There comes a time in every game where you feel that your
team will win or lose. For me, last
night, mine was the very first offensive play of the Ducks.
Bo Nix was confident.
He had been working up to this moment and he was prepared. In his mind, all was calm. He watched as his primary ran a crossing
route. He took a deep breath and saw the
point where his pass and the receiver would meet and he threw to it.
The problem was that at that exact spot…stood a ref. As the receiver ran behind the ref, the ball
hit right in the numbers….of the ref.
Immediately, in my head, I saw an ad. In the ad, a group of people are so excited
to have football again after Covid. But,
in the first play, something happens that is so intense, so stark, that they
feel their year is over.
I had that feeling as the ball bounced off of the refs
chest. And, I feel that play also shook
up Bo. In fact, the most accurate passer in college football
missed five of his first six passes.
As I wrestled with the disappointment of what I had just
saw, it actually helped to lessen the disappointment of the loss coming in
those few hours. Even when they went up
by 4 towards the end of the third, I just did not feel right.
As I watched Bo’s parents wrestle with the desire to have
their son win. After all, the platform
in front of Bo was clear. Win and the
Ducks are probably in the playoffs, Bo probably wins the Heisman, and the
dreams of a magical season are bright.
I remember seeing a woman close to them who had her hands
folded in front of her. She seemed to be
praying. I wondered if she was asking
for the same thing that I was asking for.
In my head, I envisioned players throughout the stands
asking for the same result. A win for
their team. Their were believers on both
sides asking God to allow their young men to be the ones that come out on
top.
Now, hours later, in the middle of the night, that one play
resonates in my mind. It actually
changed my perspective of the game.
I still watched the game, still hoping for the win. But I saw other things also. I saw people that I have personally met and
actually have talked with. Some of whom
I actually have their phone numbers and have spoken and texted with.
Dan Lanning, Osman Kamara, and Matt Noyer. I thought of conversations, of meetings, of
texts. Recently, I had texted Osman in the middle of a game down in Arizona
where I watched him have a player sign a shoe and place it on a trophy.
As I watched Trae Holden catch the ball and score bringing
the Ducks within 3 and I remembered taking a picture with him and talking to
him on the sidelines.
As I am writing this, I have youtube playing various
Christmas songs. One of them was of an
old man who was putting up his tree and various things on and around the tree
brought back memories to him.
Memories…the foundation of your life, of your perspective,
of your health.
