Burnt River Bulls
This is the first installment of a new photo column that fellow Oregonian photographer Jamie Francis and I will be producing. We will travel to the far corners of the state and hopefully show the culture of football around the different regions. This first one is going to be difficult to beat. What a great group of kids and a wonderful story. Jamie and I will share the duties of collecting pictures, audio and video. Below is the online version while there will be a picture (2 for the first installment) and an extended caption in the sports section once a week.
UNITY, OREGON – Wayne Wise has never coached football. In fact, he hasn’t picked up a football in 34 years. Six of his eight players are foreign exchange students who have never played the game. His quarterback, from Taiwan, is affectionately called Harry, because few—including us—can pronounce his given name. It’s 90 degrees, there’s no shade, and no substitutes.
Wise knew all this was coming, and still agreed to coach The Burnt River Bulls eight-man football team this season. He did it for one reason; he wanted the kids in Unity to have the same experience as others across Oregon. He wanted them to have the opportunity to play football.
Fielding a team at Burnt River is often a challenge. The K-12 school southwest of Baker City is too remote to combine with other schools as some in their league.
burnt river bulls first game
So the 45 person student body and about 60 people from the community turned out to support their team when the season opened this past Friday afternoon against Prairie City.
There were some bumps; seven first quarter fumbles, but they did score a touchdown. The Bulls halftime locker room looked like a train wreck as players gasped for air and tried to process the new game.
Prairie City scored early and often though, and the game was stopped in the third quarter after Burnt River got down to five players. Cramps and dehydration take a toll.
But in the end, Burnt River met a goal; They will play again this Friday.