‘I will not fail you, Coach’
My voice is still hoarse from this weekend.
First, an amazing Bell Game. For all of my fellow classmates who are starting to sound like those older alumni I talk to who say, “Oh, I hate going down to Greencastle for the Bell Game,” Saturday was a reason why I put up with the greatly reduced seating capacity, the Draconian security measures, drunken Dannie loudmouths questioning my masculinity, the potential of losing and having to watch them celebrate. It’s when you get a game like that, well, everything seems a little bit better.
Then, you get an amazing Colts game on Sunday Night Football against the Pats.
One huge similarity struck me. Both the Little Giants and the Patriots, ahead in the fourth quarter facing a tough quarterback, had a fourth and very short deep in their own territory.
Both decided to go for it.
That’s where the similarities end–and Lord strike me dead if I ever compare the Wabash Little Giants to the damned New England Patriots again.
Wabash senior QB Matt Hudson got a time out, hustled to the sideline, and made the case–against all D3 football logic–to go for it. Jim Amidon writes the amazing story here. They get the first down, control the clock and win the Bell. Brilliant and ballsy. Hudson is hailed as a hero.
New England coach Bill Belichick tells his QB Tom Brady to go for it. They’re short of the first down and give the ball to one of the best two-minute drill efficient, time-managing, field generals in the NFL. Colts drive, win the game. Belichick has the nightmare of answering every Monday morning quarterback in the country.
Yeah, yeah, I know. It’s silly to compare D3 football with the pros. But, for me, it’s still interesting to who sparked the decision and the attitude that accompanied them.
For the Bell game, the right attitude by a quarterback can make all the difference. 2001 Catch notwithstanding, I put Saturday’s gutsiness right up there with Chris Ings’ outstanding will to win the 1995 snow bowl.
As the cliche goes, it’s a game of inches.
