340 miles north of the Arctic Circle, is a place called Barrow, Alaska.  The population is about 4500 and today they will warm to a blistering -2 F, with a wind chill of -18 F.  It is the harshest polar location in the state of Alaska.  Oil and natural gas fields seem to be the mainstay of the economy.  There is also a high school football team in Barrows. 

The Whalers, as they are known, opened their inaugural season last August, in 30 degree weather.  That’s right, folks, 30 degrees in August.  More amazing is that their first ever game was played on a field of dirt and gravel.  You see, grass doesn’t grow in Barrows.  The field was formerly used to move heavy equipment in the winter and to dry gravel in the summer.  And you thought the Junction Boys had it tough.    

Trent Blankenship, the Superintendent for the North Slope Borough School District, only wants for his district’s kids to have the same opportunities as other high school students, a chance to keep them in class, out of trouble and away from drugs.  Football is a part of his equation.   There is a movement under way to help Blankenship and Whaler’s head coach, Mark Voss, bring something to Barrows that the rest of us take for granted:  A real field.   ESPN writer, Wayne Drehs, and Video Producer, Nik Kleinberg have brought the Whalers story to the contiguous 48. (See: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=tundra )  As a result, a number of people are stepping up to help out.  Cathy Parker of St. John’s County, Fla., has gotten her husband, Carl, involved.  Carl is the offensive coordinator at Jacksonville’s Bartram Trail High School and the assistant director of parks and recreation in St. John’s County.  Carl contacted Steve Coleman of ProGrass, an artificial turf company in Pittsburgh, PA.  To make a long story short, these people and others are working very hard to bring football turf to the frozen tundra of Barrows, Alaska, and they need our help.  Someone once told me that you have to give something back to the game.  LinemenInc Camps was formed, in part, to do just that.  We provide an opportunity for high school linemen to become the best they can be through their attendance in camp and their continued hard work post camp.  Perhaps you can personally donate to the fund.  Maybe you know someone or a company that can help out.  The bottom line is in making the effort.  I tell my players “Don’t tell me you will try.  Just go do it.”  Now I’m asking you to do the same.   

Oh yeah, for those of you who are interested, the Barrows Whalers are sending linemen to LinemenInc Nor Cal, at the University of the Pacific, June 30, July 1 and 2.  Two of them are in the 6′-6″ / 325 lbs. range and used to playing in a gravel pit.  Think you can step up to the challenge?  See you in June!    To learn more or to contribute to the Project Alaska fund, visit www.projectalaskaturf.com.