We noticed on the Internet the other day that there was a severe weather alert for our area and it concerned nothing more than the heat. No hurricanes, tornadoes or even high winds, just a warning to everyone about the heat.

August weather can be harmful to farm animals and brutal to football players as we learned last week at the Howe football scrimmage in Sadler a little over a week ago.

In a three-team event between the host school S&S, Era and the Howe Bulldogs, it got down right warm at the 4:00PM start time.

We wore light colored clothes and drank plenty of water but with the humidity getting almost up there with the temperature, it must have been cruel and unusual punishment on those young men wearing all that padding.

After about 10-15 plays out on that field, athletic trainer Rick Ake and the managers were extremely busy putting out the fires on top of the player's heads. Quick sponge baths with ice-cold water revived most of them and they returned to duty.

Course the Howe Bulldog varsity was out there in the traditional black jerseys and helmets, going all against sound medical advice, but it fashion.

After spending 30-45 minutes out on the field taking pictures and asking a lot questions about who was doing what, we retreated to the sidelines for a shot of that cold water that was being distributed.

We had learned our lesson a few years ago about what foolish behavior in the heat can cost you.

Column Interruption: If you don't know where the point is, how do you know what's beside it?

Must have been eight or maybe 10 years ago when we made a summertime trip to Las Vegas for cultural studies and a small group of about 30 of us decided to play golf at one of those oasis' out in the desert. Regardless of the high dollar green fees, anything keeping us away from the gaming for a few hours was a bargain.

Temperatures when we hit the course were about 90 and that was at 8:00AM. Predictions of 110 were the odds of the day, but of course that's a dry heat.

By the time we had made the turn at number nine, eggs were cooking on the sidewalks and birds were sitting under trees.

Like football players of today, we were younger and more foolish (if you can believe that) so we kept on rolling.

After our round, we all went into the clubhouse, had some cool drinks, (I think I had a mimosa) Everyone with good sense then piled into a bus that we had rented for the day and headed back to hotels with air-conditioning.

Six of the group had planned to have a leisurely lunch then perhaps play a few more holes. Well it seems that another large group had an impending tee time and if we wanted to play we had to go now.

That was mistake number two, number one being playing again anyway.

About 13 holes into our second round I began to see things that the other guys were not seeing. That's what happens when your eyeballs roll back into your head I am now told.

At the end of our round I was getting very woosy and it had nothing to do with the mimosa. Next thing I know, I'm lying on the ground thinking about Maria Sharapova probably and my buddies are pouring ice water on me.

A doctor passed by on his way to the first tee and said, without stopping, give him some orange juice.

That made me feel so much better that the doctor would slow down and give such in depth medical advice, and for free.

Anyway, before we could leave the golf course people made me sign a release form promising that I wouldn't sue for damages. I think the fine print said anyone stupid enough to play 36 holes in Las Vegas in July is not considered sane to begin with.

So, that scrimmage was a trip for me. One that I vaguely remember taking before.

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Jack Walker is a sports writer for the Van Alstyne Leader.