Edge of Glory?

I love fall. I love sweaters and coats, boots and tights. I love turning and falling leaves and cooling temperatures. I love those amazing blue skies of autumn. I love football.

A couple of years ago appropriately in the fall, Size Four Banker Sister and I visited the ESPN Zone in New York. Yes, while many visitors to the great shopping mecca that is New York find their way to Fifth Avenue or Lexington, we instead were drawn to the multiple screens of the best place in Times Square to watch, as Kenny Chesney would espouse, the 'boys of fall'. Of course, we purchased the obligatory tee shirts. And of course, we chose the same tee, screen printed on the back with something like, "Yes, I'm a woman.... Yes, I know the game.... Yes, I watch ESPN." Great tee, isn't it....or at least it was until Size Four's son accidentally wore it to school without reading the back. That may be subject for another blog and definitely subject for some teenage harassment to this very day. Luckily, my nephew is totally comfortable in his own skin; otherwise we could be dealing with scarring that might have lasted a lifetime.

This year's football season is off to a most exciting start as three teams of great local interest seem poised..... in the immortal words of Gaga (one thing about this blog, you never know where I might pluck a quote)..... "on the edge of glory and hanging on a moment of truth." It's interesting that two of the three are doing it with the exuberance and excitement of youth.....freshman and sophomores or first and second year players who have shown up with swagger to beat out more senior teammates for shots at greatness. The third team is doing it with a tested group of seasoned and savvy players led by a 5th year quarterback. This latter team clearly has all the pieces with talent rarely if ever assembled on one team in this area. But will it all come together?

All three of these teams may make it if not to glory then definitely to a special place. Or all three may fail. One, two, or all three could achieve a greatness that has been more than a little elusive for all in recent years. And for each, the definition of a great year, of glory as it were, may be a little different. Clemson fans hope to compete for a conference championship. Gamecocks may still hope to be in the hunt for a national title. The Panthers' goal is probably to make the play-offs. One thing is for sure.....Tigers, Gamecocks, and Panthers everywhere are more than a little excited. And that is most definitely a good thing for all three organizations, for their rabid fans, and for football in general.... all the way down to the tiny mite leagues of the Carolinas.

I heard a story on ESPN last Saturday of an Oklahoma State (I think) player who befriended a nine year old leukemia patient. Sporting a pink bracelet in her honor on game day and as part of his game uniform, he pays tribute to his young and seriously afflicted friend both in his play and with his ever important hospital visits. I think one of the things I like most about football is the inevitable story of character, of class, of going above and beyond that we fans learn about a player. And in most years, we hear many more than one such story.

As these gridiron athletes amaze us with their talent, size and strenth, it is worth noting that many, many of them set an example far more important than what they do on the field. More special than having the skill to catch, to throw, to run, to kick, many of these elite athletes get it. They care. They care about the world around them. They care about their schools and organizations. They care about those who cannot run, throw, play as they do.

As for this fall and this sports season, I'm hoping for fun, fantastic football finishes, the perfect tee shirt, and a great pair of tall boots!