Scott Birkey and Dirk Anderson, or Birk and Dirk as they were affectionately named in a Flanagan Home Times photo, were managers for the 1974 Flanagan Falcons. The job description for any team manager places the position far from glamorous -- filling water bottles, picking up towels, doing laundry, organizing equipment. Team manager is definitely a position of service with no pay, terrible hours, and little appreciation. But in regard to Birk and Dirk and their role on the 1974 Flanagan Falcons, there is more to the story. Birkey was in his senior year in 1974 and president of the schools student council. He had played football as a freshman, but a broken leg (twice) kept him out his sophomore year, and a return to the gridiron as a player just seemed too risky. He did return, however, to the hardwood his junior year and managed a position in the starting five for the Falcons as a senior. He also dabbled in the visual arts and the performing arts, serving as master of ceremonies for the variety show his senior year. With a confident and quiet demeanor and a low-key and gentle approach to people in general, he was the perfect compliment to his underclassman colleague as football manager, Dirk. Dirk was a freshman in 1974, but the challenges he faced with Downs Syndrome meant that he would spend the majority of his high school time in classes separate from the rest of the student body. Despite this, he was the most well-known of FHS students -- loved by an entire school and community. Dirks willingness to serve as football manager actually satisfied two cravings in is life -- he enjoyed the interaction it provided with athletes and coaches, and he absolutely adored sports, especially Flanagan Falcon sports. Lots of Flanagan people over the years might say they bleed Falcon orange, but Dirks had a greater viscosity and a slightly more vivid hue. With training the freshman, Dirk, received from his senior mentor, Birk, the role of football manager remained in the good hands of Dirk for several years even after he had finished with school. In fact, best estimate is that Dirk served in the football manager role for at least seven years. In his junior year, Dirk informed football coach Roger Zehr that he wanted to play instead of manage. Coach Zehr made it happen. Dirks physical abilities were also challenged by the Downs Syndrome, but he still completed it all -- the calisthenics, the hitting, the running -- at all the practices. And he played in freshman games, despite being in the junior class. Obtaining the opposing coachs permission prior to the games, Coach Zehr had Dirk dress for the four freshman games, and he was used as a nose guard on defense. Upon completion of the season, Dirk approached Coach Zehr one more time and informed him, Next season, if its OK with you, I just want to be manager. The primary manager role for which Dirk will be most remembered is that of kicking tee retriever (KTR). He performed that role like no other KTR ever. In fact, it is absolutely safe to say that if there was a Hall of Fame for KTRs, a statue of Dirk would exist in front of the building. Seven seasons with at least nine games that contained multiple kick-offs... well, you do the math -- Dirk undoubtedly holds the school, conference, and state record for kicking tee retrievals. In fact, he would have had 87 KTRs in 1974 alone. Dirk got his start as KTR in the very first game of 1974. Birkey recognized a role that was perfect for Dirk and he summoned him to the edge of the sideline. He informed Dirk that he should go get the tee after the kickoff but that he would have to hustle so that he was off the field before the next play. Birk gave Dirk the go- ahead when the kickoff play was dead, and off to the kicking location went Dirk. Except that when Dirk got to the middle of the field he couldnt find the tee. Finally, with some hurried instructions from his mentor, Dirk found the tee, grabbed it, and took off for the sideline. By this time other players, and probably coaches, were seeing his hustle and cheering him on. Finally, when Dirk was about to reach the sideline, someone yelled, Dive! And Dirk did as he was told, head first, and safely clearing the sideline before the next play started. In football games elsewhere, the retrieval of the tee is often forgotten -- maybe the ref will toss it to the kicking teams sideline, or maybe the kicker returns to get it himself. But for those seven years, Flanagan had the KTR role covered. Dirk would explode from the Falcon sideline and sprint to the spot of the kick, grab the tee, and sprint full-tilt back to the sideline. Every time. Regardless of the score, regardless of the situation. Dirk passed away in January, 2002, at the age of 41. In his obituary, after the family information and the facts regarding his church membership and involvement with Futures Unlimited, was the following line: He was a team manager for the Flanagan football team when they won the 1974 state championship. That obituary did not mention how Dirk helped the Falcons to victory in their quarterfinal playoff game against Stronghurst Southern, but soon you will know the rest of the story (that last line was for you, Kate Gundy). Dont worry, no phone lines involved this time.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Nov 2014 02:12:18 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015