Jim Sharp, 1960
Coming into East High as a sophomore, I decided to try wrestling — 93 pound class. As a junior, I moved up to 112 pounds, and as a senior I tried 127. Well, I should have never tried that! I did much better at the 112 lbs. weight level as a junior when I competed in the State tournament.
I also went out for football as a junior; well, 4th string, of course. I was never given a “player’s uniform,” only the clothes in which we practiced. Playing on the Junior Varsity team, I was a quarterback. My helmet was so big I could swirl it around my head! The pads were so big, if I had to throw, I had to hold the pads up with one hand so I could complete my pass. I probably could have put someone else in my shirt — with me! And the pants were so large….
I never suited up for a game, just wore the practice “uniform.” One day, because of injuries, I was the 
only remaining choice for quarterback. It was a Junior Varsity game with North High. I was put into the game and the coach, Bob Shepler (at left), told me what play to run. I never had a playbook, so I had no idea what the play was. As we all huddled, I asked the other guys if they knew what the play was. No one did. So I called to have a “right jump throw to the corner.”. One of our team members was a really fast guy — don’t remember his name — and I had him go to the right towards the end zone. I called it and jumped and threw, he caught the ball and made the touchdown! Hey, really good for 4th string!
only remaining choice for quarterback. It was a Junior Varsity game with North High. I was put into the game and the coach, Bob Shepler (at left), told me what play to run. I never had a playbook, so I had no idea what the play was. As we all huddled, I asked the other guys if they knew what the play was. No one did. So I called to have a “right jump throw to the corner.”. One of our team members was a really fast guy — don’t remember his name — and I had him go to the right towards the end zone. I called it and jumped and threw, he caught the ball and made the touchdown! Hey, really good for 4th string!I went back to the sideline and Coach Shepler asked me why we didn’t do the play he had called. I just shrugged my shoulders. He sent me in again and asked for the same play. Well, we DID the same play, the same one we did the FIRST time, only changed corners. Hey, he ran for another — almost — touchdown!
Coach Shepler wasn’t too happy with me, but I told him I had never had a playbook so didn’t have the slightest idea what he had called. One thing that was also funny — the guy that ran so fast and made that first touchdown had to hold his pants up in order to run because they were too big for him!!!
“My Athletic Career at East” as told by Jim Sharp. Many thanks to all that helped with this story!
Love the comedy of this story! I had three sons who never played football but loved soccer. My youngest was always a goalie. He used to get frustrated because he would call directions out to the team and they often did not listen, which is part of learning. What bothered me was the moms in the bleachers yelling at the players. On a few occasions I sat next to a real screamer. Eventually she asked who my son was, and I told her he was the one she was screaming at.