This time We all played the LINE....

There is an old axiom in football that says you can only go as far as your line can take you. Over time it has been shown that championship teams have always had strong deep lines that anchored their success.

It has also been said that sports often mirror life itself. Without question sports teach us to study, struggle, work within a team structure and to overcome obstacles as an individual and as part of a group. They teach us that in the thick of the struggle the line must come together and lead the charge.

On Saturday, the line formed at Ellington High School to pay respects to Austin Tautkus. This line, unlike any ever seen before in this town, stood in silence for 3 hours to pay respects to the former Ellington Football star, scant yards from the field where Tautkus played football.

From around the state people from all ages, races, genders and backrounds took their place in the line. From the burliest of football players to elderly members of our town they stood to say goodbye, to say they already miss Austin and to spend just a moment embracing the Tautkus family who has suffered this terrible loss.

Once inside the school auditorium the mourners were greeted by an array of pictures, memorabilia and artifacts from Austin’s life. Though he lived a short life, these pictures showed a young man who lived life, loved life and in the end gave many others a second chance at life as Hartford Hospital had a moment of silence and raise the flag to honor Austin and his family's decision to donate. A chance to carry on as a father, a mother a son or a daughter.

As the official end of calling hours arrived, still hundreds remained in line. There were tears, memories and laughs and still no one left before the line was finished. Football coaches and players lingered in corners, college teammates left arm in arm heads bowed.

In football there is an old axiom that says you can only go as far as your line will take you. If true, there is no doubt where Austin Tautkus is today. His line, the biggest line anyone ever saw escorted him there this weekend, in silence, in sadness and with much deserved dignity.

Rest well # 2