Flag Football:
1405 United Rides Again

The latest 1405 United flag football odyssey has ended, just like those before it. Something is different about this effort, though, and it has nothing to do with the older, rounder bodies of the battered participants. Flag football has always been about having fun, but the competition has sometimes gotten the better of these erstwhile warriors. Teams with tremendous potential have seen their dreams dashed due to injuries, absences, and poor luck. The bitter defeats have been dissected for months and years afterward, the elusive title always beyond reach. This year's team also fell short, but its members experienced a far greater pleasure: the thrill of playing a game they love.

Ten out-of-shape, past-their-prime flag football veterans hit the field in Las Vegas on the chilly morning of Saturday, January 13. In the middle of the desert, game time temperatures crept near forty degrees, but the members of 1405 United were undeterred. Donning their green uniforms (with optional blue face paint), just as they had done during their collegiate days, the Darnall Hall alumni (plus a few stragglers) trotted out to face their first two opponents. Before the day was done, 1405 United would be two games down with two players out with injuries. Deflated by the losses? Not likely, and they would it prove it to themselves and their fans - most of whom skipped the cross-country flight - the following morning.

At the conclusion of the Las Vegas Nationals, 1405 United would be credited with a 1-3 record, good enough for minimal recognition in future tournaments but little else. The three losses may eventually fade away, but the victory will live on as a reminder of this team's potential. On another brisk morning, 1405 United, the 22nd seed in a 25-team tournament, scored one for all the undermanned teams across the country. A quarterback rediscovered his legs, a defense announced its presence, and a weary team notched an impressive 18-14 victory. With fallen comrades on the sideline cheering them on, the stars of 1405 United showed that their competitive days are not behind them yet.

Even though the value of one victory cannot be understated, it might not be as significant as the fact that 1405 United made its way onto the field of battle. In May of 1997, when the team (then known as Team Braveheart) lined up for one final game against the arch-rival Burgers, few thought that these players would ever suit up together again. One memorable Las Vegas tournament later, players now talk excitedly of spring and summer tournaments, of past triumphs and future glory. What will tomorrow hold for these heroes, now closer to thirty than twenty? No one knows, but keep those green uniforms handy...

See Also: Flag Football Pre-Game

Submitted 1/18/01.