Entry 4: December 27, 2007
Today was a long, and amazing day.
Nothing like getting up and going to
practice when the sun hasn't come up yet. I think
that you are able to take an odd sense of pride
knowing that you are working hard when your opponent
is sleeping. That is something that I definitely
picked up from my freshman year with Alfred Fincher
and Dan Orlovsky. They ran the stadiums at 3 a.m. to
put themselves in a position to win. Well guess
what: we practice before sunrise during bowl week to
give us a shot to win.
I know the previous blog entries have been on the
humorous side (more on that later), but I need to
wax sentimental for at least a paragraph or too.
Today was officially our last contact practice of
the season. Which also means it was the last
practice with our seniors. I know that in the media
and in the mind of the average fan it is really the
"last game" that everyone concentrates on. "What
did you do in your last game" or "You'll Remember
your last game forever". And while I think those
our valid points, its definitely important to
remember that games make up about 1% of our time and
commitment with regard to football. the other seven
months of the year are spent training and lifting
and running, and lifting some more, and practicing,
and two-a-days. and watching film, and all the other
little things that it takes to be a great football
team. So the last practice holds some serious
significance.
A lot of the guys that are graduating this year are
the guys I came up with, from MY recruiting class.
I am going to miss seeing Dan, Danny, Donnell and
Tyvon on the practice field all day. One of the
traditions of UConn football, as old as time and as
consistent as gravity is that on the last practice,
seniors switch jerseys with each other. Its a sign
of respect, it confuses the heck out of the coaches,
and there is nothing better than seeing 6-5,
300-pound offensive guard Donald Thomas Squeeze
into the #24 jersey of wide receiver and punt
returner extraordinaire Larry Taylor (who comes in
at 5'5, 167lbs). That right there is worth the
price of admission.
So now I need to address the previous blog entries.
I have been gettin' after my roommate Scott Lutrus
pretty hard. He's been a tremendous sport about the
whole thing (and lets be honest, what choice does he
have?). Let me say that 90% of what I've said I
may have taken a great deal of "creative
license" with. I have really enjoyed rooming with
him this week and I have learned a lot from him this
week. ("Ohhh, okay, so you rinse THEN
repeat"). I also learned that while Scott may or
may not qualify as a metro-sexual (the jury is still
out), there is actually a word for the opposite of a
metro-sexual that I would like to get out into the
mainstream. This word is probably the category that
I best fit into..."HOBO-SEXUAL"-one who cares so
little about their appearance they may actually be
mistaken for being a hobo. Okay, maybe I'll never
be mistaken for a hobo, but lets just say my grocery
list has never included anything that included
"Green Tea Extract". So in the interest of
furthering my declaration of manhood, let me talk
about the other goings on of today.
We went to Lowe's Motor Speedway, which was an
incredible experience. Not just getting whipped
around the track at 160+MPH but seeing Coach Hughes,
Dan Ryan, and Mike Hicks get out of the
car....through the window. I'd describe that as
similar to passing a camel through the eye of a
needle. I really have a newfound appreciation for
NASCAR and I will finally concede that those guys
are athletes (even you Tony Stewart). You don't
realize the reflexes that the drivers must have and
how quickly everything happens until you are
strapped into a piece of metal with 450+ horses
under the hood.
Watching Coach Edsall dominate the Wake Forest coach
in true UConn fashion was also a plus. Grobe (the
head coach of Wake) did not compete, instead he had
one of his assistants do his bidding. I wonder if
on the 29th he'll try the same stunt. Perhaps it
will be a UConn v. UNC at the Meineke Bowl. At any
rate, I don't care what Edsall says, he definitely
has had practice in the Pit-Crew (or maybe he
moonlighted as an agent for AAA at 'Cuse). Either
way, I think some of the boys at the speedway were
ready to sign him up.
I'm sure tomorrow some headline in some paper will
read "Edsall Interviewing for position at Talladega"
or "Earnhardt Jr. and Edsall in contract
negotiations" maybe even "Hendrix Racing approaches
Edsall about tire changing career". At any rate,
Coach Edsall, my hat is off to you. A job well
done, all the guys were proud.
We finished off the day by getting lunch, and having
our meetings on Wake Forest....but before I could go
take my nap, someone had to tell me to go to
www.courant.com. I also got several text
messages informing me there was a picture of myself
looking "extra-meatheadish" (not that I mind). So
Lutrus decided to get a little revenge and soon
enough the picture was being text-messaged around
the team. Followed of course by the comments on my
receding hairline. in the words of George Castanza
"I'm not bald....I'm balding". So I guess there is
Karma. Touche' Lutrus, Touche'.
It has been pretentious of me to assume that you
have wanted to hear any or all of what I have
previously wrote. For that I apologize.
Time for me to go apply my Rogaine Foam,
Until Tomorrow,
Rob
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