"I don't think his little body is ready for it, ready to take those hits"

Indeed, a beautiful night for football. But before the game, Lingard, who started the Central Texas Youth Football League 12 years ago, acknowledges that the sport he loves may be in trouble.

“Until we can find out for sure, and keep kids as safe as possible, I have no problem with not being in youth football,” Lingard says. “As much as I love the game, it may have to disappear some day.”

His pessimism comes from some recent numbers. Over the past five years, the Central Texas Youth Football League has grown by eight or nine teams each year. This year, there have been two additional teams. Lingard believes concussion worries are a big reason for the slowdown.

“How’s little Jimmy not going to get hurt? That’s what [parents] are concerned about,” Lingard says. How does he answer those concerns? “It’s going to make me sound bad, but … I say I’m not guaranteeing anything. Little Jimmy can get hurt playing football. It’s the greatest game in the world. If he wants to play it, and you want to let him play it, you have to take those risks.”