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Texas Bulldogs • Hutto

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Written by Shannon Colletti Friday, 09 May 2008

Hutto — Football fans do not have to wait until August to feed their hunger for competitive, hard-hitting, gridiron action. The Texas Bulldogs, coached by Hutto resident Jonathan Lemuel, is a minor-league football team that joined the World Football League when it was established in January. The team, previously part of the North American Football League, competes against about a dozen other teams from Texas and other states, in a season that runs from March through early fall. The WFL follows the rules of the National Football League, with a few small exceptions.

“Right now, minor-league football is kind of looked at as a bunch of guys just out there playing. There’s no real structure involved,” Lemuel said. “But the goal of the World Football League is to make minor-league football become more reputable.” Bulldogs (in orange) against the Dallas Diesel last season

The Bulldogs have 45 players who come from as far as Killeen and San Marcos. They vary in age, experience and skill level. Lemuel said players must have knowledge of the game, be coachable and have finished high school. Tryouts were in March, but the team is still accepting players.

“Some guys still want to play the game. Some guys are trying to get to the next level as far as playing [in the National Indoor Football League] or even being looked at by a pro team. Last year, we had five guys that got picked up by the indoor teams.”

A Bastrop native, Lemuel played football at Bastrop High School and was a defensive end for Southwestern College in Kansas. After graduating in 1999, he returned to Central Texas and played for a year with the Austin Gamebreakers, also in the WFL. Then Lemuel decided to start his own minor-league football team, the Bastrop County Bulldogs, with a friend from college. They both played on and coached the team for two years, until Lemuel took over when his friend returned to school.

“I just enjoy working with young people that want to do something with themselves,” the 34 year old said about why he coaches. “I see it as a good avenue for guys to stay in shape. Also, it gives young guys that don’t have anything to do the opportunity to come out and play football — keeps them out of trouble. It teaches you to work with other people and to handle yourself in different situations.”

Lemuel coached the team in Bastrop until January 2007 when he relocated the Bulldogs to Hutto. “Hutto is a growing community,” he said. “It’s kind of quiet on a Saturday night during the summer. Yes, we’re competing with the Round Rock Express [for fans], but we give people an option.”

The team practices three times a week at Hutto’s Creekside Park, dropping down to twice a week when games start. Lemuel said he puts in about 20 hours a week for the Bulldogs, on top of his full-time job in child diversion and crisis intervention at Bluebonnet Trails Community MHMR in Round Rock.

“Most of the guys understand it’s working man’s football. They’re all willing to pay the extra money to get on the bus to go where we need to go,” Lemuel said. Lemuel said he hopes eventually to be able to have enough money for a scholarship fund. He wants to hold fund-raisers and possibly a youth camp. Other plans include offering specials at games, such as a free hot dog night at the season opener, and having the games aired on a local television station.

“If you love the game, this is a way to come out and enjoy it,” he said.

2008 Texas Bulldogs Schedule

All games are at 7 p.m. Home games are played at Old Hippo Stadium, Park Street and Hwy. 79. Tickets are $7 general admission and free for senior citizens (55+) and children 12 and under.