Issue link: http://latinschool.uberflip.com/i/246730
"When I think of 'The Field,' the memories come flooding back. My earliest recollections were Latin 'field days' in the early primary grades. Each spring, one day was set aside when all students, parents and teachers spent the day out at the field in a combined track and field competition and picnic. It was a wonderful day of running, jumping, eating and camaraderie. Ribbon awards were given to the victors, although I seem to remember that no student ever left field day without receiving an award of some kind. "I also remember playing seventh and eighth grade tackle football against other schools at the field. The first game we played in the mud in a torrential downpour was the day we learned that football games are never canceled by inclement weather – never, ever. But we also learned larger lessons in those games at the field. We learned what competition and sportsmanship and fair play are all about. "I believe every Latin School athlete has his or her own favorite personal memory about 'The Field,' and I am certainly no exception. As a football player, I was a lineman. Linemen didn't get many chances to score points; that honor was reserved for the backs, ends and the occasional defensive back who intercepted a forward pass. "My senior year, my personal goal was to leave my mark in the Latin scoring record book as a place kicker. I faithfully practiced kicking extra points and field goals every day after practice, but Coach Hoffman never found the spot to test my scoring skills in a game situation – until, that is, the fourth quarter of the last game of the season. When Latin scored, giving us an insurmountable three touchdown lead, he gave the okay for me to try to kick the extra point. I was overjoyed. We lined up for the snap, and I remember seeing the goal posts looming in front of me larger than they ever had in practice. The holder put the ball down, I swung my foot and hit well under the ball. It went straight up in the air, maybe 50 to 70 feet or more, hung there and then plopped down barely on the other side of the goal posts. The referee's hands shot up in the air signifying a successful kick, and I was ecstatic. My father captured this historic moment with his ancient 16mm camera. The film sequence shows 22 players and two referees all standing heads back, looking skyward for what seems an eternity as the football describes its unique trajectory. And the scoring record book for the 1949 Latin football season shows that Lineman Katz scored 1 point." – Bob Katz '50 64 L AT I N M AGAZINE