A Very Thoughtful Gift...

 The box came before Christmas, as many boxes do. And the box was opened on Christmas morning, as many boxes are.

Inside were two mugs...a perfect gift for any U of U football fan. The mugs celebrated Utah's invitation to this year's Rose Bowl game. On the back listed the Ute's schedule of wins/loses and the scores of each contest.

It was a gift from my sister-in-law and I thought, "What a thoughtful gift."

Then, my mind began to think about things, and I realized just how thoughtful the gift was.

It was the dates that did it.

You see, such a mug could not have been available to purchase until the evening of December 3rd, 2021. Of course, the mugs could have been made before that date, but it wasn't until Utah beat Oregon in the PAC-12 Championship game that such a mug would be wanted by a Utah fan. After the game ended, the Rose Bowl invite was "official."

And that's when the mugs were ordered.

What made the gift special to us is that my sister-in-law knows we're Utah football fans (as is she...). But, my sister-in-law lost her husband several weeks earlier than the December game. So, even after her husband passed away, she sent such a wonderful gift. If what happened to her had happened to me, I don't think I'd remember to do much of anything.

The gift was wonderful. The U of U season was amazing, and now I have a memento of not only the game, but of a selfless act of giving that I'll cherish more than the season's memories. Thanks, Pam! It means a lot.

Well Done, Utah...Well Done

 To say this college football season has been an amazing ride in the State of Utah is an understatement. I follow and root for a few local teams, but my main fandom lies with the University of Utah football team. 

I've followed the team since I was a student of the U back in 1987 and this has been a season like no other. What this team has accomplished is unparalleled, and it is, in a word, inspiring.

Yes, the season began with a rocky start. For the first time in more than a decade, the U lost to their southern neighbors. It was a good win for the boys in Blue. No loss is good, but if you can learn from those losses and improve, then good can come from it.

And good did come from it...so much good.

What's different about this team is that it appears to me--the simple fan--the players and coaches have a higher cause this year. They've been unashamedly vocal about what drives them, their purpose, their reason for playing the game.

In a world where we hear so much about how bad many in the sports community can be, their inflated egos, their selfish actions, to watch a team with a singular purpose and goal has been refreshing, It wasn't a perfect season, but I found myself connected to them on a personal level. Their goals were mine, their wins were mine. Now, I know I'm not a team member, but the team wore their hearts on their sleeves. They opened themselves up--laid everything bare for the world to see--all to honor their friends, friends who could not enjoy their success of the season.

The journey is not over. This team will play in the "Granddaddy of them all" bowl games on the first day of the new year. I have no idea what the outcome of the game will be, but I know--because I've seen it all season long--the players and coaches will give their all for their friends. 

I read a tweet that said basically, if someone were to write a story about a team that suffered through so much heartache, so much pain, and had a season like they've had, the story would be rejected because no one would believe it.

Sometimes I still can't believe it has happened. To see the men in Crimson take the field in Pasadena will be something special and because of how they got there, it means so much more. Well done, Utah...well done.

Are "U" Ready For Some Football? Um...Yeah

 Back in March of this year, I don't think any of us understood how much things were going to change in 2020. They said "Two weeks to flatten the curve." That turned into nine months with really no end in sight.

As far as sports, covid changed everything. Immediately, they canceled the NCAA tournament and postponed both the NBA and NHL seasons. Surely though, it wouldn't affect college football, right.

Wrong.

But wait! They bring back NHL and NBA games. They play baseball and soccer. Surely, they can make sure college football won't get canceled, right?

Wrong...

Well, kind of wrong. Depends who you are and where you are.

For a University of Utah football fan, this fall has been brutal. One by one, conferences canceled seasons. I chalked up the non-season as another crappy part of the year. Then, a ray of hope pierced the clouds--conferences were changing their minds. They would play! Games would happen! Football was not dead! Right?

Wrong...

Well, kind of wrong. Depends on who you are and where you are.

Conferences begin scheduling games, hype builds. Other schools begin playing. It's tough, but okay, because eventually my Utah Utes will take the field to the delight of me and many others. Weeks go by, other teams play...Game Day draws near. But, then I hear of scheduled games that don't happen, games canceled due to positive covid tests. Oh no, I think. That won't/can't happen to the Utes, right?

Wrong.

Okay, game one canceled--that sucks, but it won't/can't happened twice in a row, right?

Wrong again.

At this point, I'm about to hang up my Utah hat for the rest of the year. Now Game Day is scheduled for this weekend, Utah vs. USC. Will it happen? No clue. I'm almost afraid to get my hopes up. Salt was poured into my wounds when I found out two California schools decided--on the fly--to play each other last Sunday because both of their opponents had their games canceled, one of those teams was Utah.

In no way am I implying these decisions to play/cancel are not important. My wish to watch is less important than the health and safety of the players, coaches, and personnel involved in these games. It's just been a pain as a fan to ride this roller coaster.

When we look back on this year, for me not watching a couple of games shouldn't be that biggest issue we remember. I'm hopeful they'll play this weekend. I'd love it f they could get a win. And if they do--and especially win--well...that'll be one of those good days.

...But Will They Break My Heart?

*

Before I was married, I had my heart broken several times. Looking back, the pain helped to make me the man I am today, but at the time...well, it sucked. And, had any of the "crushes" developed into something more serious, I probably wouldn't be with the wonderful woman I'm married to now. I can't imagine my life any another way.

Since I got married twenty-three years ago last month, I've had my heart broken only once and it wasn't because I fell in love with another person--it was because the Utah Jazz failed me. Sure, my heart has pained when my mother and other loved ones passed away, but my faith assures me I'll see those people again--we're only separated for little while.

But when I watched Game Game 3 of the 1998 NBA finals, Sunday June 7 when the Chicago Bulls scored 98 points to the Utah Jazz's 54, I felt as bad--or worse--as I did when dealing with any girl. I felt like my heart had been ripped out of my chest, stomped on then handed back like some macabre last-place trophy given to the loser.

I remember sitting in the dark kitchen the in basement apartment where we lived. I watched the game on a little 13" TV. I watched the entire thing, every play, every mistake, every foul, bucket and missed shot.

I felt horrible.

I think my life changed on that Sunday night over seventeen years ago--not changed in some monumental, life-altering way, but in a subtile way. I don't believe I allowed myself to ever be so vulnerable, especially over a game.

Since that fateful day back in June of 1998, I've never been invested in sports like I was that time. For the Jazz, it's been pretty simple. They've never been as good as they were then. But I've come close a couple of times since, and it has to do with the University of Utah football program. For the last decade (and maybe a year or two before that...), the Utah Utes have had great teams, teams other fans envy. In two of those years, they went undefeated. In 2004 the Utes were one of three teams to not lose a game all season, and in 2008, the U of U Utes stood alone as the only undefeated 13-0 team in the nation.

And I loved it! They were clearly the class of the state during those years.

Which brings us to 2015, and I'm starting to crack. I'm starting to fall in love with a sports team, something I told myself I wouldn't do. This year's Utes team, if they win every game they play this year will be the 2015 college football national champions, something unobtainable to them in 2004 and 2008. This year, when the Utes beat Michigan I thought it was a good win, but they looked a little shaky--first games of the season can make a team look that way. When they played Utah State and Fresno State, they looked better, but when they played in Oregon a few weeks ago...

Man! They looked good! I mean, "full-on, make-up, dressed to the nine's" good. Utah played their next game two weeks later against the California Golden Bears and it was rough. They showed the best college QB in the game that the Utah defense was not just good, but "kind-of-girl-you'd-take-home-to-mama" good. Of course, it doesn't help my "not falling for a sports team" resolve when national press has daily posts on the internet to say just how good this year's Utes squad is.

The Utes may lose this weekend to Arizona State--a great program and a team Utah hasn't beat since joining the Pac-12. The Utes could lose the week after that to USC, then to Arizona or UCLA, or any other game on their schedule. In short, going 13-0 in the Pac-12 would be herculean, winning the next two games after that, well...that's almost incomprehensible.

But to quote Lloyd Christmas, "So, you're telling me there's a chance?" Yes, Lloyd, there's a chance. It's slim, about as slim as Mr. Christmas getting the girl at the end of the movie, but it's there.

How am I handling this relationship? I've told myself I'm just going to enjoy the ride. This works when the team keeps winning. If Utah had lost to Cal on Saturday night, it would have hurt because of the emotional investment I've already placed with this team. Ultimately, I want to be a fan who enjoys the wins and is not devastated by the loses, and for seventeen years I've done a pretty good job. But, darn you Utes, you're sure making it tough this year. Maybe that's what "tough love" really means.

* Screenshot used without permission from a "I Love Utah Utes"Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/ILoveUtahUtes?fref=ts

Coach Whitt...Good Job!

A friend of mine told me of the time he heard the Superbowl-winning coach Mike Ditka speak at a convention. He remembered the coach talk about how tough it is to be an NFL coach. He said, "Imagine you at your job and there's dozens of cameras directed on you the entire time you're at your job. The camera's record everything--every move, every decision, everything. Do you think you would do your job differently if you had cameras on you at your job?"

That thought stayed with my friend and since he told me, it's stayed with me, too. I think being a coach of a sports time is one of the more demanding jobs out there. I know I couldn't do it, or if I did, I'd do a poor job at it.

One person he is pretty good at his job is the coach for the University of Utah football team, Coach Kyle Whittingham. I don't know him personally, but I know people who do. As with any person, there's good and bad, but as a fan of both him and the team, I admire what he's been able to do.

On the heals of a great Las Vegas Bowl victory last weekend, news broke today that two of his assistants are leaving for other jobs. A good leader will tell you that you increase greatly your chances of success when you choose the right people to help you. Many fans are worried (and to be honest, I am a little as well...) that the program will take a step or two backward. And it might; life is so unpredictable in sports. Many a person has gone broke betting on the outcomes of games and programs. Even if Coach Whitt has a terrible year and/or gets replaced, I'll always appreciate the job he's done and the way he's honored his position, the players, the school and the fans.

Hopefully, though, I hope he has an even better year next year. Good job, Coach Whitt! Good job!

Well Done...You Mighty Men Of Utah!

Today marked the end of the 2014 regular football season for the University of Utah. They ended the season the way they began it--with an ugly win.

Much has already been written about this year's campaign. It has been a wild ride! Utah lost some games they arguably should have won and won several they had no right winning.

But the win/loss total is what it is.

Now, for those of us who don't play the game and whose opinions hardly matter in the grand scheme of things, we will get together at work, church, school and discuss the season that was. As with everything in life, some will be happy with the overall results. Some will complain and be bitter and others will have no opinion either way.

Me? I will reside in the first camp with those other half-fullers who consider this year a great success. The team went 8-4, had their first conference winning record as a member of the Pac-12. They beat Michigan, UCLA, USC, Oregon State, Stanford which is a huge accomplishment considering at no time during any of those games did they dominate. They lost to the two conference leaders, Oregon and Arizona as well as Washington State and Arizona State.

The Utes were ranked for most of the season and finished the regular season a top-25 program. They're going to a bowl game (as of yet, undecided...) and the program shook off two loosing seasons to win twice as many games as they lost.

Sure, I could focus on the one-point loss to Washington State or the overtime loss to Arizona State, either win might have secured a first-place finish in the Pac-12 South. But, no...I'm not thinking about those things. I'd rather remember this year's team a one that fought hard, played hard, and won eight of 12 (so far...). Thank you, you mighty men of Utah football. You did yourselves, your state, and your fans proud! Can't wait for 2015!

College Football Begins Today! Happy Day! Oh...Happy Day!

Can I tell you that I'm having a fantastic day? At work today I realized that today was just one of those days when everything aligned like a harmonic convergence. First of all, once the workday was over, a 4-day weekend begins. Second, I'm going to submit a short story to my publisher this weekend. Third, it's payday, and fourth (and perhaps most important...), 

College Football Begins Today!

All these things made my workday a much more pleasant experience!

I know, I'm a sucker for my team. It's where I graduated with my first degree. I rooted for them when they during the terrible years and I reveled in the wins when they were one of the best teams in the nation--twice they were the best team in the nation, based on theirs---and everyone else's record.

Sure, they've had a couple of losing seasons, and they may break my heart again this year, but considering they're playing some of the country's best competition, I'll take it. After all, I'm still a sucker for the underdog (Go Wildcats!).

It's just after halftime and the Utes are rolling, 42-7 and one day, they'll do this against the best the Pac-12 has to offer. That may take years, but as for me on this beautiful August evening, I'm a happy man and a Utah Man!