Roctober

April 8, 1993

The Colorado Rockies had just been swept by the NY Mets at Shea Stadium in their first two games in franchise history. People doubted if Major League Baseball could make it in Denver - a town that is crazed for Pro Football and their beloved Denver Broncos. The Rockies would play their first game ever the next day at Mile High Stadium - home of those Broncos. Mile High Stadium? It seats 80,000 and the biggest of baseball stadiums usually can't even hold half that crowd. If baseball would make it in Denver, the Rockies would eventually need their own stadium, but that was a big if...

So the Rockies came home from New York on April 8th with a day off before the big home opener. The city wanted to hold a Parade for the team to demonstrate that there were some people ready for big time baseball in Denver. But after being handled by the Mets Rockies players thought maybe a 1,000 fans would show up so you can imagine their surprise when the streets of downtown Denver were packed at mid-day with more than 200,000 crazy, screaming fans.

The next night the Rockies opened with the Montreal Expos and I was one of the Major League record 80,277 at Mile High Stadium that night. Eric Young was the lead-off hitter for the Rocks and you probably wouldn't believe me if I told you, but EY took the 6th pitch of the game over the fence for a Home Run and the place went ballistic. What made that so improbable is that Eric Young does not hit Home Runs - in fact it took him 160 more games before he hit another Homer! The fans energy fueled the Rocks at an 11-4 victory and Denver knew they had something special! Improbible would be a word used a lot to describe the Rockies, but unfortunately not usually for their play. The real story was the fans. The team didn't win a whole lot of games that year, but the fans kept coming at a record pace smashing the old MLB attendance record with 4,483,350.

The Rocks have played at mediocrity or above ever since that home opener, but their fans have stuck with them waiting for the eruption. Colorado Rockies fans - welcome to Rocktober - the time has finally come! Those of you outside the state of Colorado probably have not grasped the significance of what the Rockies have done in the last month. They are in the midst of one of the most improbable runs of all time. Check out what ESPN's Jayson Stark has to say about it:

This didn't just happen. Did it? That couldn't have been Coors Field, shaking so hard Monday night that it must have knocked all the snow off the nearest Rocky Mountain tops. That couldn't have been the Colorado Rockies, dancing beneath the fireworks, pulling on those National League Champions T-shirts, the only National League team still standing in the second week of October. This can't be the Rockies -- the Rockies -- heading to their first World Series in franchise history. Can it? If you watch enough baseball games and follow enough pennant races, you come to think after awhile that you have a grasp of what's possible and what isn't. And let's be candid here: This isn't possible.

But on another magical autumn evening a mile above sea level, the impossible turned possible. The Colorado Rockies are going to the World Series. Just don't ask how. Don't ask how a team on life support can suddenly start winning and winning and winning some more to find it has just won 21 of its last 22 games. Don't ask how a team that was a mere four games over .500 on Sept. 15 could make it here from where this team came from. From nine games under .500 (18-27) in May. From six games out in the wild-card race in September. From 4½ games back in that wild-card race with only nine games to play.

From two games behind with two games to play, and having to watch that Padres team they were trying to catch get within one strike of clinching. From two runs behind in the 13th inning of the 163rd game of the year, a game they never should have had a chance to play in the first place. Has any team ever overcome all of that to play in a World Series? Not a chance.

So what we have here is one of the most historic, most astonishing, most compelling stories in baseball history. We're not sure the other three time zones have comprehended that yet. But now's your chance, because this team is not done playing yet.

Clearly, they had to believe, or they couldn't have done this, right? Couldn't have become the fifth team in the last 70 years to go 21-1 in any stretch of any season. Couldn't have become the first team to do that in the middle of one of these mad charges to, and through, October. Couldn't have become the second team in history (along with the 1976 Big Red Machine) to sweep its first two postseason series in any given October. Couldn't have become the fifth team of all time to make it from last place one year to the World Series the next. Couldn't have become the sixth team in history to fall nine games under .500 and still climb out of that canyon to make it to the World Series. And, finally, couldn't have become the first team ever to find itself two games out of a playoff spot with two games to play and somehow survive to scramble into the World Series. That didn't really happen. Did it? That wasn't really possible. Was it?

Before Todd Helton's dramatic walk-off bomb off Takashi Saito. Before Josh Fogg turned into The Dragon Slayer. Before Matt Holliday's slide. Before Kaz Matsui's slam. Before Yorvit Torrealba turned into David Ortiz. And then, finally, before this night -- the night their journey carried them to the top of the only mountain peak around that no Coloradan had ever climbed before. For a while there, it almost looked as if this night might be different from all the other nights. On this night, the Rockies actually (gulp) trailed for an entire inning. But for a whole nutty month now, somebody has always stepped forward, to grab onto the moment and turn it into another one of those here-they-go-again evenings. And sure enough, on this night, it was Seth Smith's turn. Until now, he was probably better-known to some folks as Eli Manning's backup quarterback at Mississippi. He didn't even join this team until Sept. 16, when the Rockies brought him in from Colorado Springs. And he never started a single game -- not one. But would they be here without him? Heck, no. Wouldn't. Couldn't. In his 12 at-bats since he arrived, all Seth Smith has done is hit .583 -- .636 as a pinch hitter. So when game-breaking time arrived Monday -- with two on and two out in the fourth inning, Clint Hurdle pointed in his direction. And of course, Seth Smith got it done. With an ugly little inside-out, opposite-field bloop shot that plunked two feet inside the left-field line. But this was no beauty pageant. This was a game-turning two-run double in your box scores and your history books. If anyone ever asks him later about this mighty blast, Smith promised he would tell the truth and nothing but the truth -- that it "slammed off the wall." Or something like that. But this was just the latest, wildest chapter in the crazed, stranger-than-fiction story of the Rockies. Game 2 was saved by a pitcher with no big league saves (Ryan Speier). So why wouldn't Game 4 be altered irrevocably by a fellow whose first two career major league RBIs came in the game that sent his team to the World Series? "You know the funny thing?" said Smith, who joined the immortal Brian Doyle (1978) as the only players in history to drive in the first runs of their careers in a postseason game. "I didn't even realize it when I was on second base. Then I ended up scoring, and when I got back to the dugout, somebody said, 'Hey, we got that ball for you.' And I was like, 'Why?' They said, 'It was your first RBI.' And I said, 'Oh.' But in a game like this, you don't worry about that." Minutes later, there was even less to worry about. That was because Matt Holliday crunched a 452-foot three-run homer that flipped the scoreboard to 6-1, set off an eruption of fountains and fireworks, and launched a party that may not end for a week.

"I've never even seen a National League championship trophy," Todd Helton said. "So when I saw that -- 'National League champions' -- and realized we were going to the World Series, that just sounds so good coming off the tongue it's ridiculous." Oh, it was ridiculous, all right. A month ago -- just a month -- it was an idea that was literally ridiculous. But 22 games and 21 wins later, here they are, the Colorado Rockies, World Series bound. C'mon. That didn't really happen. Did it?

Jacket Fight Never Dies

Coach: "Jacket Fight!"
Team: "Never Dies!"

Coach: "How bad will we win?"
Team: "Real bad!"

Coach: "Jacket Fight!"
Team: "Never Dies!"

Coach: "How hard will we play?"
Team: "Real hard!"

Coach: "Jacket Fight!"
Team: "Never Dies!"

There is a buzz in the air. Emotions are high. My blood is flowing free! My heart is beating faster and faster. I feel like I am in High School again! It's the day before a big game and the coaches and players are fired up. They are chanting, screaming really. I think they could go out and play right now!

It's the Rockwall Yellow Jackets (please don't ask why they wear orange and white) High School Football team. I am sitting in on their team meeting as the coaches make the final preparations before their big game tomorrow night - which will be on TV on Fox Sports. The big game is coming... how could these students possibly think of anything else. Their ultimate goal is to win the state championship, but their immediate goal is to play 11 games. Translation: in order to get to that 11th game they need to make the playoffs and tomorrow night's game will be a big test. It's on!

So what the heck am I doing in the middle of all of this? That's a great question. I have been asked to lead the team in a devotional. No spell check needed - a devotional. I am here to tell them about Jesus Christ and how my relationship with Jesus is the most important thing in my life. This is the second year in a row that I have had the privilege of speaking to the Rockwall Football Team during their weekly chapel service. I absolutely love doing it. It's fun for me to be back in the team environment. But its even better to see how these coaches are pouring into these kids lives.

Anyone that knows me understands that I love sports and in particular football. But what I love about sports goes way beyond the practices and the games. It has to do with the deep relationships that are formed and the amazing impact a coach can have on a player. And Rockwall is an incredible example of this...

I spoke for about 10 minutes and threw in a couple of football stories, but the basic message was John 14:6, "Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. Nobody comes to the Father except through me." I felt like I connected with the team. Not an eye left me during the entire talk. But what happened when I was done, well that is the real story...

The Head Coach gets up in front of the team and calls each coach up one by one to address the team. Every single one of them comments on my talk and then talks about their own personal faith in Christ. Each one of them is passionate. They all talk about how much more important it is to them that the kids know Christ than it is for them to win football games. Scripture is quoted like a coach spouting the game plan and the Gospel is told over and over. The Head Coach talks last. He reiterates the team goals and the hard work they have all put into playing for the 11th game. But, he says... I don't care about any of that compared to my desire to see you bring glory to God.

That's why I love sports. I saw men of God at work tonight in these coaches. These guys don't compromise for a second their mandate to win football games, but they also understand that as followers of Christ they have a higher calling. It was a beautiful thing to experience. I suspect that even my friends who don't get or enjoy sports would have been blown away by tonight. This is a public High School after all, but isn't this also how we are supposed to live? On mission... at all times... in all circumstances... for Christ. It was awesome!

Jacket Fight Never Dies! That's the motto of the Rockwall Football Team that you'll hear the fans cheer and the team play by. But the glory of God is the banner under which they have been encouraged to play and live. Praise Jesus!

A Hurting Friend

I have a favor to ask you. Would you please pray for a friend of mine that is going through a tough time? Dan is a faithful reader of the blog, but more importantly he is a friend of mine. Last week his Dad slipped and fell outside of Yankee Stadium while attending a game. He didn't realize it at the time, but the fall caused severe damage to his brain. He is going to die. It is obviously a sudden accident and the family is broken over it all. You can read specifics on Dan's blog.

Please pray.

If You Think I'm Torn Between Two Lovers, Then You Must Be Feeling Like a Fool

It was my freshman year at Baylor, two weeks into school, and I was already making the news. TV interviews, feature articles in the Waco Trib & Lariat, radio shows... Everyone knew who I was, but not because of anything I had done. They knew me because of my last name and the fact that the Baylor football team was about to play the defending National Champion Colorado Buffaloes.

My dorm room was decorated in CU black and gold. Okay - decorated may be too soft a word - lets go with plastered. I think it would be safe to say that everyone on that campus knew where my loyalties were. The Waco Trib article was entitled, Blood is Thicker than Dr Pepper.

I am telling you this because the Buffs & Bears will meet again this Saturday and people are always asking me who I will be cheering for. While it is true that since my Dad no longer coaches the Buffs, my loyalty (or fanaticism) has indeed waned. It is also true, that with more years of living - my intoxication with sports in general has become more tempered. And lets be fair, since my first two weeks of college my love for Baylor has grown leaps and bounds. But people... let's be clear. When it comes to college football: I am a Buff first and I am a Bear second. The Bears are my favorite team in every sport but one. So there is no need to ask me about this Saturday, just simply join me in chanting: Go Buffs!

By Popular Demand

4th quarter pick


Game tying TD


Rushing the field


Fight CU Down the Field


Someone please photoshop me in this

Buffs Win!

The Buffs beat the Oklahoma Sooners 27-24 today. It was an amazing game as CU came back from a 17 point second half deficit. Colorado dominated the game, but two fluke turnovers seemingly had cost them any real shot at an upset giving OU an easy 14 points. But the defense was phenomenal and in the 4th quarter the Buffs got all the breaks and the offense capitalized a couple of times on 4th down. It was a great comeback. Then with two seconds to go, CU's kicker booted a career high 45 yard field goal to give CU the win! Go Buffs!

Hugh Charles scores the Buffs 1st TD of the day

Hey Jealousy

Have you ever had a friend of yours do something really amazing that you should be really proud of, but you kinda sorta wish that you were the one that did the amazing thing? I can think of countless moments of glory that people who I care about have had and how I have been happy for them, but not totally happy. If I am honest, I have to confess that there is a part of me that is always jealous. And there is definitely a big part of me that likes the glory and wants some more of it. This goes against everything that I believe. I do not like this part of me. That's why I am so amazed by my daughter Mallory.

Last Saturday morning, I brought Macy & Mallory up on stage with me at Fusion. I started talking about Macy, telling the crowd what an awesome young girl she is. It is really easy for me to talk about Macy because she has so many admirable qualities. I told them that she was a little Amy Carmichael in the making. I have no doubt that Almighty God is going to do great things in and through Macy. Before I went on stage, I began to wonder what I would say about Mallory. She is such a cute and fun little thing, but I didn't have anything prepared to say. Then it hit me. As I was talking about Macy, I was saying so many really nice things and Mallory was listening and she just couldn't contain herself. She ran over to Macy and gave her the hugest hug. You see, Mallory loves her sissy so much that she doesn't even know what jealousy means. She heard Macy being praised and her first instinct was the opposite of mine - it was to celebrate her sister. I understood right then and there, on a stage in front of 2,000 people, that Mallory has been given a gift from God. She has the unique ability to love deeply. I can't tell you exactly what this will mean for little Mallory and her future, but I know that God has great plans for Mallory and anyone in her circle of influence will be greatly blessed by having Mallory in their life. Reflecting on this for the last week, I have felt compelled to ask God to keep developing this gift in Mallory. Those prayers have actually helped me to see where I need to grow and be more like my little Mallory so I can be more like Christ.

Macy & Mallory

Mr Personality

I never knew so many ready my blog until my last entry... Thanks to everyone who has expressed concern - I guess I wasn't very clear! I am fine with the process of what I go through after the event. The end result is that I lose a piece of me that I don't need anyway and I gain a deeper union with Christ. It's not always easy, but it is always good. And furthermore, I am feeling very much like my personality is back. What? You don't believe me? Well I will just have to prove it then...

• Yesterday I went on a fundraising trip to Los Angeles. I wore black Crocs (and Brian still wore his brown tennis shoes).
• I brought three items with me while traveling - my PSP, video i Pod, and Searching For God Knows What by Donald Miller with an endorsement from faithful blog reader Dan on the back cover. I had left my backpack and semi cool gap bag at work - so I smushed these three items into my PSP bag. It is really small and convenient, but it looks kind of like a purse. So I strutted around LA with Brian and my man purse yesterday.
• I watched PTI in the airport and yelled aloud at the TV screen when Tony Kornheiser said that the Rockies 10 game winning streak (now 11 games) was no big deal.

Now if this isn't proof that my personality is back - then I just don't know what is...

I Have No Personality

I was in my office on Monday with Natalie and we were working together on a project finalizing some of the details from Leadnow+Fusion. It occurred to me that we had been in there for quite sometime without even speaking together. I apologized to Natalie telling her that I just didn't have any personality today, so I probably wouldn't be saying much...

The day before, Sunday morning, Robin and I walked into church and I felt pretty weird. We had already skipped "Big Church" and we were just going to our class. We were about to see some of our best friends, not to mention a ton of people who had just sacrificed lots of time and energy to volunteer the two nights before at Fusion. I should be ecstatic to see them, because the way they supported me was phenomenal, but I am not excited to see them. I really don't want to see anyone. I turned to Robin and said, "On no baby - there are so many humans here today. I don't want to see any humans." She chuckled because she knows exactly what is happening to me. We go to class and I have nothing to say. I am sick and have lost my voice, but that's not what I am talking about. I just have nothing to give.

I can't wait to write a post about Fusion - because it was such an amazing, God honoring event. So many incredible things happened that I want to tell you about. But that will come another day...

Lot's of people want to know how I feel after one of our events, but I'm not sure you really want to know. The truth is that I feel Depressed, Empty, and Broken. Every Mission Trip I have led or event I have planned and invested in has yielded these same feelings.

I am Depressed
I don't have my personality because a piece of me is gone. It's coming back, but its not here quite yet. Robin and I have been through this so many times before, but it's still difficult. These events take such a mental and physical toll that I get sick almost every time. Robin is amazing. She understands it because she has been through it herself. She keeps me going the week after the event. I am so thankful to have her. I don't know how Godly men make it without a women who loves Jesus with all her heart like Robin does. In fact, as I look around at the men that I know who really live for Christ - every single one of them has a wife that is sold out as well. I couldn't make it through the tough times with out Robin and her Godly strength. I love Robin!

The depression is hard to explain. Robin says it's kind of like an athlete who is at the end of their season. They have put so much into it and now it's over. I think she is right, but multiply it by 100 because with the event I am investing my very soul. I believe that Almighty God has called me to do this, so the investment goes so much deeper than mental and physical. I guess its just really difficult for me to go back to normal life immediately after the event. I want to see more change. I don't want life as it was before. I want to see more people wholehearted for Christ. So when the daily grind hits again, and people are able to return to life as normal - it hurts.

I am Empty
I don't have anything left to give. I want to give. I feel so selfish because so many give so selflessly to make Fusion happen and I owe so many so much. But I am done. I have nothing in the tank. I didn't even care to watch college football on Saturday - I'm just kind of existing. I'm tired, but its more than that. I'm sick, but its more than that. It's something spiritual. I should have nothing but joy over what God did at Fusion and that He let me play a small part, but I don't. My joy is gone, I am just empty.

I am Broken
The event helps me realize that I have absolutely nothing to offer. All my efforts and all of my plans are completely worthless unless God shows up. And if God shows up - nothing else matters. And the amazing thing is that God shows up every single time. He doesn't do it because of me or anyone else. He does it because of Him. He is just that good. He is just that worthy of our worship. I am broken, not because I have done something wrong. It's because I can do nothing right - apart from Christ. And the fact that Christ would use me - is just too much to handle. It breaks me. I can't believe it. I don't let myself believe it. Why would He use me? I don't know. I don't deserve it. I am broken.

It is an amazing thing to be a child of God. I don't fully understand the emotions that I go through after these events, but I embrace them. I know that they only last a few days. This post has actually taken me a few days to write and I think I'm already starting to get my personality back. I hope I haven't scared you. While these emotions are very raw and real, there is always a faith that supersedes them. I wish I could fully describe the union with Christ that I feel on the other side of the depression, emptiness, and brokenness. He is so good!

I just flat out love Jesus!

Met Expectations

It is so rare in this day and age that something lives up to the hype. Movies are often over rated. Concerts don't always perform up to the price of the ticket. But nothing is more disappointing than a live sporting event. The fans can be obnoxious to the point of violence and the parking and weather are not all that fun to deal with either. And then there is the issue of the stadium seats... do they make any stadiums thinking about the fact that there will be 6 foot 3 inch tall men who weigh more than 200 pounds sitting in there? It just isn't fun for me anymore. Besides that - most stadiums do not carry Diet Mountain Dew and if they do, it most certainly isn't chilled like it is at the house. Thus, I usually choose to watch games at my house.

However (written with Stephen A Smith punctuation), this game was supposed to be different. I was driving on my birthday to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to watch the second ranked LSU Tigers play #7 Virginia Tech. The seven hour drive was going to be worth it because my nephew TC is a freshman quarterback on the team, plus his Mom - my sissy, would be at the game. To top it off, I was taking the trip with a great friend of mine - Steve Hayes. Seven hours in the car with Hayes is priceless because he is one of the funniest and Godliest guys I know - so I was pretty excited when Saturday morning hit and it was time to make the trek to Tiger Country.

The car ride was as expected with a mixture of humor, prayer, and Tiger talk. We had 11 Diet Mountain Dews in a cooler which kept the stops at a minimum. We pulled into Baton Rouge about four hours before game time and walked a mile or so to Tiger Stadium. I don't think I could ever do justice to the sights I saw. Now keep in mind that I have been to games at the greatest stadiums in the land. I've been to The Big House, Touchdown Jesus, Aggie Land, Folsom Field, The Coliseum, the Rose Bowl, The Orange Bowl, The Super Dome, the place where people are made of Corn, Sooner land, Floyd Casey Stadium (seeing if anyone is reading this list) and on and on... I have never seen anything quite like this...

First of all, these people know how to tailgate. There was food for miles and evidently more than 25,000 people kept on tailgating during the game with no intention of ever entering the stadium. They set up couches, BBQ pits, TV's with satellites, sound systems, and other amenities. And when we approached the P Mac (Pistol Pete Maravich Center), we were able to get up high and get a birds eye view of the more than 125,000 people hanging out a few hours before kick off. As we were on our perch, one of the cool things we saw was the way that the band gets the crowd into a frenzy. I have never quite understood the purpose of cheering before the game outside of the stadium when your team and the opposing team is inside the stadium warming up and cannot even hear you. But these folks have it down. The band marches down this curvey hill that leads to the football stadium playing a rhythmic drumline. The beat of the drums is motivating and even I am being caught up in it. I found myself yelling "Geaux Tigers" to no one in particular as my heart is beating louder and faster. Steve points out to me that from our view, which seemed to cover miles, you could not see one blade of grass or concrete - it was all purple and gold - wow! This was insane. Then the band held in formation for what seemed like 25 minutes hammering the same beat over and over. Every once in a while they would bob there heads in unison. I realized that they were faking us out. We were all waiting for them to bust out the famous tune, "Hold That Tiger," and they were stringing us along. No one was talking to anyone else, everyone was fixated on the band. All 125,000 plus were waiting...

The it happened - the band members heads popped up and they turned together to face the crowd and hit it - "Baaah Bah Bah Baah!" and everyone yelled "Geaux Tigers." I say yelled, it was more like an eruption. Here we were 2 hours now before kick off and the place was going bonkers. There was no way we could keep this up. Yes we - I am totally in it now!

The entire crowd then makes a mad dash to the gates to get inside and watch the Tigers warm up. It takes a few minutes to knife through the crowd, but Steve and I eventually make it to our seats. My sister Kristy is there and I am so pumped to get to experience this with her! She quickly points out #17 and my eyes become fixated on watching TC. Every little thing that he did made me giddy. He must have thrown 95 passes during warm ups and completed every single one. He was absolute money. And he was doing it in front of 92,600 admiring fans. What a rush! Watching him complete 45 yards passes to future NFL stars like Early Doucet and Brandon Lafell was well worth the trip. Happy Birthday Me! My expectations were met - I needed no more. Of course the other 92,599 didn't exactly feel the same - so the game had to go on. And wow did it ever.

LSU completely dominated in every facet even gaining 600 yards on what was thought of as the best defense in the nation. In fact, the LSU defense put on such a show that they just went ahead and assumed the title of best defense in the nation. I could go on about the game, because it was really fun to watch - but what really got me was the fans. They kept on going all game long. They have cheers that they do in unison that rival anything I have ever seen the Aggies do, but it happens with such a sense of spontaneity that causes you to join in. I acted like a complete fool for 3 1/2 hours with the rest of the 92,600 and loved every minute of it!

Proud Uncle, Proud Mama

Pulling the ole tip toe trick on TC

Steve like Popcorn (AD reference)

I can't wait to go back!

Diversifying Your Portfolio

Fifteen years ago, Monday morning’s would have been horrible. I would have gone to school/work and some wise guy would have made a crack about my beloved Wolverines losing to who??? But today, I am absolutely content with my college football life. And I was actually able to enjoy App States big upset in the Big House. Here is why - I have discovered a profound truth over the last few years that I would like to share with you. When choosing your favorite college football team it is absolutely necessary that you diversify your portfolio. Case in point: the 2007 Michigan Wolverines. There was a time when the Wolverines were my favorite team and I lived and died with their success and failures. That time has passed…

I’ve had several events shape this conviction beginning with my Dad’s profession. Since Dad was a coach, we naturally had a few loyalties. We had Michigan, my birth place, Dad’s first college coaching job, and my first football love. We had the Colorado Buffaloes, where pops coached for fifteen years - during that time I think I really did bleed black and gold. We had Mizzou, his alma matter. We had his assistant coaches that went on to be head coaches at other schools. I had brothers go off to college and give me a sense of loyalty to schools like Ft Lewis, Washburn, and North Carolina – all three of those thanks to Mike. My nephew TC is a freshman on the LSU football team. Then of course, I had my own collegiate experience where I became a Baylor Bear for life.

This enormous puzzle would confuse most people, but I have embraced this schizophrenia and even created an approach that I believe I have perfected into a science. Today was not horrible, it was actually quite pleasant. When I walked in the office this morning and the guys began to gather to discuss the weekends events, I had a sense of superiority come over me as I awaited their question. And the question came, how was your weekend? Of course I knew that the question had nothing to do with family, church, or actual newsworthy events. They were asking about my portfolio. So I replied proudly, “4-2. Buffs won, LSU won, Baylor lost, Michigan lost, Oregon won and Rutgers won.”

“Rutgers?” someone questioned? “Yes, I decided last fall to add them to my portfolio because my brother said they were good. Besides I needed an East Coast team anyway.”

You see when choosing your portfolio you have several things to consider. First, your childhood loyalties, thus CU & Michigan. Then your alma matter, go Bears! Next you can add any additional family ties. This gets tricky for McCartney’s. Of course LSU rises to the top because of TC, but it is also bolstered by the assistant coach clause. Any coach that at one time coached under my Dad is a candidate to become one of my teams. We’ve had several assistant coaches through the years to choose from. I could add UCLA, Washington, Penn State and probably other’s I’m not thinking of. Don’t forget to add any of your spouse’s loyalties in here. Now you look at your region and add those teams – it’s always good to be a fan of the home town team (SMU). Finally, you get to add some wild cards, Oregon because we did a PK event there and I liked Eugene and Rutgers for the aforementioned reason. Now is where it gets tricky, the trimming of the portfolio. Here are a few rules to reflect on.

• It is illegal to choose more than one team per conference (unless they are in different divisions). Because of this I must choose between UCLA, Washington, and Oregon - only one of these has made OU cry - so I choose the Ducks. (By the way - Conference loyalty is way over rated, get with the new millennium!) Penn State was also eliminated because of this rule.
• You may not choose teams that are rivals.
• You may not choose teams from Florida.
• You should consider including teams from the major regions: West Coast, East Coast, Midwest.
• You can’t choose teams that your Dad decided not to coach, when everyone else thought he was going to go and coach them – sorry SMU.
  

I hope this helps you to better enjoy your fall.

Things I can't get enough of...

1. 1 Corinthians - I have been studying it lately and been getting blown away. It is inspiring, but also very challenging. I don't understand all of it, which leads me to more study and lots of meditation. I love it.

2. Chocolate - not the food, but the song... by Snow Patrol. It has become as regular as a 7 Eleven cup of Fusion coffee in my daily routine.

3. College Football - I am so glad it has finally arrived. I could watch every night and the preacher helped my case yesterday by saying that Ecclesiastes shows us that everything is sacred... sorry Dan.

4. Facebook - I have taken the plunge and am in it full on. I am amazed at how much I get out of a computer software program. Love it.

5. My Three Girls - We have experienced a lot over the last three months - trips to DC, Disney and Colorado - all dazzelous (word made up by my daughters), but just being together is so much fun. The three day weekend has been just what the doctor ordered.