BILLINGS — The Class B football all-stars lightly opened workouts Wednesday in Billings with two-a-day practices. By Thursday, they ratcheted up to three-a-days. Those will continue Friday at Rocky Mountain College.
Most players say they’ve stayed in shape through spring, though with wry smiles admitting they’re not necessarily in football shape.
Having all graduated from high school within the past three weeks, it would be easy to think this last summer before college is all play and no work. Nope. These three-a-day workouts for most of these all-stars are just a quick ‘break’ from summer jobs.
“Off the field, I own a lawn mowing business up in Fairfield,” said Eagles quarterback Ryder Meyer. “We’re called ‘Mowers of America,’ so if anyone needs their lawn mowed in Billings while I’m here, just let me know.”
Linebackers Spencer Jones (Florence) and Cody Blaede (Colstrip) are also employed under the summer sun.
“Actually, I work for my linebackers coach (Adam Goodnight) on his ranch,” Jones said. “It usually starts at about 7 a.m., if we both make it there on time – which is lucky, I guess. … Move water, something different every day, whether we’ve got to rebuild something in the corral, got to move cows and then go to lunch.”
“My dad does construction, I just work for him,” Blaede said. “We’re building a pole barn, or pouring concrete, but most recently we’ve been building a fence at my grandpa’s ranch.”
Baker defensive back Trevor Lingle may have it figured out. He makes his money poolside.
“Life guarding at the Baker Rec Center,” Lingle said. “Right now the pool’s broken, our pump is out.”
Does that mean he’s out of a job?
“No, I’m a glorified janitor,” he joked. “Usually just a little bit of cleaning, then we’re just sitting up in a chair rotating every now and then, staring at people.”
There you go. Paid to people watch.
Kickoff for Saturday’s Class B all-star football game is at 1 p.m. at Rocky Mountain College.
