March 25, 2017It was Doug Stokes who made it possible for me to attend last year's homecoming game. Not only did he motivate me, but knowing he would also be there helped in so many ways. His presence alone, as most of you know, can enhance any event. And we had not seen most of you for 47 years; it was a bit scary. Of course all went beautifully: familiar turf, friends and teammates, Frank doing such a great job of setting it all up.
Doug, Paul Shay, and I stayed at the same motel. It was like old times, being roommates most of our four years at Brockport. But here's why I'm mentioning this. Doug told me a story that came from his heart one day in the room. It was a play he has remembered for all these years; a pass play where as a tackle he did his job protecting Dave Lipke but saw the ball released. So he went off and hit another opponent. This left him face down in the turf. He told me he managed to lift his head, dirt and sweat trapped in his helmet, to see the ball in a perfect spiral flying just over the head of Charlie Bertino. A thought ran through his head - he'll never catch it, it's too long - when Charlie stretched out his arms in a seemingly super human effort and caught the ball for a touchdown. That TD helped secure the win against Cortland in 1967.
I remember Doug telling me that story, looking at my misty eyes with his misty eyes, and saying, "That was the most beautiful football play I have ever seen in my life."
We all have our memories. We are truly blessed. What Doug saw you just can't see from the stands.
Scott Dingman, #42
Class of 1969
Sarasota, Florida