Updated: Oct. 15 at 7:19 p.m.
On a recent Wednesday afternoon on the South Side of San Antonio, the sun peaked at its highest about 5 p.m. over Palo Alto College’s athletic fields. It was game time, but there were no players on the fields, or in the stands. Any observer would have thought it was quiet — too quiet for a competitive intramural game of flag football between Palo Alto College and Texas A&M University-San Antonio.
But then, cars made their way to the Palo Alto Athletic Field at 1400 W. Villaret Blvd. just before 6 p.m. One car drove onto the hot asphalt, then another, the sound of the engines giving this observer the hope that there were people coming to play. A campus police car drove by, patrolling the quiet campus.
Slowly, students begin to gather. As the air began to cool, the temperature dipped to high 70s, fall weather for San Antonio. Then, all the students are on the cut grass, stretched and ready to go.
I’d been waiting for nearly an hour to cover one of A&M-San Antonio’s intramural flag football games, and it was a slow start. Where were the players? Confusion over start times and lack of participation plague this growing start-up program, but hopefully not for long.
What seemed to be a Palo Alto vs. A&M-San Antonio game turned out to be a one-sided team. Fourteen Palo Alto College students showed up. No one from A&M-San Antonio.
Trevor Brunet, competitive sports coordinator at A&M-San Antonio, made his way to the field ready to get this game started.
The game didn’t start until 6:45 p.m. ending at 9 p.m. The game was between Palo Alto students. They had enough for two teams of seven.
“Flag Football is a working progress right now,” Brunet said. “The first game was a success because now the teams know what is going on.”
The beginning of A&M-San Antonio’s recreation sports program began with a partnership between the upper-division university and nearby Palo Alto College. Both Main Campus and Brooks-City Base students are able to participate in the games. Basketball, dodgeball and volleyball are partnered with Palo Alto College.
Since Fall 2014, students pay a $100 recreational fee in the Fall and Spring semesters and $50 in the summer. That revenue source goes toward equipment, daily maintenance for the Jaguar Fitness Center, the Game Room in Central Academic Building, operations and student workers.
Since starting the intramural program, organizers said they are promoting the program at the same time they are building from the ground up.
The biggest challenge of having students register online for flag football is that they are not accustomed to using their Jaguar Email, Olague said. Students who don’t regularly check their university email won’t get daily or weekly notices about extracurricular activities, including rec sports.
Another reason, he said, may be that many students live far from school, work and have other priorities.
“Flag football is the first of many sports to test the waters,” Olague said. “Programs take time to build.”
“It’s a lot more fun to play with a different school and see how competitive it would be,” said Miguel Farustom, sophomore Kinesiology major at Palo Alto College.
Junior kinesiology major Andres Cruz said, “In order to register students, we have an ‘ask me’ table every Wednesday in order to promote what is going on every month.”
Other programs will begin soon, supported by recreational fees. Pool started this week. Students will also have the opportunity to play disc golf, table tennis and outdoor volleyball.
Want to stay up-to-date on upcoming recreational opportunities? Check Facebook.
Upcoming Events
Time: 6 p.m
Date: Oct. 14
Location: Palo Alto Athletic Field
Tournament of Champions
Details: Winner will receive a customized T-shirt created by Palo Alto College to promote both schools on the shirt. All welcome.
Come and join in the stands and cheer for your favorite Jaguar or Palomino.
