Some thoughts about football.

It's quite a ride.

There is nothing like turning to face a crowd of sixty thousand people and making them rise in unison with the wave of your arms. A simple gesture to demand noise, to demand anticipation, and more importantly: to demand attention. And the booming crowd of Autzen Stadium provides all three in abundance on a regular basis.

Eugene, Oregon is football. Yes, there is a school. Yes, there are families, houses, businesses, stores, streets, and all the typical day-to-day necessities you find in any other town. But Eugene is football.
Billboards around town promote athletes as heroes; not students or amatuers, but rather superhuman beings that are capable of great feats.

The success and stardom of the team and its players is a regular topic of conversation that can be brought up or heard at any given moment.

Sometimes while basking in the beauty of the stardom we lose our place. It is important that once in awhile you pinch yourself with the memories of where you came from and where you plan to go. Don't focus too much on the ideals of the past and don't pride yourself on the glory the future may hold. Just use both in small doses to better understand where you are in the present.

Going home this weekend is just what I needed. It gave me time to clear my mind and really get to thinking about this journey.

Of the few things I have actually learned from physics is the idea of velocity. Velocity is the speed at which something is moving in a particular direction. To stray from this direction is to risk losing significant speed. In the course of this redshirt season I have strayed from my original path. I have at times strayed from my goals and settled for the luxuries that I have now at the University of Oregon. But during the final weeks of October, around the time my dad died several years ago, I had a realization; I didn't come here to be content with redshirting or riding the pine while I learn the system. I didn't come with the idea of making minimal contributions on scout team or getting back up minutes. I came to Oregon with the intent to make a difference, and with the intent to do everything in my power to become the absolute best at my position. If I fail, I want to know that I at least did everything in my power or I will die unsatisfied.
I re-evaluated where I was by reflecting and looking forward. I looked back on the promises and confidence I had shared with my dad before he died. I promised him I would take football as far as I could. Now, my direction is re-focused and my momentum is traveling back in straight line to my goals.

Velocity. All I have to ask myself now is how fast can I get there and can I manage distractions to remain on my path?

Now that this season is wrapping up, I realize that I am not satisfied. Not even close. And that, while a frustrating and pessimistic thing to think, is just the mindset I need.

To the rest of my peers; the members of my team, the guys I spend each and every day of my new life with- I hope you have these same expectations for yourself and for the team. And I know deep down, you do. That's how you got here. That's how we all got here.

Class of 08 will define great.

Believe it. Expect it.

-NC