Orthodixie
The University of Michigan Wolverines learned a valuable lesson on September 1, 2007: “No matter your future expectations, today ya gotta play the game.”
As an Appalachian Alum, I am obviously biased. Actually that should read: “As an App Alum, I am naturally optimistic.” Look. There ain’t many spoilt rich kids at ASU. And those that think they are, compared to places like UM, just think they are.
Appalachian State University is a special place, first and foremost — hideous promo video aside — because of its location in the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains. But, more than that, it is home to the sons and daughters of predominantly working class folks from the Foothills and Piedmont of North Carolina. Oh heck, let me just come out and say it: That’s Ya Hoo without a Dot Com. But when you mix Hayseeds with Mustard Seeds, or sump’m like at, you can move mountains all the way to Michigan.
My wife and I, both ASU Grads (’83 & ’87), caught Saturday’s game on the computer — a station broadcasting from Michigan I’d googled online. We were doing yard work outside on a surprisingly pleasant fall-like Houston day. As ASU led for most of the game, it was even more to our liking. We were not greatly surprised … Hey. App Alums will believe anything about their Alma Mater.
Then, when things turned sour with 4 minutes left to play, the Missuz pouted and went back to using the leaf blower. Man that I am, I remained glued to the computer. Then, chugga-chugga-choo-choo!, Chugga-Chugga-Choo-Choo! — when the Little Engine That Could started doin’ its thang, I whined … “Come on in Hun, they’re gettin’ ready to kick a field goal to go ahead.” Long story short, they did: And how.
When you’re 46, whether you’re a Mountaineer or not, jumping up and down and screaming at the top of your lungs — high-fivin’ and acting a fool takes a toll. But, hey. Ya gotta do whatchya gotta do. They did; we did. Yahoo!
Un. Be. Lievable.
I say that not because, as a Mountaineer, we didn’t believe. I say it because of the reaction of the nation to the Big Game. It’s been fun to follow. Then again, for Michigan fans, not so much. It’s a bitter (capital B with an Echo) pill to swallow for a cocky powerhouse with hopes of a National Title and a Heisman candidate. But for ASU, it was Game Day … away. And all they had to lose was their 15-game winning streak. ‘Sawright. Good experience and great exposure for the Mountaineers.
ASU’s head coach, Jerry Moore, undoubtedly like many of his players, is a faithful Christian — a Baptist. He’s in his 19th season in Boone, North Carolina. (University of Texas head, Mack Brown, only lasted a year at ASU.) Moore reads Psalms and Proverbs each morning and has taught his players a wonderful lesson over the years: “Let the first moments of the day when the heart is fresh be given to God. Never see the face of man till you have seen the King.” Source
True, in cases such as this, Faith is paramount. But also …
[T]he Mountaineers kept telling themselves that while Michigan might be the winningest program in major college history, the Wolverines were just college kids like them. The past is the past. This was about the future.
“Their players are like us,” running back Kevin Richardson told the Detroit News before the game. “They have feet, put on shoes and strap on the pads just like we do.” Source
Besides, in the end, even Wolverine fans (if they dig deep enough) gotta admit: Though that big ol’ Philistine could have should have beaten that little shepherd boy …
That story just won’t preach.
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