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