Note from the editor: This week we are proud to present a guest column by unsung hero of the editorial board and avid intramural sports participant Caroline Gray.

My friends sometimes joke that God forgets about Milwaukee during the winter.

I used to think this was a little harsh. But the season this year wasn't winter – it was five months of frigid, unyielding payback for moving to Milwaukee.

At least I can thank God for spring. I would much rather worry about guarding myself from airborne Frisbees and baseballs darting around McCormick beach than make sure I don't fall into the slush trenches on every poorly-plowed street corner.

With the warmer weather comes outdoor intramurals – which means the glorious return of flag football. I've come to appreciate the haunting aromas of the meat-packing plant near Valley Fields and expect to see an array of scattered chicken bones there at least once a week.

Sadly, though, coed football teams will not experience this unparalleled ambiance this semester because there weren't enough females willing to sign up.

Men's intramural football is already in full swing, so it's clearly not a problem with the sport in general. Hmmm, let's think now. What's the obvious difference between men's flag football and coed flag football?

Now I don't want to blame this on the girls, but there's been enough evidence pointing to the demise of coed football for some time now.

Last semester, when there were two nights dedicated to just the coed B-league, some team members (ladies) either wouldn't show up or would come to the game wearing a polo and jeans. Go ahead and rock the Levi's on the field if you want, but at least come to play.

I almost choked someone with my belt o' flags last semester when the opposing team decided not to play because the girls didn't want to miss "Gilmore Girls."

You know the typical clichés about sports: You leave all problems, tests and deadlines off the field and just get that pigskin into the end zone. This isn't always the case. I still don't know what a conversion is and when I hear turnover, I immediately think of an apple pastry. I go where the quarterback tells me to and simply try to catch the ball. We want to have fun but we also want to win.

Coed is a great balance between intense competition and socializing, two things girls usually thrive on. And guys who maybe can't make it in the men's league sometimes become the stars of coed.

According to Anne Pufahl, assistant director of intramural sports, the coed football league usually is one of the fastest to fill up. Pufahl said she'll hold out for a few more days in case any more teams sign up. If not, the only two teams that did will compete in a one-day tournament for the title of coed football champs. Lame.

Girls, don't let this league flounder just so you can pass out from a food coma while watching "Top Model." Get out, scare a few pedestrians with your sub-par athletic skills outside McCormick and keep our few spring perks alive.