BLOOD AND GUTS COLE

ive told this story in the past but i will again in honor of my good friend john.  in high school we played for a school team who had just enough players to put a 11 man team on the feild. my friend john was the unofficial leader and capitan. he kept every one fired up, and ready to play no matter how many sore places, bruises and dings you had. i remember players with broken fingers, twisted ankles and mild concussions who refused to sit out because they didnt want to expierence the wrath of " blood and guts cole"! in the early 60 s we were some of the first kids who had to wear a mouth peice.  it was mandatory and with out one you wernt allowed on the field. we had played a quarter against a tough team, we were already beat up but were able to hold on to a 3 point lead mainly due to the hard play and scoring of ole blood and guts. he had the rest of us inspired  to a level that  is best described as devine. we were in a huddle beginning the second quarter when the ref stepped into the circle and ask ole blood and guts where his mouth peice was . he replied he had it.  the ref wanted to see it, john nlooked around the huddle at the rest of us, smilled, then reached down the front of his pants into his jock strap and retrieved the missing mouth peice where he had placed it for safe keeping. he smilled and promply popped it into his mouth and said see? the ref shook his head and walked off laughing, our quarter back wasnt so lucky, he lost his lunch, the rest of us laughed the rest of the game which we won.