Football is back!

Hello All,

I must start by sending many thanks and prayers to the thousands of first responders who are battling the elements – from the horrific wildfires out West to these brutal storm systems (hurricanes and tropical storms) – all in the midst of an ongoing pandemic. They are working 24/7 to keep others from harm. My thoughts and prayers also got out to each and every person impacted by these events. I am praying for their safety and ultimately their peace.

I can feel Autumn in the air! My favorite time of year! Actually my favorite time of the year is from Autumn to New Year’s. I love the weather – I love any excuse that allows me to drink hot chocolate and wear sweatshirts – I love all of the holidays (especially Christmas) and family time – and lastly, I love football.

Pee-wee, high school, college and professional football – I love it all. Interestingly,  I got my love of football from my little mom. There were many Saturdays and Sundays spent in front of the television yelling at the screen – urging the players on, yelling at the coaches, screaming and dancing at touchdowns. Even when I grew older and we lived apart, it was not unusual for my little mom to call me on the phone and say “Did you see that play?” In fact, it happened just last Sunday afternoon during the Saints vs. Bucs game!

I was very lucky and married into a football family too. From a college perspective, we are all tied to our alma maters. Which, in Bob’s family, means there is an abundantly large team for Virginia Tech. (I swear they insert some sort of loyalty chip in Virginia Tech graduates.) Except for the  “defectors” – Keegan and ODU, Lauren and the University of Virginia, Jenny and Penn State, and me and West Virginia University (Go, Mountaineers!).  It is brutal when one of those teams is playing one of the others!

Professional football is totally different though –  we are all over the place in team choices. Expect for Bob’s mom, who was born and raised in Texas and is a Cowboys fan all the way! I am a quarterback junkie, so my favorite team(s) may vary every several years. This year it is all about Patrick Mahomes and Drew Brees (though it has been about Drew for a number of years). Two quarterbacks at the opposite end of the experience spectrum – both who are equally passionate about the game, their team…..and more importantly, the communities in which they live. Because it is never all about the football!

I have had many favorite quarterbacks – and in no particular order (well, except for the one listed first!) – Joe Montana (ahhhh – I had one of my dreams come true when I actually got to go to a Super Bowl and see him in action!), Warren Moon, John Elway, Dan Marino, Donovan McNabb, Peyton Manning, John Elway, and Russell Wilson. All were/are exciting football players – a pleasure to watch (and scream at) in a game. And all led and/or lead activities outside of football to benefit their communities – to give back.

We all know our society is not perfect. There are indeed socioeconomic inequalities and racial inequalities. We see it in school systems, in healthcare, in housing and in our judicial systems. It has been brought to the forefront even more so in this pandemic. It is not a surprise that real life also plays out in the sports world.  In Sunday and Monday’s football games – in the world of tennis – in soccer stadiums.  I did not see inappropriate actions in these events. What I saw was the same thing that actually created our whole country – peaceful protest. I learned about a new anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing”. This anthem is as hauntingly beautiful and meaningful as I find “The Star Spangled Banner”. I saw players and coaches – black, white, brown – link arms to share that we are in this together. I saw people who were committed to forward movement – on the field and in their daily lives. It will take each and every one of us to make changes.

I thought of the words of one of my favorite football coaches, Tony Dungy:

“You can’t always control circumstances. However, you can always control your attitude, your approach and response. Your options are to complain or to look ahead and figure out how to make the situation better.”

I chose not to complain. There is much I can do as an individual to help make the situation better  – vote, volunteer, support important causes, such as the Western Tidewater Free Clinic and our local food banks. I can mentor. I can listen. I can learn more. I can read more.  There is so much that I am ignorant of.

And there is much we can do together.  It will take all of us.  And it will take time. We have much to work through and/or recover from…..from these terrible environmental events, from the pandemic and the upcoming flu season…..from the civil unrest that will lead to great change. It will take time to heal. I know that the people of this incredible country can and will make it happen.

There are many ways to score a touchdown!

Phyl