My World: Too Good to Play

Growing up, we have always been told that we are doing amazing in whatever we are doing.  Even if we are doing that well, we still get challenged to do even better, for there is always room to improve.  But for 11-year-old Demias Jimerson, it's completely different.

Demias is a running back for his youth league football team in Malvern, Arkansas, as part of the Wilson Intermediate Football League, a school oriented Little League.  After only two games, Demias averages an astonishing seven touchdowns a game.  Now if that isn't impressive alone, the team he plays for, Malvern, has been to the state championships the last eight years, winning the last five years straight.  An accomplishment any team or school would hold dear.  But for Demias, it comes as a shock that his game involvement is now limited.

The WIFL has invoked the "Madre Hill rule" upon Demias.  This rule states that no player can score more than three touchdowns, or if the team is up by fourteen points, their star must sit.  Upon research, I've found this rule has only been applied to one other player, Madre Hill (obviously), who actually played for Malvern back in the 70s.

Madre Hill is a former Oakland Raider and University of Arkansas Razorback, he was a star on the field and was what we call a prodigy, easily scoring upwards of eleven times a game.  Thus the league implemented this rule so that scoring would not get "too out of control."  Madre went on to hold records for total rushing yards (1387) and for most rushing touchdowns in a single game (6) at Arkansas. Hill also currently still holds the all-time season rushing record for Arkansas High Schools.  

Demias Jimerson is now considered the next Madre Hill, a pretty high standard to live up to for any 11-year-old.

The Wilson Intermediate Football League's commissioner, and also Demias's school principal, Terri Bryant, is quoted as saying, "If he (Demias) was a math prodigy, or a science wiz, the kid would be challenged more, pushed harder, maybe even passed above his class.  But when it comes to sports, he's being held back?  I don't understand why he can't be challenged more, or even placed in the next age group (12-14 year-olds).  But it's the entire league's ultimate decision to keep the game fun for kids."  Demias went on to say that he was "shocked that this happened, but okay with it."

Personally, when I grew up I played for traveling teams, AAU teams, and little league teams; and whenever someone grew bright, we moved past our current level to the next.  How times have changed.