Intramural flag football gives CMU students fun competition

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It is 10 p.m. on a cold Monday night.

While most students are relaxing and getting ready for bed at that time, a game is just beginning for six teams on a rainy intramural field.

The sport is flag football. And its players take it seriously.

“It’s a serious game — fun, but serious,” said East China senior Craig Maas.

Port Sanilac senior Ted Falcon said he enjoys flag football, but it is very different from a typical football game.

“Flag football is different from regular football because there are only seven people on the field, so the game is very spread out,” Falcon said. “It is a much more open game.”

‘All you’ve got left’

Teams signed up for flag football as part of Central Michigan University’s Intramural Sports program in University Recreation.

Maas, who plays on the defensive line for the red-and-black BOOM team, said his team was formed from a couple different high school friends.

“We have been together (playing flag football) for three years,” he said.

Because they have been playing together for such a long time, Maas said he sees the group become more tightly knit.

“(It’s about the) competition ­­­­— after high school, if you’re not playing college, it’s all you’ve got left,” he said.

Falcon came to watch BOOM play Monday, and ended up substituting in the game because of an injury. Falcon filled in for China Township senior Mike Parslow, who had a charlie horse in his leg.

Non-team members are allowed to sub in case of injury as long as they have their Central Michigan University ID and it is not the playoffs.

Falcon comes out to support the BOOM team because he is a fan.

“Every team has their own three or four fans that come to the games,” he said.

Maas said playing flag football gives him flashbacks of his high school days.

“With the competition (it brings) old emotions, there is something about sports,” he said. “It’s a competition for a common goal.”