SHAWNEE — The shooting pain in Joe Freeman's fractured ankle isn't nearly as bad as the aching in his heart.
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It's Freeman's first broken bone — a wound from playing football. But it's not your backyard, throw-a-few-passes version of the game. The 45-year-old Shawnee attorney was playing full-contact, no-sugar-coating football with the semi-professional Shawnee Millers.
The injury has benched him for the season. "It's been heartbreaking,” Freeman said. "I really want to be out there playing.”
Freeman's revived football career was cut short this year, but there are more than 150 players with the new Oklahoma Metro Football League still in the game.
The league — organizers define it as semi-professional, but players are not paid — has five teams: the Oklahoma City Gunners, Stillwater Outlaws, Norman Nitro, Shawnee Millers and the Oklahoma Force, a Midwest City-based team.
Regular season games are Saturdays until May 10 at Crooked Oak Public Schools' stadium in Oklahoma City. Playoffs are May 17, and the Metro Bowl will be on May 24. In June, the bowl game winner will compete against a top team in a neighboring state's league.
Chris Dodson said he organized the football league for those who love the game and perhaps, like Freeman, aren't ready to let it go.
"We're giving a lot of guys a second chance to play, but it's also for people who like to watch football,” said Dodson, 32, of Guthrie. "We're offering the whole football experience.”
Dodson advertised for league tryouts through newspapers and the Internet, but most players found out about the league through word of mouth. Many players are former high school footballers who didn't go on to play in college, he said.
Anyone in good enough shape to withstand the hits was welcome to try out. Each team recruited 30 to 40 players. Players had to pay $150 to join the league, to cover costs for referees and jerseys. Participants also had to provide their own pads.
"They're mechanics, school teachers, truck drivers, 8-to-5ers — just ordinary guys wanting to do something out of the ordinary,” Dodson said. "There's a lot of undiscovered talent on our teams.”
Chad Thomas of Shawnee, a kicker for the Shawnee Millers, is a standout in the league.
Thomas can kick 60-yard field goals, Dodson said.
The players' ages range from 18 to 45, with Freeman being the oldest, but not by much.
Sean Dreiske's fellow players on the Oklahoma Force call him "Pops,” but don't let the name fool you. The 38-year-old Midwest City man is one of the toughest on their defensive line, said Dennis Albert, Oklahoma Force coach.
Albert, a former U.S. Army drill instructor, said his players practice at least 10 hours a week.
"If they whine, we go longer,” Albert said.
Shawnee Millers Coach Jack Dingus said along with field practices, his players weight train and attend regular meetings to review film of previous games.
"We're all serious about winning,” Dingus said. "This is not just a bunch of guys tossing around a football.”
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I'd love to be out there, but I'm not sure I want to submit my body to that now. When I was 16-18 years old I could take some hits and jump right back up. I'm not sure I could now! I don't want to be limping into work or not able to work because of an injury. Just too much to be concerned about now. Great concept tho for those willing to risk it.
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