Six-Shooter: Tre Flowers Explains Intense Realities of Youth Football in San Antonio

Welcome to the Six-Shooter, a weekly segment with an Oklahoma State athlete where we ask a few random questions to get to know these athletes a bit better. This week’s version went down a rabbit hole, but Tre Flowers has quite the story.

If you have seen Esquire’s documentary series, “Friday Night Tykes,” this conversation needs no introduction, but if you haven’t, allow us to debrief you.

The show is about peewee football in San Antonio, and it shows some of the most ruthless coaching methods and play styles you could possibly find in youth sports. And at least one current Oklahoma State Cowboy was part of it.

With that, here is Tre Flowers in the Six-Shooter.

Do you feel like the youth football league in San Antonio has an impact on why so many guys become successful in the sport after high school?

“I think honestly it does. I think it can carry you to high school to college. It’s all so competitive. You can see it on Netflix. … That’s not for TV. That’s exactly how it is.

“Me growing up, I played against those teams. I was on the (Judson) Junior Rockets a year, and my coach is actually the coach for the Outlaws right now. I actually know all those little kids, and that is real life. It’s real competitive. It teaches you how to work at a real young age.”

So you’re telling me that these little league games impact you guys – like you and Jordan (Sterns) – going and being All-Big 12?

“I think so. I think teaching kids at a young age how to compete the right way, doing something they love, doing something their parents are showing interest in and just going out and doing the best you can – it’s just gonna carry up.

“A lot of those little kids go to the same high school now, and Judson is ranked top 10 in the nation. Their quarterback is committed, and they have a lot of people on that team that they grew up together, they’ve been playing like that forever.”

I see you always giving a lot of love on Twitter to that quarterback.

“Oh yeah. That’s like my little brother. I’ve been watching him forever. He was the quarterback of the first Outlaws (team). He didn’t make the TV cut.”

What’s your best memory of all that time? I mean, you could have been on “Friday Night Tykes.”

“I watch it and think of my parents. I played quarterback, and if I was on the show, I know my parents would have their own little highlight. It would have been crazy. My dad was yelling. My mom would scream. My sister was running up and down the field. It’s just – I remember all of it vividly.

“Those games were just as crazy as these now. For real.”

Have you watched all of (“Friday Night Tykes”)?

“No I haven’t. I heard about it. I didn’t even know that they were really recording it. I take people to the game if they come to San Antonio with me. Like, this is not a joke. It is fans fighting, parents fighting, and it is nuts at those games.”

Previous Six-Shooters:

• James Washington explains No. 28
• Britton Abbott Bringing Abe Lincoln Back to Life
• Lundblade for President
• Ramon’s Thrills and Chills
• Crabtree With $1 Million