PENDLETON — There was a familiar face on hand at the Madison County Pirates first home game of the 2008 season against the West Central Wildcats from Brazil.

Dane Hill was in the bleachers to just sit and watch a Madison County semipro football game for the first time since 1996.

From 1997 to 2006, most Saturday nights found Hill patrolling the sidelines and having some lively conversation with either a player or referee for the Madison County Chiefs and then the Pirates.

This was after spending more time than anyone could possibly believe on scouting game film, breaking down game plans and anything else remotely associated with preparing for a football game.

Hill is a former employee at Guide Corp. When his job situation changed, his work schedule didn’t coincide with a football schedule, and his decision whether or not to step away from the game he loves was an easy one.

Now working second shift at Rauche in Fishers, Hill can sit back and relax at a football game and do his level best to keep cool in the July weather.

But there will always be a part of him that will want to be on the sidelines.

“I’m always happy to see (the Pirates) still rolling because I believe there’s always a place for this kind of football in most places, because guys get older and football is one of the few sports where you don’t have the opportunity to participate (once you leave high school) unless it’s the flag version, which is not real football,” said Hill. “So when I see something like (the Pirates) that’s giving guys a chance to suit up and play the game the real way it’s suppossed to be played, it makes me happy.”

Hill, or HBC — Heap Big Chief — as he was known, didn’t need to take too much time when asked what he missed the most from his coaching days.

“I miss competing, I miss squaring off mentally against the coach on the other sideline and I miss the relationships, the lifelong relationships I made over the years, and I’m glad I’ve got a cheap form of entertainment to come out and watch.” said Hill. “Getting ready to compete, I definetly miss that.”

Hill wasn’t alone in his standing as a member of the “old guard.”

On the current Pirates roster are former Chiefs/Pirates Marshall Bowman, Matthew Gaddie, Jeff Adams and Sam Quiroga. Quiroga, a native of Pendleton, has hung up his No. 45 jersey for a coach’s polo shirt.

“It’s different. It’s hard,” Quiroga said of coaching instead of playing. “I mean, I think I can still go, but I feel I can contribute just as much this way.”

The last two seasons in Anderson saw the Pirates numbers dwindle as their season went on for a few reasons: job situations, commitment level and injuries.

This season Madison County has a solid 27 players they can put in uniform.