VPI Reflections: The Magnitude, Ramblin' Reck, and Goalposts
From Heather Dinich:
This crowd just got louder than anything I've heard in Lane Stadium this fall. Add a little hip-hop to a Derrick Morgan-led defense, and the Jackets are head bobbin' and the fans are on their feet. This crowd was slow to show up, but the crowd has finally become a factor in this stadium.
I honestly don't know how to start or where to begin with this entry...simply too many things are running through my head as I write this thinking about Saturday. But here goes...
I ran into multiple former Reck Drivers yesterday and every single one of them said something along the lines of "Soak this up. I never had a game like this to ride out to." Nothing like pressure right? At the end of the game, the 2003 Driver looked at me, gave me a hug, and yelled "YOU LUCKY BASTARD!". Yes, I am lucky, fortunate, and humbled to have this role for 2009. I'd post a video of the 1st half ride out but only pictures were taken. I'll tell you this, I have never heard the stadium that loud and that electric all year. It is something that I will never forget.
The post-game was something that a person sees on TV and thinks: "I would love to be a part of that just once." Well, we were all a part of that in some fashion. We had old people dancing in the stands! As the Reck followed the goalpost down 10th street, it was President Peterson who took the charge and finished the procession. When we quieted down for just a quick minute, it was President Peterson who yelled out to the crowd: "How 'Bout them Jackets?!" When the small saws were not properly cutting the goalpost, it was President Peterson who quickly powered up his own personal electric saw and cut off the first piece. If they had not realized it yet, the Peterson's are adored by the student body and begins with the acts of service and interaction they have given to every one of us. I eventually found Dane at the President's house with a huge grin that was shared by the thousands of students standing in the front lawn where we quickly began a rendition of the fight song and The Good Word. It was a great homecoming game that I can only imagine could compare to the 1998 homecoming game against Virginia that also saw the goalposts come down.
All those years in the past where we had season-defining games and we had a chance to thrust ourselves into the national spotlight have been redeemed. Not gone or forgotten, but those losses can be pleasantly overlooked. The difficult part of our schedule is now over. But now, we begin to face a different test, a curse of sorts. The infamous "trap" game. The game in Charlottesville where we have not won since 1990. The remaining teams on our schedule will not go away quietly and we surely have not arrived. Physically we made it through the meat of our schedule and physically we have what it takes to finish the season strong and unscathed. But mentally, what does the team do? How will they react? One hurdle was lept this past Saturday. We now have a curse to break.
Here are some videos from Saturday that I hope you all enjoy! Listen to that crowd!
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Great piece, Winfield
For those of us that couldn’t be there, we needed someone to tell the story as if we were. Thanks.
Maker's Mark--nectar of the gods...
Agreed
Enjoy every waking moment you are there guys. I know this might sound like something your Dad would say, but sometimes you really don’t realize what you have until you don’t have it anymore. Live it up, soak it up, drink it up, because one day you might find that the sea of life has taken you on a journey and it currents most likely won’t drop you off anywhere near home.
Looking back on my journey I realize there are a ton of things that I would have done more of or things I wished I had done when the opportunity was there, but being young and not thinking about it I missed out. I don’t regret anything, but there have been some oppotunities to go to some very unique places that I passed on while in the Marines. That choice, in and of itself, has been a key waypoint for my life becuase I very nearly went to GT instead of the Marines. Now, I find myself away from home, away from the A, and with every game I am forced to watch from afar, I yearn for my own homecoming if you will.
You have a very unique opportunit and are part of an experience that will be with you throughout your life, so don’t take any of it for granted. Otherwise, how the hell am I supposed to live vicariously through you!?
"This is America, if we can’t self-righteously look down on others and blame them for our faults, the commies win."-----Cormican on Bleeding Green Nation w/r/t fans overreacting to the Eagles signing of Michael Vick
by Jesse28 on Oct 19, 2009 9:02 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I'm still terrified of this week's game
I keep telling myself that we’ve got different coaches and different players, and nothing that happened more than two years ago has anything to do with the current team.
It’s just that the last thirty years have conditioned me to believe that, whenever things seem great and the team is going places, things will fall apart.
Let’s all cheer for Climpson Saturday! Yabo Dabo Do It!
Thanks for the videos
They brought back great memories for me having been part of similar GT celebrations. It’s great to see new ones being created as well. Hated that I wasn’t able to be there but thought it was funny seeing some older Alumni helping take down and carry the goal posts.
Go Jackets.
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