[Reginald Rutledge]

"The Box" has been a part of the DFW League since it's existence. There have been many myths about "The Box" from it taking up too much time to things happening on every play. Now what happened up in the BAM with "Dicegate" only lends to the myths that are already perpetuated about "The Box".

Most of you probably don't know that "The Box" was brought to me by Roddy Garcia, one of the early innovators to trying to offer some type of realism to the game. For the longest, I played the game without any element of chance. Games were perfect. The only imperfection came with my inability to to hit my man and somehow hit a player from another team. But when I introduced this to the DFW in 1995, it came with great opposition.

It was frustrating getting the people here to understand that chance and luck is a part of sports. Well, over the years, guys became more in tune with that element of the game. Now, they can not live without it. We've played one game in 14 years without it and the two guys who played in that game felt a certain sense of boredom.

I've always been a recruiter of Road Warriors to things that I do. I love to bring good guys in to Texas and extend a bit of hospitality. In 2007 and 2008, I asked two guys to come here who would be limited from a disability standpoint. Both came in opposite years to play in the Shootout style. A rule, which was revised from my childhood, was put into play again concerning passing with "The Box".

One coach decided to go in a different direction. The other, Jim Davis, decided to play with "The Box". For passing, "The Box" simulated completion percentages based on yardage. The interception and incompletion elements are in there as well. I watched Jim Davis play Norbert Revels to halftime using the pass box. I could tell Norby was a little frustrated because of how Norbert was playing Jim. But Norby, being a good sport, went with it. I think he was losing 21-14 at the half. The had to stop that game because of time constraints. Norbert and I have never talked about that game since.

Fastforward to this years playoffs and Jim Davis, known for being a power coach, has Michael Robertson on the ropes. Michael is swearing over the fairness of the pass box. Jim Davis is shaking "with a smile". Guys are debating whether it works or not. I am using the now famous "It is what it is" line with other coaches justifying that it will eventually work at. By the time I left the game, Jim Davis had a two touchdown lead on Michael R. It was not half when I left.

The rate of plays for this football game was going at something like 60 plays in the opening half. That would amount to nearly 120 plays at the end of game! Fast forward to the 4th quarter and I am talking to Don Hudson and I hear, " D A M N, I've just thrown my 3rd pick" uttered by Jim Davis! At that point, I think Mike was ready to go in on a score to take a 31-21 lead. By game's end, Jeasy was exhausted, ********ed off, but loving the element of the box. Now we do know the brother can stand up and throw but for me, it ain't even about that! For what it would take Jim to stand up, move around the board in an uncomfortable manner, and then try to throw the ball, just did not seem fair to me. So this method was introduced. Jim took full advantage of it against Mike (as well he should). But by the end of the day, the method proved to work well. Jim was something like 17-27-320 yards and 3 interceptions! All crucial interceptions in crunch time. I did see him score right before the half and go up on Mike with the shake of the box and that was demoralizing for Mike. But like great champions, he battled back.

And as everything ended, Jim and I had a chance to reflect on the pass box. I told him he needed to come up with any suggestion to make it more fair to all concern. In his opinion, he felt the percentages were fair. "The Box" gaveth and "The Box" tooketh away. JEasy was probably the right person to do this because he is one of the truly outstanding coaches in the game who could easily get lulled into thinking "The Box" was his friend on every play. He started gambling too much and his luck changed!

The CBSMF will have the box in full force for coaches who have a physical disability. We want them to compete in a fast-paced manner and the simple shake of the box gives us immediate results on completions, incompletions, and interceptions. So thanks JEasy for playing with the box and providing much needed information on it's merits. It gave and took indiscriminately.

Reg