Gameday! Followed by Gamenight!
The wait is over. The preamble last Saturday, and then the last 2 nights were great. Now, its the day we have been waiting for. Sooo many thoughts about sooo many things, and sooo many people. It's always that way on Gameday, which is why we love it. Even moreso on opening day.
But today, I'm thinking even more about 3 players.
2 are 7th year seniors, on top of their world. (There are others, but 2 stand out as compelling representatives) One is from our own Beaver Nation.
Captain Jaydon Grant started as a walkon, and is now as respected as anyone on campus, or in the community, which he is very involved in.
Another is Washington St. WR Renard Bell, who was the subject of a feature in the Spokane paper this week.
Like Grant, he's had to spend time rehabbing injury. Both have been thru a couple of coaching changes, and even more scheme changes. They, like the other most experienced players, have been thru the Covid experience no one expected, much less were prepared for. Economic upheaval on both the campus and the country. Think about all that has happened since this day, opening day, in 2016.
Many decry the changed landscape of so many transfers and other departures, but I'm not one of them. If you don't want players to leave, try giving them fewer reasons to, and more reasons to stay.
At the same time, its hard not to enjoy the joy these players who did not give up (no one would blame either if they had transferred, or thrown in the towel, but they didn't) are now experiencing. Every time I see/hear/read a piece on Grant, I think of all the things he is about, and smile.
Go Cougs! Heck, even Go Ducks, Go Utes in the swamp, and even Go Broncos! But mostly, and lastly,, Go Beavers!
Almost as big as the smile on Bell's face as he anticipates starting at WR for his beloved Cougs.
Finally, though, I also think about Spencer Webb. Some readers here just can't abide anything U of Oregon, but the loss of Spencer in an accident at Triangle Lake this summer reminds up of how easily it can all go away. It could easily have been a Beaver we lost instead. Or a Coug, Husky, or a Bronco.
While Grant and Bell will take the field tonight, in Pac-12 games against invaders from the state of Idaho. only Webb's number on a sticker on the back of all the Ducks' helmets will get on the field in Atlanta this afternoon.
3 young men, who foster 3 thoughts that are maybe even a little more meaningful than all the others on this special day and night.
Go Cougs! Heck, even Go Ducks, Go Utes in the swamp, and even Go Broncos! But mostly, and lastly,, Go Beavers!
Everyone should have a smile as big as Bell’s today!
Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com