Russ Vanstone and Alan Skeoch played football together 1955 to 1961, married roommates.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fwd: EPISODE 913:   FOOTBALL BECAME AN ADDICTION…A DANGEROUS ADDICTION  1954 TO 1961 Alan Skeoch Nov. 15, 2023 Left handed Alan Skeoch could not skate well because skates were hand me downs and too large. He ankled his way across the ice. Hockey was out of the question   His athletic career was football centred. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25834","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25834","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25834"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25834\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25834"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25834"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25834"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}