Nostalgia, and a Happy New Year

Perhaps it is nostalgia. After all, it is the end of another year. And we did just celebrate Christmas.

Or maybe it is because my youngest is now as tall as me. Of course, it could be because I am two weeks away from turning the big Five-Oh, which is about to hit me like a surfer’s Hawaiian wave with the voice of Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord) in the background saying “Book ‘im, Danno” while the Morton Stevens “Hawaii Five-O” theme song plays.

I guess most people get a little nostalgic around Christmas. Memories seem to flood the soul during the yuletide season. We see children playing with their new toys that Santa left, and remember our own childhood skates and drums and bikes. In a way we find ourselves wishing we could go back and be that child again, if only for a Christmas moment. Perhaps to see the old house we used to run around in, and hear the creaking sounds of the hallway floorboards one more time. Or to see that smile and hear that laugh of a loved one who has now gone on to their reward in heaven and will meet us there one day with arms open wide. Or experience the smells and tastes and noise of family reunions past.

Nostalgia.

Nostalgia is two Greek words put together. “Nostos” means returning home. “Algos” means pain. So nostalgia is the pain one feels because he or she wishes to return home, and fears (or knows) that can never happen again. We get the word “homesick” from “Nostos-Algos”.

As I have been pondering the year now almost over, and planning the year to come, a little nostalgia blended with a little daydreaming has moved me to create an “I want to” list. Now I want to be clear, this is NOT a Jack Nicholson/Morgan Freeman Bucket List. It is just a list of things I want to do during my remaining days on earth. Some of them I have already done, but want to do again. Others I haven’t. I didn’t include things I have done but don’t really mind if I never do again. You can borrow my list or make up your own. After all, mine will be saturated with my own nostalgic yet daydream persuasion.

Here is mine, with comments to the side. “I want to…”

1. Write and publish a book (Began in May, 150 pages into it today)
2. Visit Mesa Verda again (Did it summer 2007, and would go again today)
3. Sleep under the stars again (Used to do it in Boy Scouts, want to again)
4. Sing in a band (Never done it)
5. Do another multi-day hiking trip on the A.T. (Did it in Scouts and want to again)
6. Write a blog (Uh, doing it!)
7. Swim in the Great Salt Lake (Never done it)
8. Walk the streets of Jerusalem (Never done it)
9. Visit the Vatican (Never done it)
10. Tour the Everglades (If I have done it, don’t remember it)
11. Visit Auschwitz (Been to Dachau twice, but not Auschwitz)
12. Play in the mud like a child (Been a LOOONG time since I did that)
13. Visit the Sistine Chapel (Never done it)
14. See Old Faithful geyser (Saw it about 35 years ago, want to again)
15. Teach myself a new language (I am working on Japanese)
16. Ride in a gondola in Venice (Never done it)
17. Go skinny dipping in a lake (Been a LOOONG time on this one, too. And before you are too judgmental here, you don’t know who, if anyone, I am inviting to go with me! And yes, I know what I look like “nekkid at my age”!)
18. Sing Karaoke (Done that in multiple countries and on a cruise ship)
19. Build an igloo (Never done it)
20. Take a trip to Istanbul on the Orient Express (Never Done It)
21. See the Great Pyramids of Egypt (Never Done It)
22. Own a Harley-Davidson (Never Done It)
23. Learn to Ballroom Dance (Come on, Julie…let’s do it!)
24. Walk my daughters down the aisle (Not yet…but one day!)
25. Sit on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and toss pebbles into the water, just meditating and thinking (Never done it)

And with that, unless something earth shattering takes place that I feel an irresistible urge to write about, my blog for 2008 is complete. I don’t plan to write again until 2009. So Happy New Year to you all.

WJLaneSR

p.s. (thanks to cozy reader's blog for the idea)

Malzahn

Auburn hired another author today. Or should I say, Auburn hired an “Arthur” today. That’s right, Arthur Gustav Malzahn III, better known as Gus Malzahn, was hired as the new offensive coordinator for Auburn University.

Gus Malzahn was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas on October 28, 1965. He graduated from Fort Smith Christian High School in 1984, and was a walk-on receiver for the Ken Hatfield led Arkansas Razorbacks. After two years, he transferred to Henderson State University where he was a two year letterman in football, and where he earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education.

Gus Malzahn has been successful at every coaching stop in his career. In fact, he is a high school coaching legend in the state of Arkansas. From 1996 – 2000, he was the head coach of Shiloh Christian where he transformed their football team into one of the most dynamic offensive prep squads in the nation. From there, he moved to Springdale High School from 2001 – 2005 where he led his team to two state championship games and 1 title. His 2005 squad had All Americans Mitch Mustain and Damian Williams who both went to Arkansas.

In 2005, Malzahn was named the offensive coordinator for Arkansas, where his offense led the Razorbacks to an SEC West Division Championship. In 2007, his friend Todd Graham became the head coach of Tulsa, and Malzahn joined him as Offensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach.

In 2007, Malzahn emerged as one of the premier offensive coordinators in the country, as Tulsa ranked #1 in the nation in total offense (ahead of Texas Tech and Hawaii). Under his leadership, Tulsa became the first team in NCAA history to have a 5000 yard passer, a 1000 yard rusher, and three 1000 yard receivers in one season on one team. This past year, his Tulsa team ranked #2 in the nation in total offense with an average of 565 yards per game.

Coach Malzahn is also an author. This may remind you of Tony Franklin, but unlike Franklin, Malzahn’s version of the spread is more balanced, with the quarterback under center instead of in the shotgun. He wrote a book entitled “Hurry Up No Huddle—An Offensive Philosophy”. He is the author and inventor of the “Wildcat Formation” which is really a version of the old single wing.

Will his version of the spread work at Auburn? I don’t know…but I sure hope so.

From the desk of my bully pulpit, I say, “Good hire, Coach Chiz. Let’s get some players to go with it.”

War Eagle

WJLaneSR

Chi

It was a triangular world wind tour. Beginning Christmas morning in Spartanburg, South Carolina, six Lanes plus a dog rode 5 hours to Savannah, Georgia in order to eat Christmas Dinner with Julie’s brothers and sisters (as well as their families, etc.) After exchanging a few gifts, avoiding the figgy pudding, and pulling on crackers (part of my wife’s English tradition where a tubular present is pulled on both ends, making a popping sound, and a paper crown falls out which is supposed to then be put on the head. As with all good English people, it makes more sense after a pint or three of ale), we retired to our hotel.

On Boxing Day, we woke up, drove six hours from Savannah to West Point, Ga. to visit my parents, and again exchanged a few gifts. My mother had turkey, ham and all the trimmings. So, for the second day in a row, we overate and enjoyed the Christmas Cheer. Following a large breakfast and lunch today, we drove 5 hours back to Spartanburg.

The triangle trip was complete.

There are lots of stories about our quick trip that I could tell, like my phone call with Aunt Faye, riding 16 hours in three days in one car with 6 people and a dog, and the bite I received on my hand by another dog.

Due to the restraints of time and space, I only want to talk about how LONG the trip was. It is amazing what we will do in order to see friends and loved ones at Christmas. Packed in a vehicle like sardines really does describe what we were.

The long trip was kind of like following a long, long river that never seems to end.

I remember in college geography studying about the rivers such as this. One such river is the longest river in Thailand. It is called the Chi River. The river runs through the Phetchabun Mountains, runs east and then south where it meets the Mun River. Maybe the reason I remember this river is because it is riddled with leeches, yet is a major source of travel, commerce and food for the Thai people

I think I will call Auburn’s new head football coach “Coach Chi”. Most people will think it is just short for “Chizik”, but I have another reason.

Coach Chi will have a lot of people who will be try to be like a leech, attaching themselves to his every move and decision. And though leeches can be good in certain circumstances, they can also draw the life out of a person if left unattended. Coach Chi also has a long row to hoe, I think. Not only does he have to get the Auburn base on board, he has to turn the football program around. This will be a long process, I think.

But, long journeys are not necessarily bad things. Just like our Christmas journey; though long, it was a good thing. Like the Chi River for the Thais.

Good luck, Coach Chi. I hope your journey is a good thing for Auburn, as well.

Coming Home

In 1978, Jon Voight and Jane Fonda starred in a film entitled “Coming Home”. It was a dramatic adaptation of a novel by George Davis. The movie told the story of an injured Vietnam War veteran’s difficulty re-entering civilian life after he returns home from the war. Both Jon Voight and Jane Fonda won academy awards for their roles in the movie, and if you look, you can probably find a DVD or Blue Ray at your local Blockbuster Store.

I have read many articles over the last couple of weeks regarding the state of the football program at Auburn. One of the themes that seems to be resonating of late is one of “coming home” under new coach Chizik. He has symbolically reached out his hand to former lettermen and to Coach Dye by saying “come home…you’re always welcome here.” And if there is any truth to the rumors swirling, there will be a few coaches who used to play football at Auburn invited to “Come Home” and coach the Tigers.

One name that is getting a lot of attention is Stacy Searles. Searles played football under legendary coach Pat Dye, blocking for such superstars as Bo Jackson. He was the offensive line coach for LSU for 4 seasons, and most recently the offensive line coach for Georgia. Searles is a throwback to passionate football fundamentals. His words are “whip em in the trenches.” It is a lesson he says his father taught him when he was growing up in Trion, Georgia. His father was a proud blue-collar worker, who delivered milk for 23 years, and drove a truck for 20 after that. But he always made time to come to Stacy’s practices and ballgames. And according to Stacy, Wayne Searles knew more about line-play than most coaches even today. After all, Wayne Searles was an all-state lineman himself back in 1952.

Searles says his father never fussed about a missed block or making a mistake, but if he ever saw his son loafing, there would be “hell to pay when I got home. He felt that if you played hard and put forth all the effort that’s within you, you can overcome any physical deficiencies you might have.”

Stacy followed in his father’s footsteps and made all-state in 1982 before signing a scholarship with Auburn.

It looks as if Searles may be coming home to coach at Auburn.

Thinking about this possibility, I remembered the Fonda/Voight movie in 1978. Or maybe it’s just the season. After all, it is a phrase we use quite a bit during this time of year. “Are the kids coming home for Christmas?” “When are you coming home?” And of course, there is that phrase which causes both anxiety and excitement….”Is anyone coming home with you?”

Frankly, I think it is why many people who don’t otherwise attend church, will find themselves at a Christmas Eve service, or church Christmas program. Going to these feels a little bit like “coming home” and it should. After all, that’s why Jesus came. To give us a way to “come home”…..back to God.

Merry Christmas,
WJLaneSR

Recruiting

I guess I have read most of them. Or at least enough of them to know that there IS no consensus.

Working for a Japanese company, I have learned how important “consensus” is. It is a method of decision making where the entire group looks at every facet of a problem or circumstance asks “why” at least 5 times, analyzes every minute detail, until there is a general agreement to the solution or decision. That’s consensus.

When I read them, I find no general agreement…no consensus.

Of course, if you follow Auburn University football at all, you already know what I am opining over.

That’s right…..Gene Chizik as Auburn’s new head coach.

Now before you right-finger click to another web page let me assure you. I am NOT going to give an opinion about whether the hire was good or bad. There are enough so called “experts” who are doing that, and you can choose whichever one you want to line up with. After all, you DO know what opinions and a certain part of the anatomy have in common….let’s all say it together….”everybody has one”.

Before being too critical of opinions, however, just remember that opinions are ideas and thoughts which are either impossible to verify the truth of, or of which the truth is unimportant. Yep, that’s the definition of an opinion. It has very little to do with truth.

What I AM going to do, however, is give my thoughts on what Coach Chizik, who is now out actively recruiting, should be looking for. You might say it’s my OPINION of what makes up a top notch high school football recruit. And before you tell me I don’t know what in the heck I am talking about, remember….opinions have very little to do with truth.

So here it goes…the Lane Plan of High School Football Recruiting. Coach Chizik, take note:

#1 at the top of the list…..Grades. Make sure the athlete has a solid GPA in his core curriculum classes, and a solid ACT or SAT score. If not, and you take him, he may hurt your APR (Academic Progress Rate) when he gets to college.

#2. Character and Citizenship. Make sure the young man has irreproachable character and unquestionable citizenship. Being a decent person and good citizen is a central characteristic of leadership and willingness to be a team player.

#3. Speed. Look for that young man who has fast starts and quick acceleration. Yes the 40 yard dash is important, but what can he do in the 10 yard (especially for those big, power players on the line and skill players like tight end, fullback and linebacker).

#4. Good reaction. How quick does he move after seeing the ball move, for example. Does his vision trigger a quickness response in his body.

#5. Strength and Power. Not just in the weight room, but can the young man transfer all that strength attained on the bench press to the football field.

#6. Work Ethic. Does the young man have a “dread the day” attitude to practice, running and weight lifting? Or is he the first one in and the last one to leave. Also in the classroom.

#7. Is he competitive by nature? Is he high energy and have a strong desire to win at everything he participates in?

#8. Does he have a passion for the game? Does he truly LOVE the game of football?

To me, THESE are the characteristics of the young men Coach Chizik should be looking for as he is hitting the recruiting trail hard for Auburn. I hope he can find some like this. I’ll be satisfied with only about 23 or 24 of them.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, I DID intentionally leave one attribute out, because in my OPINION, it is overrated and doesn’t tell the story about the recruit. That’s right. Physical talent.

For you see, there are a LOT of people who have the physical talent to play college football, but without those nine attributes I have listed about, I don’t think they would ever be successful.

That’s my opinion.

WJLaneSR

Tuppence

I admit it. I use the phrase, about others and even about myself. Quite frankly, I’ve never thought about its origin.

“He’s got to put his two cents worth in”. “I’m going to put my two cents worth in”. You’ve heard the phrase “two cents worth”, but do you know the origin of the phrase, and what it really means?

The phrase is derived from the British idiom “my tuppence worth”, which is used to depreciate the opinion to follow, suggesting that the opinion is only going to be worth about a “tuppence”, or two pennies. It goes hand-in-hand with another British idiom from the 16th century: “a penny for your thoughts”.

Reflecting on it, I find it’s mostly true. For usually, when I hear someone say, “Well, here’s MY two cents worth”, the opinion they give is usually worth no more than a tuppence.

Keeping that in mind, I toss my tuppence worth into the Auburn coaching search discussion.

This past week, I felt as though I were only a “heartbeat away” from the real action of the coaching search. I was in New York all week, where the American College Football Association was having their annual banquet and Hall of Fame induction. These meetings and banquet were held Tuesday evening at the Waldorf Astoria. I was staying across the street from the Waldorf’s back entrance.

On Monday evening, while sitting in the concierge lounge at the Marriott, Mark May from ESPN College Football fame, came in. He sat at a table next to mine, and we struck up a conversation. It began with the Auburn-West Virginia game, and Tuberville’s decision to have the sideline heaters turned off after half-time. Of course, our discussion moved on to Auburn’s coaching search. To summarize, it was his strong belief that most everyone being interviewed in NY would not ultimately become the new head coach.

I have thought about his tuppence worth. Maybe he’s right. Maybe not. In any case, here’s mine.

Auburn has a long and rich history surrounding it’s football program. Being an amateur student of history, there is one overriding reason we should study and know our history. To learn from it.

In 1980, Auburn’s football program was on life-support. It shouldn’t have been, because talent was there. But there was no urgency. No belief. No vision. Using a Biblical analogy from Jeremiah, “without a vision, the people perish”. Auburn football was perishing.

Doug Barfield was the wrong man at the wrong time. Across the state, Bear Bryant was at the pinnacle of his career. With the firing of Barfield, Auburn cast a wide net in search for their new coach. Many wanted Auburn to hit the proverbial “home run”, because it needed someone who could stand toe-to-toe with “The Bear”.

Vince Dooley ALMOST became that person.

Rather, Auburn hired a young coach who’s winning percentage was barely 70%. Averaging seven wins out of ten games was less than what many Auburn people were looking for. And when Pat Dye was announced as the new head coach, there were lots of orange and blue fans across Alabama looking at each other saying “Pat Who?”

But Auburn hired a coach who reflected Auburn football. Guts. Run oriented. Power. Self-confidence. Not much flash but an awful lot of “in your face” football. A coach who believed you won and lost on the line of scrimmage, and who challenged the manhood of every player.

When asked how long it would take to beat the Legendary Bear and his troops, Dye didn’t hesitate. “60 Minutes”. As we’ve been reminded this week, it actually took 120.

So my tuppence worth is this. Learn from our history. Don’t worry about what ESPN says. Don’t worry about the Finebaum’s and the Belue’s. Don’t worry about hitting the proverbial “home run”.

Rather, hire someone who reflects Auburn football. Someone who will fit who we are, and will take us to where we ought to be. Someone who will answer the question, “how long will it take to beat the great Sabear?” with the answer…..”60 minutes.”

That’s my tuppence.

WJLaneSR

East Elmhurst

At least now I know why they asked me that question. I mean, when they asked me, it seemed like a reasonable question. After all, the hotel is just across the freeway from LaGuardia Airport.

If you’ve never been to East Elmhurst, it might be a good thing. As I was looking at the neighborhood from behind the tinted windows of my limousine (o.k., it was a Lincoln Towncar from a Manhattan car service) I thought to myself, “This ain’t a very good neighborhood”. And yet, right here, is the New York-LaGuardia Crowne Plaza. Suffice it to say that I won’t be going on a cardio-walk outside to catch some fresh air.

I don’t usually stay by the airport. But thanks to Delta NOT “being ready when I am”, my evening flight from LaGuardia to Spartanburg was cancelled tonight. Whoopie! I get to stay another night in the city, but since I have already checked out of my hotel and can’t find another one less than $600 a night, I get to visit East Elmhurst.

To make matters worse, the computer system was down when I checked in about an hour ago. I can’t wait to see what has been billed to my room! Which brings me back to the question.

It seemed reasonable enough. When I checked in, I was hungry. My last meal was lunch, which was a chef salad from Au Bon Pain. Great salad, but lasted only about 4 hours. Thankfully, they serve food at the bar in the Crowne Plaza of East Elmhurst.

I ordered the nachos with beef, which was soggy with overcooked (I certainly HOPE) ground beef. And I admit, after the day I had, I ordered a Blue Moon to wash it down with. So back to the question.

I noticed when I entered the bar, which by the way was the ONLY place to get something to eat, that there was a lot of “mingling” going on. Most of these were people in the mid forty to sixty something range. I kept looking for storm clouds and father Noah, because the people seemed to be gathering two by two and leaving the bar together. I thought to myself that if it started raining in there, I might be in trouble.

The man behind the bar said to me, “you haven’t been in here before, have you?” I said, “Nope, and I wouldn’t be here now if my flight hadn’t been cancelled.” He then gave me a warning. He said, “Be careful. This is a hangout for lonely divorced people, or people who are just looking for some companionship for the night. Let me know if anyone bothers you.”

Well THAT’S just great. And all this time, I thought the question asked of me by the clerk behind the counter had to do with whether or not I had an evening flight. But NOOO. The question CLEARLY had a different meaning, which I didn’t pick up on. Because the clerk asked me, “Mr. Lane, will you be staying with us overnight, or just for a few hours?”

Writing from my room ALONE...and hoping to get home tomorrow....

WJLaneSR

Past week has been a Pain!

The past 8 days have not only been a whirlwind filled with topics waiting for discourse and diatribe, they have also been days of pain. Literally.

Oh, I could write about the humiliating defeat in Tuscalooserville, but that isn’t the pain I am talking about. And sure, I could pontificate about the he-said/they-said/what-happened saga of Tommy Tuberville. But that also isn’t the pain about which I write. For you see, during the week following the crushing and embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Nicolodian Tide, just after Tommy Tuberville was no longer the head football coach at Auburn, I had to be taken to the hospital.

As most of you know, I am a huge Auburn fan. But it wasn’t the misery and melancholy of “Post-Iron Bowl-Syndrome” that sent me to sickbay.

Rather, if I am keeping count correctly, and I think I am, I gave birth to my 15th kidney stone. And the labor was excruciating.

There is nothing like sitting in the emergency room “corral” waiting to be called, while having waves of nauseating pain emanating from one’s kidney and engulfing the body, making it’s way out through the mouth in the form of wails and moans while dozens of equally miserable human beings look on. And for the record, this went on for about an hour before I was seen.

The pain medication was not only relief from the kidney stone pain, but also from the surrounding misery as well. After taking me back for a CAT scan, the doctor informed me that Christmas was coming early. That indeed it WAS the season of advent and expectation. That I had something to look forward to. I had the gift that keeps on giving. Doctor Good-News told me that the CAT scan showed I had two more kidney stones in my right kidney….as compared to the left one which was why I was in the hospital in the first place!!

Merry Christmas!! Gifts to look forward to!!

And as for Auburn’s coaching search? Let’s get a good one and get it over with. I can’t stand many more pains in the side.

War Eagle!

WJLaneSR

A Silent Scream

Dr. Bernhard Nathanson described himself as a “Jewish-Atheist”. As a board certified gynecologist and obstetrician in New York State, he became one of the founding members of “Pro-Choice America”. He provided expert medical advice and information to the legal team who successfully argued before the U.S. Supreme Court the Roe v. Wade decision. For a time he was the Director of the Center for Reproductive and Sexual Health (CRASH), New York’s largest abortion clinic. In his own words, he recalls that he is personally responsible for as many as 75,000 abortions, one of which was to a woman that he personally got pregnant.

Then came clear Ultra Sound in the late 1970’s. When Dr. Nathanson began to see babies in the womb moving around, sucking their thumbs and toes, responding to sound, and having hiccups, he began to rethink his position on abortion. At the same time, he was dealing with internal demons haunting his personal life. He had gone through three messy divorces, his sister had committed suicide, and he had learned that his grandfather hadn’t died of natural causes, but had in fact committed suicide when Bernhard was just a little boy. Finally, with nowhere else to turn, he sought out the witness and counsel of Father John McCloskey. Dr. Nathanson turned to Jesus Christ, and became a Christian.

In 1984, he wrote, directed and filmed a documentary called “The Silent Scream”. The film is extremely graphic, and depicts the abortion process via ultrasound. It vividly shows an abortion taking place. In detail, the unborn child is shown making facial contortions and appears to be screaming out in pain and torment during the process. The video became such a powerful tool of “right-to-life”, that it was used in the re-election campaign of Ronald Reagan.

I hadn’t thought about this film in a long time. Until this past weekend.

I was sitting with total disgust in the pit of my stomach as I watched the Iron Bowl. I saw an impotent Auburn offense fail to move the ball against a stingy Red defense. I saw an Auburn defensive line overpowered by a Tide offensive line. And I saw coaching emotion and adrenaline at a high level on the home side of the field, and a seemingly lack of emotion on the other. I couldn’t yell. I couldn’t fuss. I couldn’t cuss…well, mostly because there were kids in the room, but still…..my body was in contortions, but I could make no sound. All I could do was make a silent scream.

Now please don’t misunderstand. In no way am I comparing losing a football game, albeit THE game, to an abortion. There is no comparison. But frankly, I had forgotten about the film “the Silent Scream” until Saturday. And then I remembered it as I was thinking to myself, “all I can do is scream silently”.

Maybe it was God reminding me not to take a football game so seriously because there were things much more important, like matters of life and death, going on around me. Maybe He was trying to make sure I kept all these things in perspective. I don’t know.

What I DO know is this. Auburn lost the Iron Bowl…first time in seven years. A lot of faithful Tigers like myself want to yell, spit, curse, and even scream. And that’s o.k.
But

There are other screams going on today as well. And those screams are silent. They need a voice. A voice like mine…..which on THIS issue, won’t be silent anymore.

Stop Abortion Now.

WJLaneSR

Greatest Film of All Time and the Iron Bowl

“Some say he is dead….some say he never will be.”

This is the tag line from my favorite movie of all time.

I took my son and his friend to see a movie tonight. Not my favorite movie, though. They saw “Twilight”, which is supposed to be a pretty good flick, or so they say. I didn’t go with them but rather went to Barnes and Noble, looked at the “books for sale” in the History section, and drank an overpriced cup of Starbucks Coffee. While perusing such sultry and seductive books as “The Federalist Papers” and “Lee’s Gettysburg” (as I’ve written before, I’m just a history-teacher-geek wannabe), I received a phone picture from our friend Gina.

Gina and her family are in Lexington, Kentucky, visiting our friend Bobby, who is in the hospital due to emergency surgery. In fact, my wife Julie and our daughter Marissa are there as well. They are also spending some time with Bobby’s wife and two daughters. Bobby is a first year seminary student at Asbury Theological Seminary just outside Lexington.

When Bobby went there, I told him that a guy I used to be good friends with was in the Ph.D. program at Asbury, and he should look him up. For whatever reason, that never happened.

Well, today, as Julie and Gina were driving to Phoebe’s house, they saw this friend, Dan Dunn, and his wife Nancy, walking along a street. Julie made Gina stop the car, and she then did what she does best. She began to talk to Dan and Nancy.

The picture I received was of Dan, Nancy and Julie.

Julie said, “This must be God. What else could it be?”

And you know, I think she’s right. What else could it be? After all, some may say that Jesus is dead, but we say He never will be.

Which brings me to the tagline of my favorite movie.

It was on television tonight. Filmed in Utah, so that there would be a majestic backdrop of scenery, the movie is about one man’s struggles with mountains, surroundings, natives and himself. Lead actor Robert Redford only had 30 lines in the movie, yet 36 years after it’s release it is still one of the most watched films when on television. “Jeremiah Johnson” just does something to me when I watch it. Maybe it’s Will Geer asking Redford if he’d ever skinned a “Griz”. Maybe it’s like watching the struggle of humanity. Or maybe it just reminds me of this year’s version of the Auburn Tigers.

Tomorrow is the Iron Bowl. Watching Jeremiah Johnson fight and struggle with every “sitzen liben” (that’s “life situation” for those who never took a church history class under Dr. Bill Mallory) he is faced with is the persona of the 2008 Auburn Tiger Football Team. Speaking to the 1989 Auburn Tiger team after the Alabama game, Head Coach Pat Dye said, “Men, I’ve watched you wrestle with them angels all year.” And maybe that’s what this year’s team has been doing….wrestling with them angels.

Auburn has a huge mountain to climb. They are facing the #1 team in the nation. Some say Tommy Tuberville is gone after this game. Some say he is dead. And some say he never will be.

If Auburn can find a way to wrestle them angels….to conquer the mountain before them…. they might just be able to look back on this season and hear the words of Bear Claw Chris Lapp (Will Geer). Bear Claw asked Jeremiah Johnson at the end of the movie, “You’ve come far, Pilgrim. Were it worth the trouble?” To which Johnson replied, “Ah, what trouble”.

The final scene is an encounter with Paints His Shirt Red, Johnson's avowed enemy since mid-film and the presumptive force behind many attacks made on Johnson. Several hundred yards apart, Johnson reaches for his rifle for what he thinks will be a final duel. Paints His Shirt Red raises his arm, open-palmed, in a gesture of peace. Johnson returns the gesture….raising one hand with his five fingers outstretched….and the other with three fingers around his gun, and two fingers outstretched. This closes the film.

Seven fingers held high. Like Tuberville tomorrow?

"Some say he’s dead. Some say he never will be."

War Eagle

WJLaneSR

Happy Thanksgiving

We’re not cooking tomorrow. We’re not cleaning house tomorrow. We’re not travelling to a relative’s house tomorrow. And we’re not carrying a bean/broccoli/spinach/asparagus/chicken/cheese/crackers on top casserole to anybody’s house. Not because we don’t believe in Thanksgiving, or want to be grumpy or hermitish. Rather, we are in Asheville, NC, at the Renaissance Hotel. My wife, three daughters, son, mother and father are all with me. We arrived this afternoon and are staying until Friday. We’re going to eat the Thanksgiving buffet at the hotel. At $22 per person, I think I will actually save money over buying two grocery carts of Lord-Knows-What at Publix to prepare the sacred gobbler and trimmings. Never done this kind of thing before, and may not do it again. But this year, we just wanted to rest and let someone else do all the work. Oh, and count our blessings.

We have a lot to be thankful for. First of all, it is my mother’s birthday tomorrow. She has had a very rough year physically, having been in the hospital several times with a major kidney stone issue. Thankfully, the stone has been rolled away (o.k., blasted and lasered away, but it sounds more miraculous to use a Gospel analogy). So while we are eating Thomas Jefferson’s nomination for the national bird, singing “Eat, we thankful people eat….fill our stomachs with harvest cornbread”, we will also sing “Happy Birthday, Mawmaw.”

I am also thankful for our children. Hannah, our oldest, is in the Ph.D. program at the Medical University of South Carolina….studying to be a Pharmacologist. Last week she presented a poster (which I am told is a major big deal) at a Cancer Conference in Washington D.C. Marissa, our second, is a junior at the College of Charleston in Elementary Education. She took her Praxis test a couple of weeks ago and passed with flying colors. This is a test she has to pass in South Carolina in order to teach, and by passing it now, she qualifies for additional financial aid! Yahoo!!! Ansley, our third, will graduate from High School in January. This is one semester early. She was in the High School Drama Department’s production of “Dearly Departed” last week. She was soooo funny, playing a pregnant mother expecting her eighth child. She was really good! Will, our fourth and final, is twelve years old and in the sixth grade. He is very smart (and knows it, which is a bad combination!), and is a giant among boys. I am almost six feet tall, and he is almost as tall as me. He is in Boy Scouts, active in church, and plays the drums in the middle school band. His first Christmas parade as a member of the band is in one week.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t say how thankful I am of my wife. Julie has been my partner in this romantic comedy we call marriage for 28 years now. She celebrated her 50th birthday in October (I married a MUCH older woman…I don’t turn 50 until January!) She is the children’s coordinator at our church, and works at it non-stop. In fact, she is sitting on the hotel bed right now working on some “stuff”. Kid-Link, which she oversees, is a ministry to Kindergarten through fifth graders. On any given Sunday evening, she has between 40 and 60 kids. And in the midst of this, she still helps with homework, does most of the housework (hey…..I do SOME), cooks, counsels our older children, and looks after me.

I could mention so many other things I am thankful for, but I will end with this. I am also thankful that this football season is about over. I have no idea what will happen in the Iron Bowl on Saturday, but this I know. I will be a Tiger before kickoff, a Tiger during the game, and a Tiger after the final whistle blows. And when that whistle blows, I will be thankful that I can say, “Only 9 months until football season!”

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

WJLaneSR

Super Moose

I can still remember the first Iron Bowl I ever went to. The year was 1971. The undefeated Auburn Tigers and the Undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide would meet each other on the green rug of Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, with the watchful eye of Vulcan staring down at them. It was supposed to be a nationally televised showdown (before the days of ESPN1, 2, U, Classic, U2, etc...where EVERY school is on TV every week) between Auburn's great passing attack, led by quarterback Pat Sullivan, who would go on to win the Heisman Trophy, verses the rushing wishbone attack of Alabama, led by first team all-american running back Johnny Musso.

The running game ruled the day. Alabama ran all over Auburn, humiliating them on national TV. Keith Jackson called Johnny Musso the “Super Moose”, and on that day he looked every bit super.

We've heard a lot about Moose, Mooses, Moosi, Moosers.....whatever the plural of “Moose” is....lately. Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin made the headlines because she hunted Moose. In fact, during one interview, she told how you kill a big bull moose. She said that you have to look at him right in his chest....right between the shoulders. She went on to say, “and don't blink. Look right into his chest, because that part doesn't really move. And if you squeeze the trigger, and hit him there, you'll bring him down every time.

One of my favorite cartoon characters when I was growing up was a Moose. His name was Bullwinkle. You might remember his flying squirrel sidekick Rocky. Bullwinkle was a goofy sort of Moose. Rocky always kept him out of trouble. I miss those early Saturday mornings with a big bowl of Frosted Flakes watching the Roadrunner and Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd and Rocky and Bullwinkle the moose.

They say that Alabama's current running back Glenn Coffee reminds the Tide faithful of the Super Moose. The way he breaks through holes and scratches for every yard brings back memories of 1971, according to followers of the Capstone. In fact, some call him “the NEW Super Moose”.

As this year's Iron Bowl approaches, my suggestion to Auburn Defensive Coordinator Paul Rhoads is this: follow Sarah Palin's advice. Tell the linebackers to look straight at his chest. His neck and arms and legs and head and hips may twist and move...but the numbers on his jersey right in the middle of his chest will not. Tell the linebackers to focus on them. Don't blink. And if they will hit him there, right in the chest...right between the shoulders....they will bring him down every time. It's how you bring down a big bull moose.

War Eagle
WJLaneSR

It Matters

To my Bulldog friends, congratulations. You get to bark for another year and I have to listen to it. And so it goes in football rivalries. I can't wait until Christmas when my UGA sister-in-law rubs dog-salt into my wounds. And now, moving on.....

A few months ago, a friend of mine recommended, and sent to me for my reading pleasure, a couple of books. One of the books was about LSU football and Tiger Stadium. The other was a book by Tom Osborne. You might remember him from the days when he was the head football coach of the Big Red Machine…the Nebraska Cornhuskers. More recently he has been working with another Big Machine that seems to be mired in Red Tape….called the U.S. House of Representatives.

In any event, the book Coach Osborne wrote and was recommended to me was:

Faith In the Game: Lessons on Football, Work and Life

The first chapter of the book is really the theme of the book. The chapter is entitled, “Character”. He writes that a person’s character is best defined by their private behavior. That is, what a person does or doesn’t do when they think no one else is looking. Osborne quotes former UCLA head basketball coach John Wooden: “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are; your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

The other chapters deal with Faith, Honesty, Loyalty, Goals, Paying a Price, Unity and Teamwork. Quite frankly, when I read the book, I became inspired. Coach Osborne’s words almost had me ready to run through a tunnel with teamates clad in red.

These are the lessons that a game such as football are supposed to teach. Lessons of life. Lessons of character. Lessons of faith, and goal setting and honesty and teamwork. The lessons that any good or great coach should aspire to impart to the team they have stewardship of.

And then I read today’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Three Gwinnett County football players on the Meadowcreek High School team, including the starting quarterback and two starting receivers, kids 17 and 18 years of age, were arrested and charged with two separate armed robberies. I could hardly believe it! Were these kids learning any lessons at all other than how to throw and catch an oblong ball?

I shouldn’t have been surprised. Just look around the SEC. Since Florida won the national championship in January, 2007, there have been 9 football players arrested for various crimes. Since Nick Saban arrived at Alabama, there have been 10 football players arrested. Six University of Georgia football players have been arrested since January.

And the NFL? As of last week, there have been 35 NFL football players arrested since December 2007 for crimes ranging from possession of concealed firearms while resisting arrest to burglary and assault.

I have a 12 year old son. He wants to emulate his favorite players. They are his role model. He pretends he is wearing their number when he and the other neighborhood boys are in our front yard playing their version of Red Fox Farms Super Bowl.

Does the character of their role models mean anything to them? You bet it does. Because they are saying, “I want to be like……I want to be……” I wonder who the boys in Gwinnett County were trying to be like.

Oh, and lest I forget…..arrests at Auburn under Tommy Tuberville? There hasn’t been one since February 2006, which was for underage drinking. And the punishment Tuberville gave that player was a 4 game suspension. As I write this I am knocking on wood because I know there could be arrests today.

Character matters. As Coach Osborne put it, it’s the first and most important lesson of football, work and life.

WJLaneSR

Water

The past two years, the southeastern United States has been under a severe drought. In fact, water has been in such low supply that the governors of the states of Alabama, Georgia and Florida have met on more than one occasion to discuss the flow of the Chattahoochee River and the river it dumps into, the Apalachicola. The Chattahoochee is a river I am very familiar with, as I grew up only short walk from its muddy banks.

The last two years, the muddy banks of the Chattahoochee have been more like baked red brick, however.

The strain on water has put many areas in the Southeast on water usage restriction. Such activities as watering one’s lawn has been, in some neighborhoods and cities, regulated or even outlawed. Even some golf courses have been required to cut back on the water they use in their irrigation system.

Frankly, I like irrigation systems on the golf course. Or rather, my Maxfli Blue Dots seem to love them, for they have an uncanny way of finding themselves sitting on top of a sprinkler head. On my last links expedition (for me it is never just a “round of golf”, but rather it is an expedition because I visit those areas of golf courses that the really good golfers never get to see), I teed off on a par 3, 150 yards uphill. Slight breeze in my face, just an easy 6-iron. And of course, my typical fade to the right put my ball between the green and a large kidney-shaped bunker. As I approached my ball sitting just beyond the skirt of the green, and leaning against the fixed spray head of an underground sprinkler, I knew I could take a drop. You guessed it. It started shooting a spray of water as soon as I leaned down to move my ball. I was soaked. Totally.

It reminded me of November, 1986.

Georgia was a three touchdown underdog to the #10 Auburn Tigers. Auburn was two wins away from clinching the Southeastern Conference Title. Georgia, playing with a backup quarterback, beat Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium 20-16. The Georgia fans, so thrilled with their upset victory over Auburn, stormed the field. Some say it was a timer. Some say it was a solenoid switch. Some say an Assistant Athletic Director switched on the switch. But whatever happened to turn it on, the irrigation system on the north-west corner of the stadium, where the red-clad bulldogs were celebrating both in the stands and on the filed, was turned on. Like a fire hose.

For all of posterity, that game now had a name. The Hose Bowl. I think of it every time I hit a golf ball and it lands on or around a sprinkler head.

And I realized something else that day, back in 1986. Nothing stinks like a wet dog.

War Eagle!

Jeff Lane

Joe Cribbs

It was 30 years ago this week. The 8th ranked Georgia Bulldogs, under the guidance of legendary coach Vince Dooley, came into the Auburn game not only highly ranked, but picked to win easily. Auburn, a pre-season top ten pick, had struggled in virtually every southeastern conference game it had played. Underperformance seemed to be the hallmark of this Tiger team. Trying to get his team excited, Coach Doug Barfield put the Tigers on the field wearing orange jerseys that day.

A young running back from Sulligent, Alabama literally stole the day from the Bulldogs. Young Joe Cribbs rushed for 250 yards that day, and Auburn tied the highly ranked Bulldogs 22-22. Cribbs would finish the season as a first team all-SEC running back with 1205 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns.

Joe Cribbs went on to play running back for the Buffalo Bills, earning the title of Rookie of the Year as well as being named to the Pro Bowl. But his God-given athletic abilities aren’t where Cribbs gives credit first.

“I grew up in the Baptist church in Sulligent. I was a church member as long as I can remember.” Cribbs goes on to say that he credits his mother, grandmother and several aunts and church members for laying his foundation that would be critical in how he responded to the fame of football, and the responsibilities of being a husband and father. He puts it this way, “I have maintained my relationship with God that was established when I was a youth. My faith has enabled me to do some great things athletically. I have always felt God gave me some special talents. I was always small, but it seemed the more I gave Him all the glory on the football field, the more successful I was on it.”

Joe Cribbs has never lost sight of the responsibility that came with fame. “I am so conscious of being a role model. I would not allow myself to be in a situation that would reflect negatively on God, on my family, on my teammates or on me.”

Cribbs left football in 1989. He began to focus on helping his wife Vanessa raise their three children. In 2005, he established the Joe Cribbs Youth Foundation. As the Founder and Executive Director of this outreach ministry designed to assist at-risk youth in poverty stricken rural Alabama, he sees his new role as the latest opportunity Christ has presented to him to Glorify God.

Two of his closest friends also have foundations and ministries. This past May they had a joint golf tournament in Columbus, Georgia to raise money for their respective ministries. Those two friends are David Pollack, former University of Georgia standout (The David Pollack Ministries), and Jeremiah Castille, former University of Alabama and NFL standout (The Jeremiah Castille Ministries).

The Auburn faithful will remember with fondness the outstanding day Joe Cribbs had against Georgia on November 18, 1978. But really….it is what he has done AFTER football that we should remember.

War Eagle
WJLaneSR

Just Rambling

It was the fall of 1974. And although I was not the superstitious sort, I still found myself adopting the superstitions of my teammates. In fact, when I hear the song today, it immediately takes me back to our team.

We were 12-1. Playing for right to forever be called “state champions”. Because of our record, and the fact that we were the #1 seed in the state playoffs, we had won the right to play the championship game at home. Home for us was historic Jennings Field in Lanett, Alabama.

The school we would play came from Selma. They too were 12-1. The Meadowview Trojans featured a running back that was being highly recruited. We had no one being highly recruited. But we had a coach who drilled us as much off the field in the “skull room” about the Trojans, as he did on the practice field. We felt like we knew them as well as we knew ourselves. And we listened the song before the game. Surely that was enough.

I don’t really know why we adopted this song as our theme. Nor do I know why we felt like we had to hear it before leaving the locker room….as though it were some kind of hex we would put on the opposition if we listened or ourselves if we didn’t. But for us, the song really summed up our team. We had some very good athletes, but we had no outstanding athletes. We were just a bunch of rambling men.

“Ramblin’ Man” was released by the Allman Brothers Band on their “Brothers and Sisters” album in late 1973. It was based on a 1951 Hank Williams song by the same name. The song never reached number #1. It rose all the way to #2, but “Half-Breed” by Sonny and Cher kept it from being number 1. Today, “Ramblin’ Man” is still played on oldies stations. “Half-Breed” rarely is.

We should have known that choosing a song which would reach its pinnacle at #2 might be giving foreshadow. But we didn’t. Meadowview beat us in that game, and we, like the song, finished the season #2.

Why do I take you down that memory path? Because today I am a post-election Ramblin’ Man. Or at least my blog is.

Several people have emailed me wanting to know if I am going to blog about the election, etc. I will Ramble over a few points, but basically leave it alone. If you voted for Obama, you are very happy. If you voted for McCain, you are not. Yet, we are all still Americans (o.k., with the exception of one of my brother-in-laws and a couple of my sister-in-laws who are still citizens of the U.K.). So here’s my rambling:

First of all, congratulations Mr. Obama. You are our next president. As such I will respect the office you hold, and understand that your winning was historic.

Secondly, though it is really no one’s business….I have been asked and so I will tell you: I voted for John McCain. So you’ll have to pardon me if I don’t fully understand the new word I have come up with. And by the way, I plan to patent the word, as I can find nowhere online or otherwise this word.

Third: the word is “Oprahbamics”. I am not quite sure how to define my new word, but it is what I saw on T.V. coming from Chicago on Tuesday night. Though we were told they were celebrating an election victory, I think it was more than that. It was Oprahbamics. And yes, the word is a synthesis of Oprah and Obama. Mix the two together and you have Oprahbamics.

Fourth and finally from my ramblings. We have a new president-elect. And though he isn’t who I voted for, he is my president-elect as well. So in the spirit of reaching across the aisle, those of you who, like me, didn’t vote for the president-elect, have an obligation. We have an obligation to show the new president the same level and the same kind of respect and loyalty, that those who voted for Mr. Obama have shown our current president these last couple of years.

Just Ramblin’
WJLaneSR

On Voting

Just to be clear, the fact that the misinformed and biased pollsters voted Alabama #1 this week had nothing to do with the following blog article I wrote. Frankly, I could care less right now who the pollsters have as number one, and fully expect LSU to change things for the Tide next week.

BUT, this blog isn't about football.

My wife and I had the great privilege of visiting Philadelphia during the first week of October. We saw the liberty bell, independence hall, etc. And while all of these historical buildings, relics and monuments were very interesting (I am a history teacher wannabe I think), the most meaningful thing to me was remembering our country's forefathers and what it took to make this country what it is.

The United States of America was founded by men who were willing to risk it all. Men who had a deep and abiding faith in God. Men who didn’t so much care what the cost was to them personally, as long as it left an enduring promise and future for their children and their country. They pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to acquire independence from tyranny.

Many of these men lost their fortunes and their lives fighting for freedom. I believe they would be saddened today to know how much of the godly heritage they so valiantly fought for has been squandered away. Individual rights and freedoms legislated away by congress. Protection for the unborn ruled away by out-of-control judges. Special interest groups becoming more important to Presidents and Governors than average citizens. And the reason?

Apathy. Misinformation. Lack of education. No interest. Far too long we have been either apathetic, misinformed, uneducated to the facts, didn’t care about the issues or just to lazy and uninterested in political and public policy issues. Therefore, a significant number of people either just didn’t vote, or jumped on a bandwagon to vote without thinking through who they REALLY believed would be the right candidate.

In 1881, President James Garfield, who happened to also be a minister, warned that “if we went to sleep”, our government would become corrupt and tyrannical. He went on to say, “Now, more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature”.

In a representative republic like ours, the power citizens hold is in their vote.
Tomorrow we vote.

The Bible says we can’t serve two masters. We either serve an ungodly worldly master, or we serve The Master. Consequently, before voting, before pulling that curtain closed behind you, before deciding who will get your vote on the ballot…..you must FIRST decide WHOM you serve. And then, what that Master (or master) wants you to do when you get in the booth.

It is the only way to preserve what is left of our precious heritage that our forefathers left us. It is the only way to participate in the destiny of our nation. As voting citizens, we are the caretakers of America for ourselves and for posterity. We have an obligation to our country. And as former President Garfield said later in the speech quoted above, “we have an obligation to God.” Our Founding Fathers would expect nothing less.

WJLaneSR

The Difference

This past May was a very exciting time for my wife and me as parents. For the second year in a row, we had the high privilege and honor (along with both sets of grandparents) to see one of our daughters go through a college graduation. In May, 2007 we saw our elder daughter graduate from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science degree, and this past May, we saw our second daughter graduate from Spartanburg Methodist College with her Associate of Arts degree.

Needless to say, pictures were taken, hugs were given and memories were shared at both ceremonies. Our elder daughter has moved on to the Medical University of South Carolina where she is pursuing a Ph.D. in Pharmacology, and our second daughter has moved on to the College of Charleston where she is pursuing a Bachelors degree in Education. (And so our other two children don't feel left out, our third daughter received a letter of admission with a scholorship to Young Harris College this past week, and our son made all A's).

Back to the story.

One of the things that made this past May very interesting and unusual was the processional and recessional. Actually, it was the difference that was glaringly apparent during the processional and recessional.

(By the way, my father-in-law lost his monopod for his camera during the ceremony, so if anyone knows where it is, please let me know and I will pass it on).

What was glaringly apparent was the difference. 20 inches of difference.

Our daughter, you see, is approximately 5’2” in height. And of course, her last name is Lane.

They had everyone lined up in alphabetical order, and the name “Knox” came just before “Lane”. Brendon Knox was seated next to my daughter. He is 6’10” tall. 20 inches taller than her. It was so strange to see them standing beside each other, because he simply towered over her.

Needless to say, Brendon played basketball for Spartanburg Methodist. A very good basketball player, in fact. So good, in fact, that he signed a scholarship with Auburn University right out of Spartanburg Methodist College. He has begun pre-season practice and workouts getting ready for the 2008-09 season at Auburn.

In an interview with Auburn Coach Jeff Lebo earlier today, Lebo told AuburnSports.com that Knox has the potential to be very good, and "does some stuff that makes your eyes pop out every once in a while”. I can understand that. He certainly made mine pop out when I saw him standing next to my daughter at graduation this past May.

War Eagle!

WJLaneSR

Festum Omnium Sanctorum

Saturday is Festum Omnium Sanctorum….All Saints Day. In fact, every November 1st is. Most churches celebrate this day on the first Sunday of November.

The origin of All Saints Day goes back to 609 A.D. when Pope Boniface IV consecrated the Pantheon in Rome to the memory of the Virgin Mary and to all people who had been martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ.

In medieval times, the translation from the Latin “Festum Omnium Sanctorum” into old English became “All Hallowmas”. Hallow means sanctify or consecrate, which is why when we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we prayer “Hallowed be Thy Name.” Mas means mass, which is a holy service of remembrance where the Lord’s Supper is celebrated. So “All Hallowmas” was a day when all the saints were remembered, and the celebration of memory to “do this in remembrance of me” took place. All Saints Day.

Of course, you can now understand where the term “All Hallows Eve”, the day before “All Hallowmas” comes from. All Hallows Eve became shortened to “Halloween”, which is October 31. And Friday evening I expect my front yard to be enundated with little ghosts and goblins and spidermen and Harry Potters and Miley Cyrus's.

This year on All Saints Day, the Auburn Tigers and the Ole Miss Rebels square off in Oxford, Mississippi. And being a faithful fan I will be watching and cheering my Auburn Tigers. I hope, and fully expect, to see them play for 4 full quarters. I want to see an effort in the second half I haven't yet seen.

Others of you may be watching and cheering the Bulldogs or Gators as they square off….or the Volunteers or Gamecocks….or Cornhuskers or Sooners, or whoever your favorite team may be.

But we all need to remember that these games are not the most important thing taking place on Saturday, November 1. The most important thing taking place is a day the church, for almost 1400 years, has set aside to remember those who have gone on to their heavenly reward because of their faith.

Each of you reading this knows someone. Maybe a friend. Maybe parents. Grandparents. Relatives. Ministers. Neighbors. Maybe even children. People you know and love who are no longer with us on this earth, but who now call "heaven" home. Take a moment on Saturday to remember them. And thank God for them. For what they meant and continue to mean to you.

On Sunday, the church I attend will be celebrating communion. If the Lord is willing, I will be there…..taking the bread and wine….in remembrance. All Saints Sunday.

WJLaneSR.

A Day to Remember Number 38

Nineteen years ago today, the reality of what can happen to a person who plays football at a high level was realized. Fullback Brad Gaines of Vanderbilt had just received a short pass, turning upfield to gain additional precious yardage. The collision that ensued was bone crushing….literally.

Number 38 plunged head-first to tackle Gaines, and those around them said you could hear the crash and crunch. Roy Lee didn’t move. He couldn’t. He was paralyzed.

Roy Lee Mullins….his friends called him “Chucky”, lay on the field in Oxford, Mississippi with four shattered vertebrae in his cervical spine. The Ole Miss defensive player was paralyzed instantly and would never walk again. The date was October 28, 1989.

Chucky Mullins was airlifted to Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, where he underwent a bone graft to fuse his vertebrae, and tracheotomy so a ventilator could breathe for him.

Mullins became the recipient of a huge outpouring of community support from fans all over the United States. He was visited by President George H.W. Bush, the city of Oxford, Mississippi donated land for a special house to be built for him, and a trust fund that exceeded $1 million was set up for him.

Mullins and Gaines, who didn’t know each other before their collision, became good friends. Gaines talked with him often.

Chucky Mullins died of a pulmonary embolism on May 6, 1991 from complications due to his paralysis. He was buried outside Russellville, Alabama, his home town.

Quietly and with no one else around, Brad Gaines visits and maintains Chucky Mullins’ gravesite three times a year…May 6, the anniversary of his death, October 28, the anniversary of the injury, and December 25, Christmas Day. It is his intimate and personal tribute to Chucky Mullins.

Ole Miss retired Mullins number 38. The only other number to be retired at Ole Miss is Archie Manning’s number 18. Zach Gilbert of Auburn University wears number 38 in memory of his cousin, Lee Roy “Chucky” Mullins.

Today, Brad Gaines will visit and tend to Chucky Mullins’ grave. With all the excitement of game week between Auburn and Ole Miss, let’s take a few moments today to remember Chucky Mullins….a young man who not only gave his all on the football field, but who left an indelible mark on those around him after his injury.

War Eagle,

WJLaneSR

Vegetable Soup

First of all, I must apologize to each and every one of my faithful readers who sit on the edge of their seat waiting for that weekly dose of intellectually stimulating creativity called my blog. To both of you, I apologize for not getting this done sooner.

As for the rest of you, well, let’s just say I have been a little busy, (Here’s where I enumerate on the last few days activities) like the fact I had a delayed flight on Friday evening and didn’t get home until after midnight, had to drive four hours on Saturday which was also “Apple Annie Day” at our church, taught a Sunday School class and helped with “Trunk ‘R Treat” at the church last night, and flew to New York this morning. Now it’s lunchtime, and finally I get to write.

I’ve read just about everything written over the last few days regarding the demise of the Auburn football team. Add to that watching how Georgia dismantled the LSU secondary, and Alabama kept Tennessee from being able to move the ball at all, and knowing that they comprise 50% of what is left on Auburn’s schedule, and I’ve had to take a dose of pepto-bismol and scratch my head to come up with something positive to write.

The week that was drew my memory back to 1971. That was the year when John Denver had a breakout album entitled “Poems, Prayers and Promises.” In that album, a song that he wrote with Bill Danoff and Taffey Navert bolted up the charts to #2. The song was entitled “Take Me Home Country Roads.”

As opposed to the words “Almost Heaven, West Virginia”, seeing firsthand how the Mountaineers Gold Rushed their way over and through the Auburn Tigers during the second half of Thursday night’s ballgame, was anything but heaven. I do recall, however, crying “take me home country roads”, because we just wanted to get the hillbilly out of there.

But rather than regurgitate what most of you saw on television, I want to share with you some vegetable soup….a hodge podge of tidbits from the week that was, to the week that will be.

My dad, my son and I flew to Pittsburg and drove to Morgantown on Wednesday afternoon. Thinking we probably ought to ride over to the stadium to check out the parking, roads, etc., we checked into our hotel and headed to town.

Now Morgantown is no metropolis. It's a stretch to call it a small town. So one would think that it would be easy to find the football stadium. Noooooo. Finding the football stadium was anything but easy, and more like confusing. It is not really on campus, you can’t see it from two blocks away, there is no parking, a major hospital sits just beyond one endzone, and the hospital shares parking with the stadium. It is built in a valley between two little hills, and that is why you can’t see it. All of the surrounding parking is by permit only, so for us visitors, finding a place to park was almost impossible. We found a guy who was selling parking places for $20 behind his store, and we took it.

There is one other thing there is none of….places to eat. At least not in walking distance of the stadium. Or at least as far as we could see. We happened on a small pizza parlor hidden in the corner of the building where we parked, and ate pizza, which as some of you know, is my least favorite food. Maybe in my much younger days I chased too much beer with pizza (as opposed to vice versa). Today, all I have to do is smell it and I start getting heartburn. Anyway, they didn’t sell beer at this pizza parlor, and you couldn’t get a refill on your coke. They did have a bathroom, though.

We went to Tiger Walk, which the security for WVU had never seen anything like. Their Robo-Cop and a few pimple faced kids in yellow jackets tried to control the crowd, but it was of little use. Tiger walk was close and loud and old men jumped in front of my son to get close to Aubie, blocking my son's view, which he had staked out 2 hours earlier. I should have known then that we weren’t all on the same team-page that night.

Our tickets were in section 97, and Auburn had a large following. The space between seats is larger than at Auburn, there is more knee room, and most of the Mountaineer fans around us were very cordial, but there was one quite drunk young hillbilly who was totally belligerent and kept cussing in a very foul way. Even the WVU fans around him told him to shut up and sit down, which he didn't do.

As for the game, well, I don’t need to go into that.

As I said earlier, our flight home was delayed for three hours, which was a fitting end to our road trip.

I also mentioned earlier that I have read an awful lot of stuff, or maybe a lot of awful stuff….since I got home. I was talking to a gentleman last night at Trunk R Treat who used to coach football, and in fact coached in college for a while, who said, “it’s kind of weird that your future as a coach is all wrapped up in what some 18, 19 and 20 year old kids do.” I guess it is.

One thing I read that was quite interesting came from The Auburner. It showed games won since 2000. Auburn is the third most successful team in the SEC, just behind LSU and Georgia. And if nothing else, that is something to celebrate.

A few other comments…there is nothing better than taking a road trip with your dad and son, regardless of the outcome of the game. I don’t think I ever want to go back to Morgantown. This is a new week, and the Reverend Houston Nutt sits on the horizon. To which I say, Just Beat Ole Mrs.

War Eagle!
WJLaneSR

Gold Rush

They were called 49ers. Not because they played football in San Francisco, but because the year was 1849, and a fever was crossing America called the “Gold Rush of ‘49”. Covered wagons and ships descended upon California in search of easy gold.

But the easy gold was nowhere to be found. Oh, there was a little gold in the riverbeds, but the amount most found was barely enough to buy supplies and food to keep on looking. A typical miner spent 10 hours a day knee-deep in ice cold water, digging, sifting, and washing. It was backbreaking labor which yielded less and less.

But this was the gold rush.

Camaraderie was all but gone by 1850, as 49ers who expected to find their fortune in a few days found themselves digging and digging for month after month, year after year, with nothing to show for it.

But this was the gold rush.

Out of despair, many 49ers turned to poker and other forms of gambling in hopes of snagging a quick fortune that had evaded them during the gold rush. When this didn’t work, many turned to crime. Many just gave up their dream and went home back east.

For most everyone, the gold rush was nothing but despair, dejection and disappointment. And so the gold rush came to an end.

Thursday is supposed to be a gold rush. That is what the West Virginia Mountaineers are calling for. They want the game with Auburn to be a “gold rush” game…with all their faithful wearing yellow. They have a fevered pitch about them. Kind of like the mining 49ers.

If Auburn plays defense as they are capable….if they run the ball with conviction….if they don’t make mistakes….history might just repeat itself. Their gold rush might just end in despair, dejection and disappointment for the home mountaineers.

Let’s send them “back east” where they belong.

War Eagle!!

WJLaneSR

Best of Times, Worst of Times

Charles Dickens wrote a book entitled "A Tale of Two Cities". He opens the book with what has become a classic quote: “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times…”

History calls it “Black Monday”, and these past two weeks we have been reminded of it. You might remember, and maybe were affected, by Monday, October 19, 1987. Black Monday. 21 years ago this week.

It all began in Hong Kong, where the market crashed and sent a Market Tsunami west through the international time zone, through all of Europe, and finally hitting the shores of Manhattan’s Wall Street so that no continent was left untouched. It was the largest one day stock market decline in history.

What you may not remember about Black Monday are these events taking place the weekend before.

On the evening of October 18, two United States warships shelled an Iranian oil platform in the Persian Gulf in response to Iran’s Silkworm missile attack on the U.S. flagged ship MV Sea Isle City, an oil tanker leaving Kuwait. Interesting how oil seemed to be at the center of the issue 21 years ago.

Two days before Black Monday, Jim Fyffe, who was the sportscaster and radio talk-show host for the Auburn Tigers, had perhaps his most famous on-air call. In fact, he wrote in his autobiography that it was the call he was most known for. This call is on every collection of memorable radio calls released by the Auburn Network.

On the day of Jim Fyffe’s death, it is the call that Paul Finebaum played to open his show. It was his memorial to Jim Fyffe.

Auburn was a heavy favorite that day. It was to be the last yearly meeting between two very old rivals. But with 4:01 left in the game, Auburn trailed Georgia Tech at legendary Grant Field by a score of 10-7. Auburn needed to move the ball 91 yards to score. Behind the passing of quarterback Jeff Burger, and 16 plays later, Auburn was at the Yellow Jackets’ 4 yard line. Only 29 seconds were left on the game clock. Here is a quote of the call:

“...they have two tight ends in the game, one setback is Harris, here is motion by Donaldson back to the near side and now reverses his field, goes to the wide side of the field. Burger sets up to throw...OH MY! TOUCHDOWN AUBURN! TOUCHDOWN AUBURN! TOUCHDOWN AUBURN! TILLMAN, TILLMAN, TILLMAN...TILLMAN...AT THE BASELINE OF THE END ZONE! A BULLET BY BURGER! AUBURN GOES AHEAD! UNBELIEVABLE! UNBELIEVABLE! TILLMAN FROM BURGER! TOUCHDOWN AUBURN! 13-10 TIGERS LEAD!”

Of the call, Fyffe said, "Frankly, in listening to the replay of the call through the years, I've never thought it was my best. I probably did go too crazy, but I think the listener could tell what was going on without any problem. No matter what I think about it, Auburn fans still come up to me and tell me it was the best call they've ever heard. And that's what matters." A call he made 21 years ago this week.

Isn’t it strange to remember that this famous call by Jim Fyffe was two days before Black Monday in October 1987? It was indeed the best of times, and it was the worst of times.

War Eagle!

WJLaneSR

A world upside down

My wife celebrated a birthday on Sunday. It wouldn’t be polite for me to mention she was now a half-century old, so I won’t. But I will share with you her (and my) birthday adventure. You see, we spent all last week on a cruise ship sailing along the New England coastline. We ventured into the ports of Halifax Nova Scotia, Bar Harbor Maine, St. Johns Newfoundland, Boston Massachusetts, and Philadelphia Pa. To say we had a great time would be an understatement.

But while we were gone, the world turned upside down. The global market dropped like boulder falling off a cliff, Auburn lost two football games, and Tommy Tuberville fired Tony Franklin. All of this taking place while I was eating midnight buffets, singing Karaoke, going to shows, and generally being oblivious to the world around me.

To be frank (not to be confused with “frank-LIN”, lest someone fire me!), I am kind of glad I wasn’t around last week. I didn’t have to put up with hearing how Vanderbilt beat us in front of the ESPN Game Day Crew, or how “something” happened on Tuesday that caused a meltdown which caused Franklin’s firing on Wednesday. I am certainly happy I didn’t travel to the Plains to see Petrino’s return and suffer through….yet again…an Arkansas team run all over Auburn. And finally, I’m glad I didn’t spend the entire week worrying about my retirement and 401(k) and investments as they vanished like dust. (After all, what’s so great about retirement, anyway???)

And now we come to an off week. A week where the Neil Caudle/Barrett Trotter experiment will take place. And why not? After all, we are now playing for rights to the Shreveport Bowl. Why not begin to see who is man enough to get the 2009 team ready? Why not challenge every player on the team with their manhood?

For a season that began with so much promise, we are now looking a disaster right in the face. And who would have thought, after we beat such a great Clemson team in the Chic-Fil-A Bowl. A team that some prognosticators thought would be the Cinderella National Champs in 2008. A team that fired Tommy Bowdon today.

I guess our world isn’t the only one that is upside down.

War Eagle!

WJLaneSR

El Rival Mas Debil!

In Dutch it is called “De Zwakste Schakel”. In German it is “Der Schwachste fliegt!“ When Italians watch it, their name is “Anello Debole“, but the Spanish call it “El Rival Mas Debil!” As for we Americans, the show is synonymous with Anne Robinson’s voice when she says, “You are…….the weakest link!”

The “Link” franchise is the second most popular game-show franchise in television history, only to “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” No less than 34 countries have had versions of “the Weakest Link”. In all versions, the host wears black clothing with the intent of intimidating the players.

I couldn’t help but think of “The Weakest Link” as I watched Florida get upset by Ole Miss, Tennessee get stopped time after time until finally losing to Auburn, and as a finale, Georgia, wearing their version of all-black in order to intimidate the visitors getting their own lights turned out by the Crimson Tide. As I watched one SEC East team after another get beat by an SEC West team, I couldn’t help but think…..who in the East is the Weakest Link?

The answer used to be easy. It was Vanderbilt, of course. But under Bobby Johnson, Vanderbilt is not to be taken lightly. In fact, Vanderbilt is 4-0, ranked #19 in the country, and is leading the SEC East. Maybe, just maybe, Vanderbilt is NOT the weakest link in the SEC East. In fact, it would be hard to argue this morning that Tennessee is NOT the Weakest Link in the East. Of course, South Carolina would have to be right there with them. But after yesterday, maybe the entire SEC EAST is the Weakest Link.

And the West? Well, the AP media love affair with the Tide has already begun, moving them over LSU (#3) with a ranking of #2. The USA Today poll has LSU #2 and the Tide #4. Auburn is #13 in the AP and #14 in the USA Today poll.
This sets up a very interesting scenario for the SEC. Alabama still has to play LSU and Auburn. Georgia still has to play LSU, Florida and Auburn. LSU still has to play Florida, Georgia and Alabama. And Auburn still has to play Georgia and Alabama. Now, throw in the fact that Auburn, Georgia and Florida have to play Vanderbilt, and things at the top are far from settled. Oh, and did I mention that Auburn, Alabama and LSU must play an Ole Miss team that went into Gainesville and took care of business? Or Alabama, Florida and Georgia must play an undefeated Kentucky team?

The game continues….and right now we don’t really know….who…..is the weakest link.

War Eagle!
WJLaneSR

Orange Striped Socks

In 2004, my employer purchased a manufacturing operation located thirty miles east of Knoxville. Being a part of the due diligence and implementation team, I spent a great deal of time in that area. On a weekly basis, I stayed in the Cedar Bluff area of Knoxville. During this tour of duty along the Tennessee River, I found a retail establishment I frequented. It was a big men’s shop that not only tailors their own clothing, but also carries a lot of name brand clothing as well.

Oftentimes, when I was perusing the items-for-sale table, I would encounter a tall and/or large young man who was in need of new threads because of a road trip he was taking with his team. Of course, that team would be the Volunteers, and the threads would be slacks, a jacket, a new tie or some other attire. We would speak briefly about their team, what he was majoring in, or some other general topic. One person I never actually saw there, but who also was a regular to the shop, was Head Football Coach Phillip Fulmer.

The haberdasher who typically assisted me was also Coach Fulmer’s. Because he knew I was an Auburn fan, the clothing vendeur would ask me about the team, the fans, Tuberville, etc. He would also tell me stories about Phil Fulmer, including some of his idiosyncrasies. One such was the type of orange striped socks he prefers, because of his feet. I’m not sure if that is because of the way the alumni step on his toes because of underperformance, or because the shoes of General Neyland are just too big to “Phil”.

What I do know is that this week, Fulmer will be dressed to the nines in full orange regalia, and will be bringing his league of Vol-In-Tears (their emotional state following the dismantling that occurred at the hands of Florida) to the Plains. He will have on his lucky socks, and will hope that his team has more juice than pulp. Together, they will be facing an Auburn team that took a battering of their own, however much less humiliating.

Auburn has a chance to bounce back this week, after the bitter loss to LSU. One thing they will have to be able to do is run the football. This is the only way Auburn can expect to win big games. They also need some playmakers. People who will step up and make the big throw….make the big catch….make the big interception….make the big hit. Hopefully, that is what Auburn will do this week. If they don’t, it could be a long afternoon. But if they do, they will leave Tennessee staring down at their orange striped socks.

War Eagle!
WJLaneSR

Gameday on the Plains

Motivation is an interesting thing. Some people are internally self-motivated. Others are best motivated by external circumstances. Earlier this week, I wanted to make sure that my son was motivated to help his mother, do his homework, brush his teeth(!!), etc. while I was in New York for a week. Therefore, I told him that if he did all of these, without fussing, I would take him to Auburn early on Saturday because ESPN Gameday will be televised live from the front of Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum. I think he is already working on the signs he will bring, such as “Tuberville owns LSU (Les, Saban and Urban)”. It should be a lot of fun, not to mention a LONG day.

This marks the 5th time that the Gameday crew will have been at Auburn, the last one being in 2006 when the Florida Gators came to town. That same evening, Tre Smith had the ESPN game changing performance by flipping into the endzone after Auburn blocked a punt of the #2 ranked Florida Gators. Of course, Auburn went on to win that night.

It would have been the sixth visit to Auburn by the Gameday bunch. They were scheduled to be at Auburn for the LSU game in 2004, but hurricane Ivan forced them to move to Michigan State.

The curmudgeon prognosticator-coach that most seem to enjoy watching and yet despise deeply is Lee Corso. One of the things he does at the very end of the broadcast, is pick who he thinks will be the winner at the venue where they are located. Typically he puts on the headress of the school mascot he is picking to win. It will be interesting to see which set of Tigers Lee picks.

Lee Corso is the only original gameday cast member remaining. For those of you old enough, you might jog your memory and recall that the original crew consisted of Bob Carpenter as host, with Lee Corso and Beano Cook as analysts. That goes all the way back to 1987, when the show got its start. Chris Fowler joined the show in 1992, and has hosted every Gameday event until 2004, when he began to tag-team the duty with Rece Davis (a bammer!!!) In 1996, Kirk Herbstreit joined the team, and they have been together ever since.

One of the bits of trivia that you may not know has to do with LSU and Gameday. Back on November 9, 1996, ESPN Gameday was at Baton Rouge for the LSU-Alabama game. As he always does to end the show, Lee Corso picked who he thought would win. He picked Alabama. The LSU fans were so raucous, angry, and many witnesses say drunk, that they began throwing anything they could at Fowler, Herbstreit and Corso. One person threw a golf ball that barely missed Lee Corso’s head. And, believe it or not, the LSU Athletic Department still has that golf ball in their trophy case, as though it should be some type of award! Needless to say, Gameday changed their security measures and have used a protective screen around their crew ever since. By the way, Alabama shut out LSU that day, 26-0.

So get up early, draw or paint your sign, and come join the crowd as Auburn welcomes Gameday to the Plains this Saturday.

War Eagle!
WJLaneSR

The Big Chill

Maybe it was the 3-2 score from this past Saturday. Maybe it was the 55 degree temperature I woke up to in Manhattan this morning. Perhaps it is just the scratchy throat that is bothering me. Whatever the reason, I woke up with a shiver and chill along my spine. Although New York certainly is not in the full bloom of autumn, maybe the first blush of fall has hit the city.

The summer seems to have flown by. Yesterday was July 4th, and today we are in the 4th week of football season. The kids are back in school and Halloween Candy is on sale in every store. Don’t blink, because Thanksgiving will be here before you know it.

After all, it is already September 15.

The older I get, the faster time seems to fly. Did you know that is was twenty-two years ago today when the first broadcast of “L.A. Law” took place? Twenty-two years! It seems like only yesterday when we were introduced to the Los Angeles law firm of McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney and Kuzak. My favorite episode was aired Thanksgiving week, 1990. As with each episode, there was a title, and this particular one was “Vowel Play”. Douglas appeared on “Wheel of Fortune” , and when he became the champion he tried to ask Vanna out on a date. Don’t ask me why it was my favorite episode…perhaps it is just because it was Thanksgiving week and I was trying to relax with a little T.V.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, this year I will get to spend the entire weekend with my family. The last three I had to either leave during the weekend for Japan, or get back on Thanksgiving Day from China. And I can assure you, they don’t know what cornbread dressing is in Osaka or Shanghai.

This also means that I will be home for the Iron Bowl this year. I was afraid I was going to miss it. Of course, if Auburn's offense doesn't improve, I might be afraid I WON'T miss it! As it was last year, this year's Iron Bowl will be Thanksgiving weekend.

So, with a touch of fall in the air this morning, I am beginning to think about Thanksgiving. Plymouth Rock. The Pilgrims. The Mayflower.

Or maybe I am thinking about all this because 388 years ago, the Mayflower set sail from Plymouth, England with 102 pilgrims. People just like you and me. They were on their way to a new world for themselves and their descendents to follow. A world free from tyranny where religion could be practiced freely. It was September 15, 1620. 388 years ago today. Kind of makes a chill go up and down your spine, doesn’t it.

WJLaneSR

il Buono, il Brutto, il Cattivo

I’m not a superstitious man. When walking on sidewalks, I don’t worry whether I have stepped on a crack or between them. Typically I don’t walk under ladders, but it isn’t because of superstitious mysticism; rather it is for pure safety reasons. Black cats don’t bother me any more than white or calico cats. And Friday the 13th might make a lot of money as a horror movie, but they never bother me either.

However, I have to admit I looked at my watch last night…..twice. The Seiko watch that my wife gave me a couple of years ago not only keeps up with the time and the date, but it also has the day of the week. And though I knew yesterday was the 13th, I actually looked twice to see if it was really Saturday, because it felt more like a Friday the 13th. The first time I looked was at halftime of the Auburn-Mississippi State game, when the score was 3-0. The second time I looked was just as the game ended, with a score of 3-2. And both times, just as I had remembered, it was SATURDAY the 13th, not Friday 13th.

However, the entire ballgame had the feel of the paranormal and surreal. It was a weird game. It was an oddity. And, there was a full moon.

Now soothsayers will tell you that more babies are born during a full moon than at any other time of the year. That may be true. And perhaps it is because of the gravitational pull of the moon…at least that’s what I have always heard. But that gravity sure didn’t pull Auburn (nor Mississippi State for that matter) toward the endzone. 3-2 is much more a baseball score than a football score. At least it would be, if Auburn and Mississippi State’s baseball teams hadn’t scored more runs in each of the three games they played in 2008 than the football teams did. And that’s the Stark-ville truth!

Sergio Leone directed a movie back in 1966 which starred an up-and-coming actor named Clint Eastwood. The title of the movie was “Il Buono, il Brutto, il Cattivo”. An English version of the movie came out in 1967 entitled “the Good, the Bad and the Ugly”. Borrowing from the movie title, I want to share my thoughts on the good, the bad and the ugly last night.

First the good. Auburn’s defense held Miss. State to 36 yards rushing on 30 attempts. The “D” held Miss. State 0 for 14 on 3rd down attempts, and 0 for 3 on 4th down. They forced Miss. State to punt 10 times. The 116 yards that Mississippi State DID get was the fewest yards an Auburn defense has given up against ANYBODY since the undefeated season of 2004. And finally, Auburn won.

The bad. Auburn had 9 penalties on the offensive line, with the worst one being a safety for holding back in their own endzone. Auburn was only 3 for 16 on 3rd down efficiency. That is a measly 19%. Auburn fumbled the ball 3 times and turned it over on each one of those. Auburn got in the red zone only two times during the entire game, and could not put it in the endzone either time. And finally, Auburn was 1 for 3 on field goals, one miss being from chip shot range. I could say here that Auburn’s offense was bad....but I won’t.

The ugly. Because the offense was ugly. It was worse than bad. Snap count confusion, fumbling, holding, play calling, focus, attention, heart, drive. Frankly, or maybe “Franklin!”, it was ugly. I could write more here, but you can read about it on anyone’s blog that covers Auburn football. But there were other ugly things as well. Brad Lester’s fall on his head, spraining his neck, was ugly. He could have been seriously hurt. The fact that Ryan Pugh yelled to the Auburn faithful after the game that he scored more points than the entire Mississippi State team did (he was the one who was called for holding, hence the safety) was ugly and uncharacteristic for him. It was nothing to be proud of, and I am sure he will pay dearly for it this week in practice. And finally, LSU comes to town Saturday night. And if the offense doesn’t find itself and quick, it also will be ugly.

War Eagle
WJLaneSR

Remembering Seven Years Ago

I have a corner office on the 27th floor of our building. The view is fantastic. In fact, when I first began working in Manhattan, I often caught myself looking out the window every few minutes to take in the view. The walls are made of tinted glass, and being in the corner, I can see the East River as I look down 52nd Street. I can see the Waldorf, the Doubletree, the Marriott and the W Hotel as I look along Lexington Avenue. The horn blasts from Taxis and the sirens from Emergency Personnel used to bother me some, but now I rarely even notice. In fact, I rarely look out the window any more except to see whether it is raining.

Like most people in the city, I now just hustle along the sidewalk until I get to my building, crowd into an elevator like cattle in holding corral, and jump off on my floor. Nothing unusual. Nothing out of the ordinary. Same routine. Another day.

As I sit here in my office, I can see airplanes in the distance as they are descending to land at LaGuardia. I don’t usually notice them probably because they do it all day long, and I’m not as observant as I was when I first started working in the city. Just another day at the office.

Or so they thought seven years ago today. Most of the people who worked in the World Trade Center were no different than me. Or you. Just going to work. Fighting the fight. Another day.

I can’t help but think about the two planes that missiled those buildings seven years ago today. Maybe that’s why I notice each plane landing over a LaGuardia. It could have been one of those planes. It could have been my building. It could have been me. Or you.

Both presidential candidates are laying wreaths at Ground Zero today, and I applaud them for that.

But make no mistake. It could happen again. It might happen again. And even if it doesn’t happen again, I am different than before. Because as I look out my corner office and see another silvery white jetliner descending from the clouds, a little voice deep within me says “What If?”

Let us never forget those who were brutally massacred in a fiery inferno on 9/11/2001. And let’s never entrust our safety and security to ANYONE who wants to back off the fight against terrorism. Because we NEVER AGAIN want the “What If” to become “It Did”.

WJLaneSR

Slanting Monster

While athletic director and head football coach at Auburn, Pat Dye’s office was the size of most condos rented to families of four on Dauphin Island during a summertime vacation. If one had the privilege of visiting his office they would have seen a large walnut bookshelf lined with great works of literature. These books ranged from “The Shooter’s Bible” (a Sears-Roebuck sized magazine about shotguns and rifles), to a biography of Bear Bryant. One book in particular, however, was front and center. Its pages were frayed, many of them dog-eared, and there were notes scattered on and in it.

This great work of literature was written by Dale Foster. The 224 page hardback volume was published by Parker Publishing Company in 1970. The title of the book: “The Slanting Monster Defense in Football.” Pat Dye was a disciple.

Dye believed strongly in the slanting monster defense, and entrusted the strategy to arguably his most devoted assistant coach. The coach who had followed him from East Carolina, to Wyoming, and then to Auburn. Wayne Hall was also a devout follower of the slanting monster, and in 1988 had the tools to use it to perfection. By the end of the year, his defense would be ranked #1 in the country in total defense, scoring defense and run defense. Anchoring the defensive line was the great Tracy Rocker.

An example of how strong the defense was took place on October 22, 1988. Coach Dye had warned his team all week that though his Auburn Tigers were a heavy favorite, the Mississippi State Bulldogs were “a dangerous team”. This was especially so given the fact that during the week preceding the game with State, Tracy Rocker had headed the list of a dozen players nominated for the prestigious Lombardi Lineman of the Year Award. Media from all over the country had swarmed to Auburn that week to get more information about young Mr. Rocker. Wayne Hall, when interviewed, said, “There are really no number ones on our defensive, and that includes Tracy. We’ve got good players who help each other out and we have good kids who look out for each other. They all play sound, fundamental football.”

Auburn went on to shut out Mississippi State that Saturday by a score of 33-0. The nation’s number one defense picked off 5 passes that day, and only allowed 68 yards rushing. James Joseph, who was moved from halfback to fullback for the game, led the offense with 126 yards rushing and one touchdown.

Auburn visits Mississippi State on Saturday, and as coach Dye said twenty years ago, they are “a dangerous team”. We saw that last year, as Auburn virtually gave them the ballgame. But, if Coach Rhoads has the highly rated Auburn defense ready, and the offense can hold onto the ball without turning it over, Auburn should win. If that happens, the following game week should be one of high drama.

War Eagle!
WJLaneSr

David

My intention for today’s blog was to recapitulate the Southern Mississippi game of this past Saturday. However, there are two reasons that I will not be doing that…at least at this time.

I was sitting in my favorite chair (you know, the one with the invisible sign on it that says “Dad’s Favorite Chair…Beware….trespassers will be shot!! Perhaps you have one as well) watching the Raycom Halftime Report, when I heard my youngest daughter galloping down the stairs. Clop clop….clop clop…..clop clop…..Then, I heard a crash and a blood-curdling scream. Scrambling out of my chair, I run out of the family room and down the hall to find my daughter screaming, “I think I broke my foot….I fell and heard it crack!!!) I scooped her up, got her into my Ford Expedition, and took off for the emergency room. So much for the second half of the Auburn game.

Fortunately for her, the foot was NOT broken, but only sprained, albeit pretty severely. But this is reason #1 that I will not give a recap and opine on the game.

Getting the weekend off to a really great start with our youngest daughter laid up in bed with a sprained ankle, the weekend ended even worse.

My wife is the Children’s Ministry Director for our church. She does an outstanding job with this, and has a Sunday evening program during the school year for kindergarten through 5th graders. Last night, there were 50 of the little ones participating. I ran the sound and video board for their program. After it was over, I went to the store while my wife went home. When I arrived home, she said “I have to tell you something.”

She told me that one of my best friends in life, David Stiles, had died of a massive heart attack. I was shocked, stunned, couldn’t have been hit by a brick any harder than this news hit me.

David and I lived across the hall from each other at Young Harris College. His future wife and my future wife both went to North Georgia College. Together, he and I trekked over the mountains MANY times to visit the girls. He was in our wedding. I was with him when two men from his church came up to us to tell him that his father had died of a massive heart attack. I drove him home that night because he didn’t think he could drive.

David was always concerned about his own health, so he became a marathon runner, ate lots of raw veggies, never at red meat, and took medicine to control his cholesterol, which always seemed to want to be high.

David was an educator from the day I met him. He wanted to teach school and be a principal one day. And he did. He taught school in Gwinnet County in Georgia, became a principal there, and was hired away to move to Birmingham, where he became the principal of Mountainbrook High School. David moved on up into the Superintendent’s office, and most recently was named the Superintendent of the brand new school system close to Mobile….Saraland.

David and I had a meeting on March 6 of this past year. He had called me to ask if we could meet somewhere because he needed to talk to me. I had a reason to go to Birmingham, so we met that day. He talked to me about Saraland. He said he didn’t know if it was going to happen or not, and didn’t know whether to take it if it were offered. He wanted my opinion. I encouraged him to go for it.

We had communicated quite a bit since March. And I can’t believe he is gone.

But he isn’t gone. He was a very strong Christian man, and didn’t mind people knowing he was a person of faith. His legacy is scattered all across the states of Georgia and Alabama in the students he taught, mentored and guided. And though I will miss him dearly…..in fact, I’m in kind of a funk about this whole thing…..he will not be forgotten.

Today, though….it just feels like I lost my brother. And in a lot of ways, I did. He was only 49 years old......1 year older than his father when he died.

WJLaneSr