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Linemen labor anonymously in their fields, untouched by glory, unnoticed until a quarterback gets trampled.

Jeremy Colvert's remedy for the condition: The Lineman Challenge.

Or "How Farm Implements Make Better Lines or Plow You Under."

Now in his second year as W.T. White's offensive coordinator, Colvert imported the concept from Mart, where he lifted it five years ago from strongman competitions.

His purpose: "I wanted something for the linemen to do while the skill guys were playing 7-on-7. It gives them a chance to compete."

Never underestimate what it means for morale, either. You can only fake so much enthusiasm for throwing iron around musty weight rooms.

Nothing inspires like fresh air and the fingle finger, in which competitors flip a 200-pound pole seven times.

Or the farmer's walk, in which they carry 125-pound cylinders in each hands. Or the tire flip, in which they toss tractor tires 10 yards and back.

Or a personal favorite: The truck push, which comes in handy with gas prices what they are these days.

Thirty-one high school teams from around the area and as far away as Waco and Weatherford competed in the challenge recently, up from six last year.

Each team consisted of eight to 12 competitors. Some schools had more than one team.

Besides the tests mentioned above, the competition includes the bench press, an obstacle course and a tire pull. One event, called Atlas stones, features a set of five concrete blocks ranging from 65 to 105 pounds.

Translation: They don't do a lot of sprinting in a lineman's challenge.

For the truck push, Colvert's wife mans the wheel while players get the truck up to speeds of 13 or 14 mph.

"My wife said that when the seat belt alarm goes off before they reach the finish line, she knows it's a good time," Colvert said.

The competition's biggest draw is the harness pull, a two-man tug of war in which competitors facing opposite directions are fitted with harnesses connected by a tube.

As you attempt to drag your opponent to the finish line, the key is to stay low, a basic fundamental of football.

"If you stand up, the other guy will turtle-back you," Colvert said. "Kind of funny to watch."

The harness final featured Hebron's Minh Williams, who, at 315 pounds, had no prayer against Fort Worth O.D. Wyatt's Russell Matthews, who goes 415.

"I should have hooked him up to the truck and had it going the other way," Colvert said of Matthews, who should come with license plates himself.

Colvert's big man concept has caught on all over the state. Hebron and Lakeview Centennial will host competitions next month.

This year's winner? W.T. White, of course. Helps when you own the farm equipment.

For more information, link to www.thelinemanchallenge.com.

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