The Central College football team stopped at Rippey Saturday evening to eat their post-game meal following their game with Buena Vista at Storm Lake. This has been a continuing tradition since 1986 when Velda DeMoss first suggested the idea. Quoting Velda in her “Velda’s Varieties” column in the Globe Free Press Nov. 21, 1996 when she recapped that evening: “Of course I no longer know any of the Central College players, only the coaches and wives. But the players look the same, well-dressed, well-behaved young men, I’m sure many were trying to figure out why they were eating supper in a church in Rippey instead of a restaurant along the route. Hopefully the coaches can explain the tradition to them. I remember Marc’s reaction to my suggestion that the team eat in Rippey on the way home from Storm Lake. “Oh, geez, Mom, you can’t do that!” Oh yes I can!”
This year was no exception. The players are still well-dressed and well-behaved. A bit subdued by their last play loss to BV, but were able to consume the meal in a short time and sing their fight song! Only one player/coach, Jeff McMartin, is left who played with Marc DeMoss on the team that Linda Borgeson was the manager. He asked about both and I filled him in on their families. Touching on their last minute loss to BV, I had to mention the young man who made the play is one of our local boys, T. J. Lint, and he was quick to compliment him on having a great game!
Kevin and Mary Hick cooked the meal and with the help of many willing helpers, including the youth group, and alumni of Central, David Weaver. Also, Schyler Bardole, who just a short time ago was a teammate of some of the players, helped served 86 plus the help.
I was able to grab one of the players for a “family” picture. Trevor Smith, a graduate of Audubon High School, is the grandson of the former Nancy (Darling) Smith, who grew up in Paton. His aunt Judy Wilson still lives there. He had been “warned” that I may seek him out and I was impressed that not only was he willing to take a picture while his buddies were watching, but he actually knew that his grandpa Eldon Darling was my dad, Ellwin’s brother!
Whether this tradition continues is speculation, but of all the news articles Velda wrote about events in her life, the Central College Football Supper was one of her favorite subjects. It sure makes great memories for those of us who shared her enthusiasm!
-Jean Borgeson