ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) – Football is certainly a family game. You are essentially baptized into the sport when you grow up in the Baker household.
“It’s big. It’s real big in (the family),” Central football alum Max Baker said.
Within the family, football is a generational sport. Max’s grandfather Dave and great-grandfather, who is also named Max, were two longtime coaches in the region.
Dave, who was a head coach for Central and Williamsburg, retired this offseason after spending nearly six decades roaming the sidelines.
“It was time for me to (retire),” Dave said. “I’ve done it long enough.”
His final game will come on Sunday in the Lezzer Lumber Classic with three generations of the Baker family apart of it – his son Jay coaching and his grandson Max playing.
“I don’t know if that’s ever been done before,” Dave said. “There may have been some other guys that have done this, but it is a good thing for me and my family and we’re happy to do it.”
With it being Max and Dave’s last game on the gridiron, there may be some emotions leaving the sport they’ve loved.
“It was already emotional for (our) last regular season game and I think this is going to be an even bigger game because we all got selected to be a part of this team,” Max said. “I think it’ll be pretty emotional.”
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While it may be emotional, being a part of the game may be the most fitting Father’s Day gift for a football family.
“I don’t think I could ask for anything more,” Dave said.
The Lezzer Lumber Classic kicks off on Sunday at 5 p.m. at State College’s Memorial Field.