I’m thinking about football with my kid’s college games less than 100 days away and high school possibly less than that. They’re both trying to get to the next level–one trying to get to a power 4 FBS and one trying to get to the college level. This year is big. Every year is big, but this is Sophomore college season and High School Jr. year. The time for excuses are over. This is the time to shine. While both are starters at their positions, there is room for growth beyond that. Both will have chances at Special Teams while the younger may get chances on an offense with a thin receiving corps and no big body speedsters to go up for the rock. So, I’m saying there is a chance for both of them to be successful, because the opportunities are there for the taking.
The Lady Talis and I have been discussing a quote “Act as if it were impossible to fail” with me arguing for this ideology and her arguing that it is more interesting if you act as if it is possible to fail. Her way makes sense because you have to recognize that this is your shot and you need to take it all the way seriously. You cannot act like there will be another chance. There won’t be. I know this from personal experience. Athletics doesn’t offer a ton of chances and even less now in the money driven ecosystem created by flashy NIL deals. You have to pop when you are given the shot or else you will no longer get the shot. The older one gets that. The younger one has a lot of work to do with growing into confidence and growing up in general in terms of understanding what it takes and what you must sacrifice to be successful. I believe he’ll get there. I believe both will succeed. My belief is positive energy swirling in their direction, but it won’t get the job done. That is on them.
Travis Hunter is getting the job done. Bro is already notching plays on both sides of the ball in practice. Oh how I wish it wasn’t the Jags, but here we are and this is what we need to accept. Hunter is the guy. In a magical world the Browns trade Sanders for Lawrence (and give up like 7 number ones…) and we get to see those dudes keep going, but that isn’t where its at right now. I don’t know where it is at with Sanders short of OTA Hype, but even in that he’s not taking many (if any) reps with the ones.
So, that’s football, and that is this blog. I’ll leave you with this parting sports note: Yankee hats are universal. I have been traveling for years and have never gone a day overseas without seeing someone in a Yankee cap. Here in Spain I see a slew of knockoffs, as well as a New Era store in Madrid that is almost entirely filled with Yankee ball caps. I don’t get it. Madness, I say. Pure madness.