Polk Bears OL Burden Again For Thunder

June 12, 2008 - Intense Football League (Intense)
Frisco Thunder News Release


ANCHORAGE, Ak. (June 11, 2008) Octus Polk tried to draw a line between a body that didn't want to play anymore and a mind that wanted to continue.

That line extended all the way here to Alaska where the former Chicago Bears offensive lineman rescinds his self-imposed retirement to help the Frisco Thunder clinch an Intense Football League playoff berth Thursday against the Alaska Wild.

After the Thunder's 11th game of the season, Polk, 37, felt like he was done and handed in his equipment. Face it, there aren't a lot of 37-year old offensive lineman playing the game in any league given the wear and tear of pass protection.

``I was getting worn down,'' Polk said. ``I didn't want to keep pushing and pushing because I was aching. I always played and I always pushed. Some point I wantd to draw a line, even though I was hurting, I still wanted to play.''

A phone call from Thunder line coach Billy Jack Ray may have provided Polk one more boost.

Experience linemen are a prized commodity at this level of indoor football. Along with Paul Carrizal and Jeff White, Polk was on an offensive line that didn't give up a sack for five straight games during the first half of the season. And with the Thunder working with inexperienced quarterbacks after the loss of Wes Cooper, pass protection has become even more vital.

``I was ecstatic when I got the call,'' Polk said. ``There's a thousand other guys they could have called in to play, but now I have the opportunity to do something.

``I've been fortunate that I haven't had a major injury,'' Polk added. ``I haven't had to go through that long recovery time. The issue is how much I have left.''

After a stand-out career at Stephen F. Austin, Polk enjoyed two season with ``Da Bears'' in Chicago as a reserve offensive lineman. There he got to opportunity to work alongside some of the legends of the game, including the late, great Walter Payton.

``The biggest thing about that was being in a place people wish to be at when I was trying to land a career,'' Polk said. ``I had a lot of conversations with Walter Payton. The one thing about him is how he embraced every Chicago Bear that went through there. He made the team a home away from home and took away from the stress.''

After his release from the Bears, Polk had workouts for Tampa Bay and New Orleans, then made a run at the World League's London Monarchs. He remained in football playing for the well-respected semi-pro Dallas Diesel.before giving indoor football a shot with the Thunder.

``Shifting to indoors hasn't been that big a deal,'' Polk said. ``Football is football. The field's a little shorter and the game may be a little faster, but it's nothing that any player can't adjust to.''

Polk and Carrizal, along with former Texas A&M linemen John Kirk face the Wild Thursday at 10:30 CST.



Intense Football League Stories from June 12, 2008


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