Christopher GunnThe sun set at 4:51 p.m. Tuesday.
With the sun retreating towards the horizon at what seems like an extraordinary pace these days, and cloudy skies beginning to filter in with the first signs of winter rains, it may seem like there isn’t enough time or opportunity in the day to do anything fun.
I have to admit that I was beginning to get a little depressed at the notion of spending a lot of time indoors, out of the water and off the running trails.
That is until I realized that I had forgotten about one part of winter rains and early sunsets that is always a good time.
Mud football, need I say more?
Growing up, mud football was not just something we did during winter; it was a way of life. I cannot count the number of times I have sauntered home tired, wet, cold, muddy, bruised and completely enthused about the play that my friend made or the catch that I pulled down in traffic for a winning touchdown.
We played on the frozen tundra of Meadow Park in Petaluma, Calif. which was of a field across from my elementary school.
Some mornings we would see our breath as we ran all streaks down the field, always running towards the endzones. Touchdowns were all too common and kick returns had to be outlawed because TD returns became a common place.
This winter, I plan on returning to the fields of my childhood and playing some good old fashion, “two touch” football with my friends from here and home.
There seems to be an abundant amount of large grassy fields in the San Luis Obispo area that offer a bounty of mud and if your good, glory.
Here are some parks in the local area that are ideal for mud football:
Meadow Park – Located off south street, near the intersection of South and Broad streets.
Santa Rosa Park – Located on Santa Rosa, near the Arco Station.
The Cal Poly playing fields -Located across from the baseball field, behind the recreation center and in the center of the track.
All three of these locations offer enough room to facilitate a large game of mud football. So once the rains start to pour and the fields begin to loosen up with that fresh winter mud, hit the fields with your best buds or gals and have a good time slipping and sliding from sideline to sideline and into the endzone.
I know that I will be out there at some point during the wet season, because when it gets dark too quickly to travel anywhere else and it is too wet to justify any other activity, mud football is a good way to relieve some tension and have a good time with friends.
Keep it safe, clean and spicy…
Chris Gunn is a journalism senior and assistant sports editor. You can e-mail him at cgunn@calpoly.edu.