QB Perry Plucked Out Stands To Play

Texas A & M is famous for its 12^th  man in the stands

Thousand of standing and yelling fans joined by stirring nots of its band

The 12^th  man at A&M only noise does it display

No one charges out onto the field to actually play

When the Navy decides to take a ship out of service but not decommission

It is put into the  Mothball Fleet and moored at Suisun Bay

Waiting silently to be recalled and sent sailing back into harm’s way

Only fitting  that for athletes not ships the Navy would be able to mothball

Playing Fordham Navy’s starting quarterback hit the game ending injury wall

Only one QB now on the field is like going into combat with only one propeller or only one 5 inch shell

An into harm’s way visit would quickly turn into a fatal Hell

The only other QB due to illness most of the week was in mothball in the stands in dress whites

To be plucked from stands during halftime to be inserted into the game in the third quarter to keep the Navy team floating upright

Malcom Perry, a true freshman but no relation to the Navy’s hallowed Perry line

Ready to use in his heart the “don’t give up the ship” Oliver Perry slogan yet another time

No passes thrown but 30 yards rushing and  a ninety yard scoring drive

Fordham’s dream of upset on this Saturday did not survive

On this day young Perry was able to his fellow Midshipman proudly proclaim

“We have met the enemy and they are ours a first step to postseason bowl fame.’’

And a lesson to be learned for us all

Always even if in the stands of life, as opposed to the bench, be prepared to take the call

© September 4, 2016, Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet
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