Now it's 1965 and i'm in my senior year of high school and I am looking at the frightening reality that I am going to get drafted as soon as I graduate.

During my three semesters at Beckley, students would often mention this school, Marshall University saying it was definitely the school to go to after Beckley... just two hours a way in Huntington West Virginia.

Now the time has come for me to face up to the draft. I couldn't wait any longer for the call so I called the draft board, reported that I was now eligible and would like to be called for the first phase of the draft process.

If you have an injury and do not indicate it in the space provided you are subject to possible imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. Since the question was posed the way it was I felt that I should describe my ankle injuries only based on answering the question.

With almost 2 years of college credits I know exactly what school I will apply... Marshall University in Huntington West Virginia. It was the school I heard about when I went to Beckley junior college.

The football team couldn't win a game but the fans knew the guys were not quitters.

. It was a very intense time to be on a college campus.

My stepfather answered the phone and while sobbing he told me my mother had died. The only real loving adult figure in my life was gone... 49 years old... a brain hemorrhage.

The country experienced heightened insanity when four students on the campus of Kent State University were shot and killed by national guard troops during an anti-war rally.

The idea of being on the field with the team triggered all types of wonderful thoughts. Football, I love the game of football as I reminisced of my high school days on the gridiron. Wow! I was charged with excitement.

I checked in with John at the first opportunity and he gave me an initial briefing as to what field managers do. We were referred to as field managers because our work was based on... when the team was on the field, we were on the field, practices and game day. At the end of the briefing John looked at me and said, when ever you're on the field don't do anything to call attention to yourself.

I was 24 years old, 5ft 11 inches tall, 175 pounds and I had as much athletic muscle as my medium frame could accommodate. The biggest football player weight wise was 230 pounds. I was only a couple years younger than some of the coaches and I felt right at home on the football field.

The next day, game day, I was going to be on the sidelines with the team and I was energized to enhance my learning experience. Throughout the game I took mental notes to better understand how I could be helpful.

The players became aware that I was in fact being helpful and the rapport started to develop. When I would see them on campus we would converse here and there and they got to know my name and identified me as part of them. In the fact I was using this time with the team as a unique learning experience some of the players would give me their scouting reports... I still have them.

I spotted the ball after each play and I could move around among the players with some game tempo as I would quickly bring the ball back to the line of scrimmage while the players huddled...It was fun energy.

The Norrells didn't know that was the last time they would see their son alive.

It was the only flight on the schedule all other away games were by bus and the University was going to make seats available to prominent Huntington residents.

“ You and Eugene Jones have to decide which one of you will fly to East Carolina”. “We're making room on the plane for local Marshall supporters and we can only take one field manager... We can't take any –-- NON-ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL”.

Somewhere along the way I was present when the coaches got into a status discussion about Felix Jordan. Felix was a defensive back from Cincinnati Ohio who had an ankle injury. One of the coaches suggested they take Felix, suit him up, but hold him in reserve, and only use him if they had to. The others suggested not to take him so his ankle could properly heal. The discussion went back and forth for a few rounds. I didn't know what the final decision was I only know that I heard a conversation that Felix Jordan didn't know took place.

When class ended there was some conversation and as we started to leave one of the players said see you on the plane Jer and I informed them that I wasn't going. Their collective response was ; What do you mean you're not going? I explained how it occurred and the three of them proceeded to provide me with the ultimate compliment. They teasingly asked; who was going to help them get ready for the game, and who was going to take care of them on the sidelines during the game. I told them I was going to Columbus to visit a lady friend. When I said that I got teased a whole bunch more. During this, one of the players reminded the other one that if Jerry hadn't caught you flying off the trampoline you wouldn't be going either.