While the rest of the world is contemplating where the invaluable HOF quarterback will land, allow me to reflect on 14 great seasons with Peyton Manning. After a tearful goodbye in Indianapolis, everyone and their neighbor is speculating where Manning will land. Personally, I'm hoping for Miami, as I am now only a 2-hour drive away. I'd love to see #18 and #87 dawn the Dolphin aqua-marine! Manning to Wayne for ANOTHER DOLPHIN TOUCHDOWN! But I digress...
This is a retrospective post.
I wasn't even 30 years old when Bill Polian and the Colts organization drafted a rookie out of the University of Tennessee. All I knew about Peyton Manning, other than his pedigree, was that he was never able to overcome his nemesis, and hated rival of my Seminoles, the Florida Gators. They just seemed to have Manning and Tennessee's number year after year. So, I wasn't the most ecstatic fan in Indianapolis the first day of the 1998 NFL Draft.
Once he got into his groove, there was no telling how far he would take the underachieving Colts franchise. I mean, we used to marvel at Captain Comeback, aka Jim Harbaugh, but he was no Peyton Manning. A few years into his career and I was still wondering if he'd ever be capable of winning the "big one." My doubts were never higher than the year we went into the playoffs undefeated, only to be humiliated by the New York Jets.
Then there was always the Colts defense, or lack thereof. I feared that no matter how perfect a game PM put together, our defense would always let us down. And even during our first Super Bowl run, the defense played terribly right up until the playoffs. The porous D who let Maurice Jones-Drew slash them for 200+ yards, suddenly became a brick wall in Kansas City and throughout the 2007 NFL Playoffs. It seemed as though destiny had finally taken over.
In the Miami rain that year, Peyton put all fears to rest and quieted all doubters, even me. He led the Colts to their first Super Bowl win since arriving in Indianapolis my freshman year of high school. He made us forget all about Captain Comeback with flashes of Unitas-like brilliance. His line-of-scrimmage antics have become the stuff of legend, and they pale in comparison to the split-second reads and laser-accurate throws that have wowed us for years!
Yes, Peyton Manning is the REAL DEAL! A solid, first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, the guy is not only a brilliant on-field general, he's a class act all the way around. The namesake for St. Vincent's Childrens Hospital, he's been a great champion for the terminally ill and less fortunate in Indianapolis. A devoted family man and philanthropist, he quickly won the hearts of Hoosiers who respect and admire his character. A humble guy who has every reason to gloat, he is just a stellar human being. I cannot say enough good things about him.
I am very grateful that he became and remained an Indianapolis Colt. And while I am sad to see him go, I wish him well with whichever team is lucky enough to land him. I hope his recovery continues and he regains his throwing strength. No matter to what capacity or where he lands, I'll always be a fan of #18.
Thanks for the great memories, Peyton. Sorry that I ever doubted you. Peace!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
FSU Basketball Powerhouse?
I know this is a football blog, but with the Super Bowl now fading in our rearview mirror and National Signing Day behind us--yes Jimbo Fisher and staff snagged the second-best recruiting class of 2012--indulge me in a little Seminole Basketball.
Since joining the ACC in 1992, I cannot remember a better start in conference play for the Noles. They have now reeled off seven straight wins against the best in the conference--and the country--and now sit atop the ACC with a 7-1 conference record. The team is being led this year by sharpshooter Michael Snaer who is sinking 41-percent of his shots behind the three-point arc. One of his most memorable of the season came against Duke, snapping their 45-game winning streak at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
The Seminoles have a history the last two decades of giant-killing, usually beating a top-ranked Duke or North Carolina team in Tallahassee. They don't usually do it on the road in the span of ONE WEEK! In a 10-day stretch during the month of January, they beat the Tar Heels, Blue Devils AND the Maryland Terrapins. Still, the coaches weren't impressed enough to give them more than honorable mention. It took another week of ACC dominance for the Noles to break into the Top 25 in both major polls. With a win over ranked Virginia last week, expect them to crack the top 15 today.
In addition to Snaer's sharpshooting prowess, FSU features a stifling defense that has ranked atop the NCAA-Division I the last two years. Leonard Hamilton knows the old football adage that says "defense wins championships," and he's coaching a tenacious squad nicknamed the "Junkyard D." Scrappy doesn't even begin to describe them. With a huge interior, they are a formidable force in the paint and have totally shut down the league's leading big men, knocking one of them out of a game.
Has FSU become a basketball powerhouse? No, we're still a football school to be sure. But a force to be reckoned with in the ACC? I think that goes without saying. And after all, it IS the powerhouse conference. I'm very pleased with Leonard Hamilton, now turning around his third program since becoming a head coach. GO SEMINOLE BASKETBALL!!!
Since joining the ACC in 1992, I cannot remember a better start in conference play for the Noles. They have now reeled off seven straight wins against the best in the conference--and the country--and now sit atop the ACC with a 7-1 conference record. The team is being led this year by sharpshooter Michael Snaer who is sinking 41-percent of his shots behind the three-point arc. One of his most memorable of the season came against Duke, snapping their 45-game winning streak at Cameron Indoor Stadium.The Seminoles have a history the last two decades of giant-killing, usually beating a top-ranked Duke or North Carolina team in Tallahassee. They don't usually do it on the road in the span of ONE WEEK! In a 10-day stretch during the month of January, they beat the Tar Heels, Blue Devils AND the Maryland Terrapins. Still, the coaches weren't impressed enough to give them more than honorable mention. It took another week of ACC dominance for the Noles to break into the Top 25 in both major polls. With a win over ranked Virginia last week, expect them to crack the top 15 today.
In addition to Snaer's sharpshooting prowess, FSU features a stifling defense that has ranked atop the NCAA-Division I the last two years. Leonard Hamilton knows the old football adage that says "defense wins championships," and he's coaching a tenacious squad nicknamed the "Junkyard D." Scrappy doesn't even begin to describe them. With a huge interior, they are a formidable force in the paint and have totally shut down the league's leading big men, knocking one of them out of a game.Has FSU become a basketball powerhouse? No, we're still a football school to be sure. But a force to be reckoned with in the ACC? I think that goes without saying. And after all, it IS the powerhouse conference. I'm very pleased with Leonard Hamilton, now turning around his third program since becoming a head coach. GO SEMINOLE BASKETBALL!!!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Clean slate
Okay, now that the season for both teams is over, we can start with a clean slate. Let us put 2011 behind us and look toward the future. The most pressing issues, by far, lie with the Colts organization.
All the pundits on cable are giving every conceivable scenario for the Colts quarterback position moving forward. Yes, Andrew Luck is most likely the QB of the future and yes, ideally, we'd love to have him as PM's understudy for a couple of seasons. But let's look, first, at a very likely scenario. Peyton Manning may not play another down of football. Has he been cleared by anyone to do so? Will his throwing arm ever be the same? These are the most pressing questions that need to be answered. Forget who the heir-apparent is or how he might get along with "the Sheriff." Heck, forget how to pay premiums for both QB's, including PM's 28-mil. due in March. Let's find out if the old guy will ever throw another football in the NFL, first!
Regardless, Andrew Luck is the franchise QB of the future. To pass up on him would be the dumbest decision by the Colts organization since the 2011 signing of Kerry Collins.
And speaking of that lame-brained decision, how about it Bill Polian? Still feeling vindicated? Good riddance you old fart! Don't let the screen door on the barn hit you on the way out! And take Scrappy Doo with you, too!
Okay, I feel much better now. The season is behind us. The Colts have secured #1, i.e. Andrew Luck, and should be on their way to greatness once again.
We'll give the Seminoles a little time to bask in the glory of another bowl win. Then, when recruiting season kicks into gear, we'll look forward to another blue-chipper crop of athletes.
I'm just glad we made it out of 2011 alive. The first half of the Champs Sports Bowl nearly gave me a coronary!
All the pundits on cable are giving every conceivable scenario for the Colts quarterback position moving forward. Yes, Andrew Luck is most likely the QB of the future and yes, ideally, we'd love to have him as PM's understudy for a couple of seasons. But let's look, first, at a very likely scenario. Peyton Manning may not play another down of football. Has he been cleared by anyone to do so? Will his throwing arm ever be the same? These are the most pressing questions that need to be answered. Forget who the heir-apparent is or how he might get along with "the Sheriff." Heck, forget how to pay premiums for both QB's, including PM's 28-mil. due in March. Let's find out if the old guy will ever throw another football in the NFL, first!
Regardless, Andrew Luck is the franchise QB of the future. To pass up on him would be the dumbest decision by the Colts organization since the 2011 signing of Kerry Collins.
And speaking of that lame-brained decision, how about it Bill Polian? Still feeling vindicated? Good riddance you old fart! Don't let the screen door on the barn hit you on the way out! And take Scrappy Doo with you, too!
Okay, I feel much better now. The season is behind us. The Colts have secured #1, i.e. Andrew Luck, and should be on their way to greatness once again.
We'll give the Seminoles a little time to bask in the glory of another bowl win. Then, when recruiting season kicks into gear, we'll look forward to another blue-chipper crop of athletes.
I'm just glad we made it out of 2011 alive. The first half of the Champs Sports Bowl nearly gave me a coronary!
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