Wake Forest Athletics
100% COTTEN: CREDIT WHERE IT'S DUE
11/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 19, 2006
With tongue firmly planted in cheek, I embark on another effort at filling a page and a half on my computer to complete the assigned task of another column. I hope you'll forgive me for being less than serious, but I find myself in a strange mood. As I write this it's the morning after Wake's 27-6 defeat at the hands of a really good Virginia Tech team. I've had better Sunday mornings as, I'm sure, have you. I had a really good 10-1 history column set to go, but the Hokies came to town.
I'll save that one for next year.
The sun is up, though, as I knew it would be. And I felt all game long that it would come up today regardless of the game's outcome. Don't get me wrong, there was a lot to play for last night. But the game of the year is still to come. And if the Maryland game doesn't work out, then the next game will be a pretty good one, too. There's still history to be made. And I think this is the team to make it.
And that (finally) brings me to my point. This, as I made the point last time, is a real team. There isn't one hero - there's one nearly everywhere you look. Riley Skinner? Certainly. Steve Vallos? Without question. Josh Gattis sure has played well. Of course there's Jon Abbate. And where would the Deacs be without Sam Swank?
But who should get the credit? Who, really, is responsible for the magic of 2006?
It's got to be me. You heard me - me. And I have the evidence.
I first started calling ballgames on the radio at Carson-Newman College just outside of Knoxville, Tennessee, for my high school coach, Ken Sparks, who moved up to the college ranks after I left Farragut High School as his option quarterback. I'm sure Ken left Farragut because he couldn't bare the thought of me not being around. He knew I was interested in radio, and if he let me do his play-by-play he'd still have me around.
It was a great plan. With me behind the mic, Sparks' Eagles won five national championships. Coach knew deep in his heart the real reason for his team's success, and I have five national championship rings to prove it. But I'm nobody's whipping boy. I left C-N for Marshall in 1992, and Carson-Newman hasn't won a national title since. I bet they miss me.
After sensing my destiny I felt sure I would be called on one day to help the Cowboys win another Super Bowl so I headed to Marshall to begin the climb. I didn't know a soul in Huntington, so my plan was to make it quick. I figured why not make a huge splash. The Thundering Herd won its first ever national title my first season. Emotions were out the roof. I was smiling on the inside. The secret was mine. And if you're looking for the real impetus for the upcoming movie We Are Marshall then look no further. And now you also know why in the world Hollywood would include Bill Urbanik's character in the movie. Bill learned while working for Al Davis that it pays to know people in high places.
Well, I needed another place to go after getting Marshall on the map. Steely Dan always has been my favorite group, so the song Deacon Blues (the rumors about this song and Wake Forest football are very true) was my inspiration. Wake was next.
I got here in 1996 and quickly planted the seed. With me in the broadcast chair the Deacs beat Appalachian and then a ranked Northwestern team that had played in the Rose Bowl the year before. My plan would be great.
I knew that my Wake Forest stint would be a long one. I mean given history and everything if Wake won too much too fast it would be obvious. Plus I also wanted to give Brad Lambert and Tim Billings (with me on the ride at Marshall and decent fellows) some time to figure it out. It's Billings' fault. It took him eleven years to wise up.
But now that he's here it's time to go full throttle. Will it be this year's Orange Bowl? Or maybe something better next year? Stay tuned....
(Note: ISP Sports and Wake Forest extend our deepest sympathy to Gold Rush editor Jim Buice and his family after the death of Jim's wife Valerie. Her courageous battle was fought with great dignity and is an inspiration to all of us.)
