RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
The scorching sun brought record book temperatures and drought to San Antonio this summer, enough to decrease our water supply. But it was not enough to stop Randolph's thirst for football action. Flag football, that is.
Tuesday night officially kicked off another year of Randolph's annual eight-versus-eight flag football season. The preseason started last week, when seven teams representing various units across base scrimmaged against each other to get a feel for their players, the ball and the field, however parched it was.
The seven registered teams for this season are from the Air Force Personnel Center, 561st Network Operations Squadron, Air Force Recruiting Service, 359th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, 359th Medical Group, 902nd Force Support Squadron and the 902nd Civil Engineer Squadron.
For Senior Airman Colby Albright, 359th Medical Operations Squadron Mental Health Flight technician, beating the heat, and the competition, is part of what makes flag football a great morale booster for Randolph Air Force Base.
"People should come out to see what's happening," Albright said. "We're out here not only representing our squadron, but Randolph as well."
He is a member of the medical group's flag football team, the reigning champions from last season's competition.
As a reigning champion, Albright knows all too well in his third season as a wide receiver that football is a game of speed and aggressiveness, bringing out fast-paced action and tough competition.
"It gets really competitive regardless which team you play," he said. "There's a competitive spirit about football and I love it."
The games take place every Tuesday and Thursday starting at 6 p.m., and are held on the football field across from the Rambler Fitness Center. There are bleachers where spectators are welcome to support the competing teams.
Rikk Prado, 902nd Force Support Squadron Rambler Fitness Center sports manager, said crowd turnout has been refreshing for the players.
Commenting on the overall competition of the seven registered teams, Prado does not see one team standing out over another.
"Football is the most competitive sport on base, even if it's flag football," Prado said. "It's a non-contact sport, but it still gets competitive out there and is fun to watch."
The season lasts 10 games, or 10 weeks, and the games are played in two 20-minute halves, with referees calling the games. After the season, all seven teams make the playoffs, seeded first to seventh place based on their wins, to then play for the Randolph championship.
Prado said the regular season is preparation for the playoffs, where a team's wins and losses really count. A seventh seed team coming into the playoffs can still win the entire competition.
After the Randolph playoffs, the top four teams are entered into the Joint Base San Antonio flag football tournament, now in its second year, to compete for bragging rights against the top four teams from Lackland AFB and Fort Sam Houston in single-elimination games.
Last year, Albright's team placed second in the JBSA tournament. Prado hopes to see any of the four teams that make it to the JBSA tournament win the event to officially call Randolph AFB home to the best flag football team.