This Is Missouri and You Must SHOW ME

Well. Like Urban Meyer saying he needed a break from coaching because of his heart, I lied. May 15th, I blogged I would be back and better than ever. Unfortunately, I suffered from Post Traumatic Football Syndrome. An underwhelming last season from the Jags, a dismal performance from FSU in the Rose Bowl Playoff Game, and to top it all off, Dante Fowler tearing his ACL in the first OTA. There's only so much a football chick can take. There may or may not have been a few tears shed over these events. Yes I know, there's no crying in football. I was so overwhelmed. I couldn't trash talk. Well, I could trash talk but only about the Florida Gators. But that gets old after awhile.

Before I know it, there's a new season and it's time to pull myself up by the boot straps.

So. Here I am. I'm wondering how in the world FSU will do it without Jameis Winston. How will the Jaguars and Gus Bradley perform so that we don't start over with a new regime if a lackluster season occurs. How. HOW. 

How will this all be done? 

It sort of reminds me of the season the Jags had a couple of years ago with Josh Scobee's 59 yard field goal and David Garrard's Hail Mary. That was awesome. I was so naive the next season and became devastated when Garrard was cut and we sucked. When will we be good again? WHEN? 

Ok. So I've whined sufficiently. 

I want to believe Sean Maguire at FSU can show me something and if he can't Everett Golson is behind him. I want to believe BoBo Wilson can show me some amazing Wide Receiving. Derwin James and Jalen Ramsey..... There are closer than anyone to being elite. 

I want to believe Blake Bortles can show me something. I want to believe Allen Robinson and Rashad Greene can show me something. I want to believe the defense is at the ready (especially after all the crying Victor Cruz from the Giants did after we played them). That O-Line though.....

So you're asking what the point is. The point is, this might be Jacksonville, Florida but really this is Missouri. And you MUST "Show Me". 

SHOW ME. 

MDK In The House

We Must Protect This House

Consider Bobby (Bowden) for Sainthood

In football, the next month or 2 is called "The Dead Zone". In my boredom, I decided since ESPNU is showing bowl games from January, I would DVR the most important ones, the Fiesta bowl (Blake Bortles), and the National Championship (FSU). In the last few days, I've watched the National Championship 3 or 4 times and I was thinking about the other important FSU games I had on DVD. 

Several years ago, the greatest end to a coaching career happened in Jacksonville, Florida. Bobby Bowden, longtime head coach of the FSU Seminoles, coached his last game on January 1, 2010. I was in attendance with a very homemade sign. I remembered before I left the house to DVR the game just in case my sign made it. I was so happy to see my coach in action one last time.  Many times I meant to watch the game on DVR. But I didn't. I was sad, unsure of Jimbo. I knew if I watched it, then surely it must be true: it was his final game.

About a year or so after the game was played, my cable provider, AT&T Uverse, had to come out and fix something. Well, they end up taking the main box. The box that had all my saved games: Bobby's last game, David Garrard Hail Mary and Scobee's 59 yd field goal.  I was so upset. Distraught even. After a week or two and a few very choice, angry, and stern words with U-Verse ( and oh by the way the box wasn't broken. It was something else..... They had taken my box unnecessarily.), I got on the internet and started searching for Bobby's final game.  Found and ordered. Then I searched for the 2 FSU National Championship games. Found and ordered.  

Fast forward to today. Today, I decided to watch Bobby Bowden's last game. It seemed like the natural thing to do.  Now that I have, it only seems right.  I was at Doak Campbell last year for Bobby's return. It was Jimbo's team now and watching the National Championship game from January solidified that.  (You can read more about that in the post "My Apology To Jimbo Fisher") as I was casually watching it and inboxing a friend on Facebook, I looked up to the TV to see this:

IT WAS MY SIGN!!!!

I'm sure to most of you, this isn't news. But for this Bobby fan, there were some damp eyes and great memories revisited. 

Bobby I Love You!!

MDK In The House

We Must Protect This House

Crying on 8th Street: Confessions of a Football Chick

No one wants to admit being weak. NO ONE. But after the last Jags home game I could be seen driving down 8th street in Jacksonville, Florida balling my eyes out. Why you say? Because I'm a fan and whether or not  I'm being realistic, I still want to win and I'm disappointed when we don't. Is that right? Probably not. But I'll get over it. Eventually.

I don't believe there is crying in football. But everyone has their weak moments. I've certainly had mine over the years, and unfortunately, I might have a few more over the course of this season.

To me, this is a sad time of year. Although I am happy football season has begun, my sweet precious Mr. Tattoo (rescued from Collies Florida Rescue) passed away 2 years ago yesterday. Right before that my beloved Jaguars (Gene Smith and Jack Del Rio) cut my favorite Quarterback David Garrard. It was abrupt. And left me feeling empty. Then Tattoo passed rather suddenly. He was an old dog with many problems, but he loved me. I loved him. He watched football games faithfully with me on the couch. He even watched them on TV while I was at the game (he became despondent about blackouts. LOL). He was a terrific Fantasy Football partner and made many successful trades and acquisitions.

Why does this make me sad? Tattoo left a huge hole in my heart and the Jaguars haven't been the same since Garrard. Am I blaming Tattoo or the Jaguars? No. Does that mean I didn't get another dog? No. Does that mean I root for a different team? No. But I do become reticent this time of year for 2 of the many things that I found joy in every fall.

I long for the days of game winning, Colt-killing 50+ yard field goals by Scobee and Hail Mary's in the North End Zone. And yes, I love my new dog. She just doesn't lounge as much as Tattoo. But I still love her. What does all this say about me? I'm passionate to say the least about the things I love. If that means I'm wrong, I certainly don't want to be right.

P.S. My Husband says I'm not allowed to drive to the games anymore for fear of further meltdowns. HAHA.

MDK In The House

We Must Protect This House

HEART: Intersecting Super Bowl Leftovers 2013 and Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day was this week. yippee. The Super Bowl was 2 weeks ago. There were all sorts speculation. Colin Kaepernick is unstoppable. Joe Flacco is elite, at least by his own account. Catchy Phrases: Hey diddle diddle Ray Rice up the middle. But there was something that was discounted. Something that is an intangible. Considering once again this past week was Valentine's Day, I will explain to you where the Super Bowl and Valentine's day intersect.

One does not usually associate Valentine's Day and football. Valentine's Day is rather a romantic, girly holiday. Football is considered a more masculine event. (Although I believe I usually make a case in the more neutral direction ;-) ) Football season in college is over after the first week in January. Super Bowl is played at the beginning of February.

Ponder (no pun intended, well maybe) for a minute the last game Bobby Bowden coached. Many former Bowden players were there to support and cheer him on. Christian Ponder was injured. E. J. Manual was starting. FSU was 6-6 going into the game with the West Virginia Mountaineers 9-3 and Noel Devine (considered to be unstoppable) ranked by the BCS 16th. FSU getting to play in the Gator Bowl was nothing short of a miracle. And, yes I was there. For me, it ranks tied for Number one of great football games I have seen in person (the other 2 are Jacksonville Jaguars: Scobee's 59 yard field Goal, and Mike Thomas Immaculate Deflection). It's Number 1 for several reasons. Mainly because it was Bowden's last game. I had watched Bobby Bowden since I could remember. Number 2, FSU was not supposed to win that game and they did. How is that possible? Heart. Yes, heart is sometimes considered girly. It's not. It can make a grown man cry. It can make a grown man win. I submit those FSU players left EVERYTHING on the field for 1 man: Bobby Bowden.

Fast forward to the 2012 NFL season. Joe Flacco coming into the season, rejected a contract offer for 16 million. RISKY. Cam Cameron, offensive coordinator, was fired after the loss to the Washington Redskins. Numerous reasons cited. My favorite being limited use of Ray Rice. Seriously? Ray Rice is money (except that one season he tanked my fantasy football). Ray Lewis tears his triceps muscle in the Dallas game in October. Tearing the triceps is largely considered a time laden injury. Terrell Suggs has surgery for an Achilles injury in May and returns to play in October. Another time laden injury. Early January, Ray Lewis announces his retirement. He had been on the Ravens team since it's inception. Had a Super Bowl ring. Widely considered one of the best ever at his position (side note: I always giggle a little bit when I think of the Ravens. The Jaguars beat them in a Monday Night Football game in 2011 in what amounted to a field goal game. The score was 12-7. Jaguars beat them with field goals only. *snicker* So tough they got beat with field goals.) I believe Ray Lewis' retirement catapulted the team through the playoffs and to a Super Bowl win. A Super Bowl win during which a 34 minute blackout in half of the Superdome, created a switch in momentum almost costing the game. A Super Bowl win that Jim Harbaugh and Colin Kaepernick, I believe, thought they could not lose. Yeah Joe Flacco was probably gunning for more money and we'll see how much he gets and how successful he is next year, but nothing can stop a team who plays for a coach or another player. You can't stop a team playing with their heart. You can't stop players who leave EVERYTHING on the field.

Speaking of heart, something we did not see last year in professional football was Tim Tebow. As much as I hate to admit it, you simply cannot discount him in any situation. The New York Jets have stopped the Tebow Train. Ultimately sealing their demise and his as well. He is being squelched. Why do I care? Because I guess I'm getting old and soft. Or maybe, I really want to see players play with their HEART.

MDK in the House

We MUST Protect This House

Stay Calm, Wear Black

People..It's Training Camp

Today, I went to my first Training Camp practice of the 2012 season for the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was HOT!! I was excited to See Blaine Gabbert, Rashad Jennings, Laurent Robinson to name a few. I was disappointed Maurice Jones-Drew aka Pocket Hercules and Justin Blackmon were not in attendance. I really try to be objective and not take a side between owners and players, but I can't help but wonder what will come of the Jones-Drew holdout situation. It never bodes well for a player to hold out and miss training camp. For example, Chris Johnson, Running Back Tennessee Titans. He held out until September 1. He only had 4 touchdowns the whole season. He averaged 4 yards per carry. He had the fewest first downs in the 4 yrs. he played. By all accounts, not a successful season. If Jones-drew holds out til the end of training camp, it could happen to him too. Or even worse. I've actually heard whispers of him being traded. Owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Shad Khan, has said Jones-Drew has 2 yrs. left on his contract and will not give him a new deal. Not to mention fantasy football implications. I might've jinxed the whole situation. At the end of last season, I said "With all of the new changes going on with the Jaguars, I don't care if they get rid of the entire team, except Jones-Drew and Scobee." Of course I didn't actually mean it. Losing makes you think desperate things. So, let's hope something happens and soon.

Justin Blackmon, Justin Blackmon, Justin Blackmon. The excitement of the draft pick!! The letdown of the DUI. The letdown of him not being at training camp. I think he's pretty ballsy to think it's OK to miss training camp because he has no deal. Dude, you are on your second DUI. You lose bargaining capability when you act like a reckless teenager. GET TO CAMP!!!! Has anyone seen the movie "Jerry Maguire"?  Unfortunately, many of the quotes from that movie rule my life (that will be covered in another blog), but one of my favorite is when Kelly Preston, who plays Jerry Maguire's fiancee, is helping him figure out his next course of action after losing his job as a sports agent. He decides to open his own agency. However, most of the clients he had at the big firm wouldn't come with him. He is down to 2:  Rod Tidwell, an aging, primadonna wide receiver who needs a new contract with the Arizona cardinals and a rookie, Frank Cushman, about to go to Number 1 overall in the  NFL draft. Kelly Preston says "Cushman saves all". Justin Blackmon (could) saves all. It could happen. The Jaguars could go from the worst passing team (relative obscurity)in the NFL to the best. But it can't be done without our first round draft pick, Justin Blackmon. Justin, please come to camp.

So anyway. You guys don't know much about me. I'm 5'0" tall and I'm pretty quiet and shy but you wouldn't know that from what you read here. None of my friends went to training camp today. So I was flying solo. I had to find my way to the front of the plastic fence that surrounds the practice field. I must say that was no easy feat. I was surrounded by people and a few kids. I was entranced by watching the wide receivers and the tight ends catch balls from the 4 quarterbacks. I was looking for miscues and dropped balls and there were some.  And, you know maybe I'm just too amateurish and I don't know what I see (insert eye roll here).The Tight Ends were catching balls being thrown and the testosterone around me kept saying "oh he boggled that ball" "oh he almost didn't have that one". Seriously??!! They were "catching" the balls. I COULD NOT SEE ANY boggling. I really hate haters. It's freaking Training Camp. The guys aren't even in pads. During part of the practice, they took their helmets off. It's not even close to being the real thing and it's the second day of practice!!!! Totally new offense with Mike Mularkey. And these haters are talking about Boggling? Get a hold of yourselves testosterone!!!

Yes I know. I have an entire gallon of Kool-Aid in my fridge. I drink it every day. I don't care. I'm All In.

MDK in the House

We must protect this house.

P.S. I had an opportunity to go to the Jaguars Women's Football Clinic on Wednesday of this past week. It was fun and educational for someone like me who LOVES football. I was surprised to find out there are women's flag football teams in Jacksonville. I got to try field goal kicking, defensive drills, wide receiving, throwing, 20 yd dash, and vertical leap to name a few. Here is a picture of yours truly performing the Vertical Leap. Can you tell I LOVE to watch the NFL Combine??!!

An Apology to Peyton Manning

I know what you are thinking. An apology to Peyton Manning? What on earth for? Perhaps I should begin by reminding you that I'm a die hard Florida State and Jacksonville Jaguar fan. For years I have blamed my football ills on Peyton Manning. Ills? What ills? Like the last minute throw together wins he has put together in Everbank Stadium since I've been a season ticket holder. Ugh. Except of course for the 59 yard Josh Scobee field goal in the last second to beat the Indianapolis Colts this past season.  GLORIOUS. I digress... For some reason I have recalled the details of the FSU National Championship Game in Tempe, Arizona at the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in this manner: Peyton Manning caused us to lose the National Championship. It was his fault. As is everything else (God Bless Him). Until I was reading the book "Grateful" by Ryan Sprague. With great embarassment, I realized it was Tee Martin who was the quarterback that fateful day. No matter, FSU won a National Championship the next year. With all the remorse out of the way... I ask:
How many National Championships did Peyton Manning win? None.
How many times did he beat Florida? None.
I feel bad, but not that bad.

MDK In The House