"I thought we signed up for the same thing... I thought our relationship was perfectly clear. You are an escape. You're a break from our normal lives. You're a parenthesis"
So today I'm not re-announcing my retirement or announcing my un-retirement. I would say I'm announcing my re-announcement of how tough it is to steer kids through the college selection process, which is a pretty good reason to not retire (in life, not blogging).
Since I wrote a post two years ago, just prior to my first announcement of my retirement, about my first daughter's college selection process; I feel it incumbent to pause my retirement and talk a little about daughter #2's college selection process which, of course, will likely sharply delay my actual (real life) retirement and drives me to want to un-retire from blogging in order to vent!
Maybe I should take a quick pause from this retirement pause and extend the one streak I still have going, my word of the year post. This year, 2020, as we know has been a real *itch. As such we really don't have a fun word to spoof. The pandemic has not given us much fun (and certainly made Ashley Madison Adventures pretty difficult) and of course "pandemic" being the word of the year means there's not much fun in writing about the word of the year. Anyway, the pandemic really affected us and that's about all I have to say. Btw, my personal favorite word this year was asynchronous, as in Ryan's posts are usually pretty asynchronous!
Anyway, because of that word of the year, college has been a real wild ride for daughter #1. She was accepted at her Dream U and we moved her in 1.5 years ago to that sunny happy place. As I told many friends when asked "how's she doing," I would say if she was having more fun it would be against the law. She also did well academically, which is sort of important you know! Her year was cut short from the COVID thing but that was OK. We enjoyed her being home in April (a month early). She did move back over the summer, working in paradise but learning that real life is a bitch, and college is great (and better when mom and dad are paying for room and board). She had a pretty good fall and is now back home for the holidays but looking forward to getting back to the sun.
So let's talk about daughter #2 and her adventures! And let's look at some new quirky college vernacular:
Academic Qualifier
Rolling Admissions
Roster Size
D3
Accept to Deposit Yield
Merit vs Need Based Aid
Daughter #2 is not, as we might say, a passionate individual. I think the Gen Z term would be "chill." Because of that she has never had that #DreamU place in her mind. Which started out as good because I thought that meant I could talk her into going to Ryan's old Big State U and give me an excuse to go back for football weekends. BSU would actually be a great place for her as they have just the smelly animal science majors she wants! In fact, she could make a big impact with one particular unique sport she has been playing since she was 8. Very few schools play this sport but Big State U is one and while they have a team they are not great. Which is great for Daughter #2 as she is probably better than the girls who are currently playing. But BSU is big and she is an introvert so maybe not the best. And, omg, she might meet a degenerate like me there, so maybe I should talk her into somewhere else!
Hard to walk away from 10-min walk to horses
So daughter #2 is pretty fantastic at sports. Not great at a particular sport but solidly good at pretty much any sport. That means the big schools (D1) are not too interested (and being vertically challenged doesn't help either). But I kind of thought smaller schools (Division 3/D3) might let her play. So we spent a year talking about it and her ignoring me. Finally we got some video together and lo and behold a couple of coaches bit. You see, small college (D3) sports is pretty interesting from a recruiting standpoint. There are no athletic scholarships but schools still want to win. So D3 schools are looking for kids that can compete athletically and academically AND get the merit scholarship $'s needed to attract them because most of the D3 schools are small privates with high $ tuition. And so entered fancy private equestrian school for rich Yankees! This school is perfect! Daughter #2 can study big animals every day at their barn and fields AND they SUCK at the two sports she is great at! Video sent and Bingo, both coaches were interested and all of a sudden Daughter #2 understands that old Dad Ryan may not be completely stupid. She loves the attention and now wants to play sports in college and understands that maybe it will be helpful if a coach is making sure she studies! And, oh btw, we have some family connections here and its not too far from BSU, so maybe Ryan gets his football weekends anyway along with watching Daughter #2 play!
They really need someone that can shoot the "3"
But the interest doesn't stop there. We send video to another school that sucks at sports. Bingo, another coach is interested! Maybe she wants quirkly-cool aquatic Chesapeake bay liberal arts college? In fact this school is even MORE interested. We actually visited for an Open House two years ago, because Dad Ryan knows what he's talking about but Daughter #2 was bored and said it was too remote. But now that two coaches are telling her she could play and help them build a program, this place is pretty amazing! Wow, maybe I just need to work on my college sales pitch.
Amazing architecture, but a little "churchy"
Then she gets accepted to the three Florida sunshine colleges she originally said she was interested in to be closer to Daughter #1. And wow, the scholarship $'s are pretty good. But they are D2 schools, not big time but interested enough in winning to offer scholarships. At those schools, short may not work for sport #1 and these fancy schools are recruiting Martina Navratilova's for their country club sports, so athletics may not be an option here. Which of course was not important a year ago but now it is so these may be off the list. Ryan is not too disappointed except it removes an excuse to go to Florida. Oh, btw, did I mention that a year ago I made some calls and got Daughter #2 an opportunity to practice with Big State U's unique equestrian sport that she is good at and they are not? Yeah, if she can get in, she can do that. Seems like attention is only bad when Dad Ryan does it.
Cool beach scene, maybe too "earthy"
So while its nice to be wanted, now we have to decide who to play for and what to study. Actually all are a fine academic fit and pretty good schools, so at this point I guess I just need to let her do her thing and maybe, just maybe, she can do everything!
But folks, get those kids practicing at dancing, violin, hockey, or even video games (yep, you wouldn't believe it but colleges have video game teams now) there are scholarship $'s out there to be had and not everybody has to go broke to pay for a degree if you have some skills to sell!
But damn, I just wish I could have one child who could give me an excuse to go back and party at Big State U again!
For now, Happy New Year and may 2021 be everything that 2020 wasn't! And maybe I have another post in me about Daughter #1 now.
"Upside down
Who's to say what's impossible and can't be found
I don't want this feeling to go away
Please don't go away, please don't go away, please don't go away,
Is this how it's supposed to be
Is this how it's supposed to be
I have to admit this song makes me cry. It's hard to believe I took my (then) 3 and 5 year old daughters this movie and now, 14 years later, they are off and doing their own great things!
It's hard to believe it's been a year since I've put together a blog post. I sort of stepped out of the way last year at this time ending at my 499th post. It probably would be cooler for me to sit on 499 and shun the limelight of some perceived important plateau like 500 posts. But Jz's cookie post calls to me so I'm going to blame her on my vanity. It seems in vogue with the times.
Btw, times......, I always like to talk about the word of the year at this time each year.
And yet in these dystopian times (wait that was the word of the year in 1347). In these *ucked up times, the word of the year is apparently "climate emergency" per Oxford and "existential" per Dictonary.com, as in an existential climate emergency. Hell, you can't even count on the Aussie's for comic relief! The Australian National Dictionary Centre named "voice" as their word of the year. As in I've found my "voice" to be bold enough to declare an "existential" "climate emergency."
Yesh, I just need some hot chocolate and a good Hallmark Christmas movie.
Oh, speaking of Hot Chocolate, that's my cookie this year. Yeah, I know; hot chocolate is not a cookie but neither were the sausage balls or cranberry bread I submitted in year's prior. You see I'm always in an "existential" crisis over following rules and since we are in a "climate emergency" and we don't have much more time to drink hot chocolate I think its best I find my "voice" and give you a great recipe.
This recipe comes from one of my favorite out of the way BBQ joints, the Hickory House in Jane Lew, WV. Well if you are familiar with Jane Lew you would probably says its really closer to Weston but who am I kidding have any of you really taken the Jane Lew exit off of Rt 79 between Fairmont and Charleston? Though if you haven't, you should! But probably around Halloween. The hot chocolate will still be good and you can go to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum about 5 miles down the road which really is in Weston, WV. It will definitely scare you into an "existential" "(environmental) emergency" or at the very least you will find your "voice" with a loud scream! :)
So anyway here is my (not so) cookie recipe!
Thanks for doing this Jz, you are existentially cool; even if you did temp me into this 500th post. Shame on you!
Psst...., Jz I'm really not mad at you. I'm too southern to speak ill of someone in public, but I know you kind of like that kind of stuff.
Christmas Eve Creamy Hot Chocolate
Ingredients:
* 1.5 Cups, Heavy Cream
* 6 Cups, Whole Milk
* 1 Can, Sweetened Condensed Milk (14 oz)
* 2 Cups, Milk Chocolate Chips
* 1 tsp, Vanilla Extract
Directions:
* Warm milk and heavy cream in Crockpot on medium
* Once milk and cream warm stir in condensed milk, making sure it combines evenly
* Continue to warm, do not allow milk to boil
* Once mixture warm, slowly stir in chocolate chips in small portions until chips melted into liquid
* Add Vanilly Extract, continue to stir to insure smoothly blended liquid
I did make this for a party last week and it is "existentially" rich and tasty!
Happy Holidays to Everyone!
Have a cookie (recipe) from one of these great bloggers!
* Firstly - It's my bloggoversary (sort of)! Yes eight years ago, two days ago, I wrote my first blog post (here)! I had no idea how long I would go but it certainly wasn't this long. It's been a lot of fun and as Forrest Gump once said "I'm pretty tired, I think I'll go home." Yes, I'll probably do one more post to make it an even 500 and then I'll probably do as my gran-dad used to say "call in the dogs and piss on the fire," for as those Supertramp lyrics say "I must be moving on." I may drop in on occasion but at some point you've got to realize you don't have too much more to say on a given topic and I've probably already said too much! :)
* Nextly - Since I minored in English and enjoy thinking about words I don't know how to use, I always like to use this time to say a word about the word of the year. This year the word of the year is:
Oxford - Toxic Dictionary.com - Misinformation
These are good words for me and this blog. Finally a word that describes the reality of this blog, misinformation on how one should react to marital frustrations and the resulting pursuit of infidelity through "married dating" social sites and how to avoid the potential for toxic outcomes. But really, aren't we so through with misinformation and toxic environments (along with other recent words of the year words like complicit and post-truth)? I really want to get back to a time when we had meaningful words of the year like:
Well I think the best way to be complicit in moving past toxic misinformation in a post-truth world is to think about good things. And the best thing to think about at this time of year is -
* the real point of today, Lastly
Which is -
JZ's Annual Bloggers Holiday Cookie Post
Divinity - A True Southern Delight
Ingredients:
1 Cup Boiling Water
3/4 Cup Light Karo Syrup (btw, for Southerners there is no other corn syrup!)
3 Cups Sugar
Pinch Salt
2 Egg Whites
1 Cup Chopped Pecans
48 Pecan Halves, which in Mississippi you can usually just get in your back yard!
1 tsp Vanilla
Instructions:
* Heat water, Karo Syrup, Sugar, and salt to a gentle boil at 234 degrees (measure w/candy therm)
* Separate out egg whites from eggs into mixing bowl (eggs should be at room temperature), beat/spank egg white vigorously (ask JZ how to do this) until frothy or turned on.
* Add 1/2 of syrup to egg whites in mixing bowl, whisking constantly.
* Continue heating remaining syrup to 270 degrees or until "crack" stage and by "crack" I mean candy, you won't be smoking this!
* Pour "candy"/syrup mixture into egg mixture bowl, whisking constantly until high gloss turns to dull and let cool.
Not the Beaumont Mansion!
* Fold in chopped pecans and vanilla into candy mixture.
* Drop candy by spoonfuls onto wax paper.
* If candy sets too fast add a drop of remaining boiling water to make creamy as you spoon onto wax paper.
* For garnish, add a pecan half to top of candy just before it sets.
If you want a visual on this, JZ was good enough to alert me to a YouTube video on making Divinity, How to Make Real Divinity - The Hillbilly Kitchen. This is a little different recipe but that Cream of Tartar is a good idea whenever making a meringue type recipe. And I do like the idea of the Hillbilly Kitchen as this is real Southern!
Most people think about snow and the North Pole at Christmas. But to me, growing up, Christmas was always about traveling south passing through Chattanooga, Birmingham, and Jackson in route to the most southern place in the world - Vicksburg and walking into my grandma's home where there would always be plates of fudge and of course Divinity.
Please check out our other cookie makers today!
Hi everyone,
Thanks again for playing along. (I love you guys!)
Here's the link list for you to include in your post.
I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with! :-)
"Goodbye stranger, it's been nice; Hope you find your paradise. Tried to see your point of view, Hope your dreams will come true......" "Oh, I'm leaving, I've got to go...."
Early Decision
Early Action
Priority Scholarship Deadline
Reach and Safety School/Access Institution
Flagship Institution
Successful Academic Progress
Matriculation
Expected Family Contribution/FAFSA
First Time in College
Big $'s but engaged faculty
Spring to Fall First Year Retention Rate
Six Year Graduation Rate
Mid Career Median Salary
Full Freight
Net Price Calculator
Cleary Report
Over the past year and a half the family and I have been on an arduous journey visiting 15 colleges and universities in six states and DC trying to identify where our eldest will take her next steps in life. Along the way we have learned, on the fly, a new language one has to become familiar with to gain entrance into this new world of academic higher education. Granted, I've lived my whole life around higher education. In fact two of my all time favorite posts have been about colleges and college towns.
However, everything certainly seems quite different as a parent and seeing all of this through the eyes of my daughter.
As cool when football sucks?
Getting a job is what is most important so is the mid-year median income of that school's grads the most important factor? But if they don't enjoy college they will never make it to graduation day so maybe spring to fall retention for "first time in college freshmen" is most important? They are in college to learn but if they don't like the food and where they live they won't be happy and won't be able to focus on their studies so maybe Princeton Review's rating of "Best College Dining Services" is important. And if the food sucks on Saturday night is she going to need a lot of extra $'s for Chipotle? That could be a big $ suckage! Classes are Monday through Friday but if they are lonely on the weekend they will want to come home and won't build an affinity towards the campus and thus won't progress towards graduation so maybe campus life is kind of important (and dang I sure would like to see Zedd for Homecoming). But then again, it really is about learning so how connected are the faculty to their students, will Professor X really know who she is, and are there really great experiential learning opportunities beyond the classroom because that is what she really wants. Study Abroad, should we be interested? And then what is all this about Title IX, the Cleary Report, the Dear Colleague Letter; I thought this little college town seemed so safe? Is safety really important? Probably is and can I really believe those reports on the institution's web page? Maybe I should be reading "College Confidential" blogs? She wants to go far away to a sunny place for college, what are the hidden costs we don't now foresee like flights home over fall break? And OMG, I live paycheck to paycheck but the Federal Government (FAFSA) thinks Shannon and I are doing fine and dandy and will have no problem signing $50K checks to good old Fancy U (google EFC)!
Oh wait, we have to get into these schools first!!!
S-A-F-E-T-Y, Safety DANCE!
That one with the great median mid-year income for graduates has a 30% acceptance rate. With her grades and SAT she only has a 50/50 chance of getting in. Can dance and Early Decision put her over the line. Yes, Early Decision that big one chip gamble on the college of your dreams. Early Decision, Early Action, Application Deadline to be considered for merit scholarship; so many strategies to consider. We have come to understand and rue the tangled web of decisions needed in today's murky world of college applications. If she doesn't get into her dream school what school can she get into that will make her happy and won't cost a ridiculous sum of money to a school with lesser cache! It's one thing to lay out $65K to an Ivy League school but I ain't paying $65K/year just because they have a ropes course and Taco Tuesday on the Quad! Although now that I think about it I would like to visit and enjoy that Lazy River myself, why didn't they have this stuff when I was in college!
Anyway, because of our life and lives this process, though stressful, has to a degree become a collage of our entire life. We started off where Shannon and I first met and got to re-experience what we loved about that place. We visited my Big State U. We finished our long magical mystery tour two weekends ago at two schools that are in the heart of where our girls have come to love. Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party was a way to put a smiling enjoyable exclamation point onto a somewhat scary, apprehensive process that in the end is what we've all been looking forward to for a long time.
Chipotle @Union but suitcase campus
But as a parent this is very tough. I have spent the last 17 years of my life trying to take care of this individual. Now, as we face college, I understand that going forward for the rest of my life there will be more days I don't see her than days I do. Though heartbreaking its also exhilarating to imagine what her life will become.
In the end all you can do is hope you've established firm ground for your kids to start life upon. Dang, I am glad my younger one loves Big State U as much as I do and doesn't want to go anywhere else so we don't have to go through all this BS again. I'm done!
"Tell everybody I'm on my way and I'm loving every step I take. With the sun beating down yes I'm on my way And I can't keep this smile off my face......"
Our family has an ongoing joke that our girls can never get a straight answer from Shannon and Ryan on what we like in a restaurant. It always ends up going into a full on Travel Channel styled debate on quality control, menu selection, service, and value. But we enjoy it. Shannon of course just wants the best food and a great glass of Pinot and isn't worried about price. For Ryan though, enjoyment (as with many things in his life) is always a bit nebulous and grounded in value. Meaning, Ryan loves a good Filet Mignon but would rather have a great $25 filet with pretty good service over an $80 orgasmic filet. Well maybe Filet Mignon is not a good illustration as an $80 velvet textured filet that you can spread with your tongue is a rare and beautiful thing like other things that are so tender you can spread with you tongue. But anyway, any answer from Ryan on "do you like this place daddy?" is clouded in price vs value, along with presentation, choices of sides, service, and other accouterments that nobody (and certainly not my daughters) care about.
Anyway, a few weeks ago we found our way meandering through Orlando with a few hours to kill ahead of boarding a homeward flight from ORD to BWI. Orlando means Disney and Disney is a second home to my girls. On a quick count I believe we've been to Disney (Cali, Florida, and cruise included) fifteen (15) times since they were born. Wait, this past time was probably the 16th and I'm probably forgetting one or two. Anyway, we are addicted to Disney. And because I'm who I am and we are who we are and this blog is what it is, I am addicted to determining the best, most efficient, and affordable way to enjoy Disney and then to, of course, blog about it.
What you end up with a happy environment, a warm atmosphere, solidly good food not at Victoria and Albert's pricing, and a free show! Who doesn't like free, especially at Disney. Doesn't Irish music and those quick footed Irish dancers just make life seem great!? And when they are so close to you and so cute, all the better (dancers and musicians)! At our last visit we got to see these dancers and the Briste Band who are one talented group of cute Irish lassies! Yes, during your visit you will laugh, cry, drink, maybe be kicked, maybe fall down from too much drink but you will leave full and happy.
Chicken Pot Pie - YUM!
So Raglan Road comes out punching for pleasure from the time you sit down. First tasting action is the amazing Irish soda bread with their special Guinness Dipping Sauce that, with the beer and Brown Sugar, is delightfully tangy and sweet (just like those quick stepping dancers)! I would definitely consider an appetizer at this place. There are many to choose from including salads and some great seafood (and yes they have wings if you just can't break free from your Yankee ways). We like the Smokie City which is a creamy baked haddock spread with potatoes and tomatoes enjoyed over crispy toasted baguette. By now Shannon half way through her first glass of Pinot. Ryan does have to bail on authenticity here as he has never been one of those bitter brown beer dudes. I admit I have to punt and do a lager. For the true of beer connoisseur Raglan Road does have beer flights and true Irish imports.
If you don't have a big appetite, many of the appetizers and salads can sub in for center of the plate. Shannon loves their Irish Egg, the scallops on the appetizer menu can make a meal, and if you are a little too chichi, fru fru, or simply Continental you can go with their Goat Cheese terrine with shallots and shiitake mushrooms over mixed greens.
Ryan is not a real heavy eater so when I'm going to Raglan Road I try to not eat all day and save up for some real gluttony. I am simple and love the Chicken Pot Pie (often a special) or the Guinness Beef Stew. The pies are warm and hearty with the savory mushrooms and Irish root vegetables making the dish as much as the main protein feature. The creamy filling in contrast to the crisp scratch pie crust creates a delightful distinction yet balance to your palate. You have to have the Colcannon Mashed Potatoes as a side. I'm not a big veggie eater but the fresh bacon & almond roasted brussels are a rare way to get me to eat those typically nasty things. The parsnips are nice and Irishy too! Be careful the portions are mighty! The Roast Chicken will feed a small army and if you have your kiddies along they do make a decent burger. If you do feel like you have to experience tasteless Brit food they do have the obligatory fish and chips and bangers and mash (or in Raglan's case and booze).
Dessert is a Irish drama as there is so much to choose from including Fluffy Lemon Clouds, Sinful Chocolate Smothered Cake, Tart Berry trifles, and apple crumb cake. I'm always a sucker for bread pudding so that is typically my desire. But no worries you can go with a min-dessert flight which is typically how the Beaumont's roll. If you are not merry enough yet pair that dessert with a Bailey Irish coffee or a silky smooth port.
By now you are full of food and full of drink and dance, nothing can get you down; even if you have to board a plane and go home.
So next time you are a Disney and you don't have an eternity of money (or time) then just click your heels, say Erin Go Bragh, and head over to Raglan Road and enjoy!
"May you always have...
Walls for the winds
A roof for the rain
Tea beside the fire
Laughter to cheer you
Those you love near you
And all your heart might desire."
And enjoy the fact that while food and spirits may not be the meaning of life they sure do give meaning to life!
I started this post about a year after I started my blog but have never used it. It's lived on a flash drive in my office desk in dormancy. And now, as I am determined to bring this blog to closure and am in dire need of content, I am bringing it out. In my first blog entry I wrote that my fantasy job would
have been a sportswriter.I do think I
am a decent writer.I minored in English
in college and did write sports for my high school and college newspapers.My English minor was in technical writing
though so with that and coupled with my training in the 5 W’s and H from
Journalism I tend to be an efficient writer specializing in a bullet pointed “less
is more” style.This blog has given me
the chance to expand myself to flesh out the writing in order to build
characters and stories. When I started writing the blog I first wrote in a Word document. At one point I realized that the Word doc was over 100
pages, well on its way to being book-sized!
I think I also mentioned in an earlier blog entry that I had
some ideas of stories that I had partially written in my mind over the
years.So with that in mind I would like
to throw out one of my story ideas here for some critical feedback.Now that I know I have the ability to produce
100+ pages of junk, why not take a stab at a novel!
To set the story line up I will say that this was inspired
by personal experiences or perhaps more accurately thoughts and feelings.Several years ago while mired in a career
crisis in the Midwest I had the opportunity to
interview for a job at my alma mater.This was a perfect job and I knew I would be a good fit.Furthermore a former boss who hired me out of
college at another business was now at my alma mater and would be my bosses’
boss at the university if I was hired.
This was a slam dunk, a done deal in my mind – Shannon and I
were already thinking about what schools our girls would attend, what
neighborhood we would live in.It was
very exciting and a rare escape from an island of discontent into a truly
better world.
So I prepared and prepared for the interview.I psyched myself up and nailed the many
interviews I had over the course of a full day.At the end of the day I was talking to my former boss who I considered
to be a mentor and friend.I just
casually asked if there were any internal candidate as it had not been
mentioned beforehand which tends to be professional courtesy.He said there was an internal candidate but
nothing had been decided ahead of time.Of course my mind raced, I had spoken with ever person involved with the
operation – which one was the “internal?”There was one guy about my age who was very professional and seemed very
motivated and energetic.In fact I had
connected with him a bit.He had a young
daughter, about my daughter’s age and was a single dad (where the mom was did
not come up obviously).
Of course that ended up being the guy who got the job.I was beyond crushed but I couldn’t help feeling
a bit happy for the guy.This was the
opportunity of a lifetime for him and would set him and his daughter up for
life.Such a strange and difficult
paradox to deal with on a personal level but I am always intrigued by paradox.
And so some time later as I pondered my feelings I
envisioned a movie around this storyline.Of course just interviewing for a job and not getting it is of no
interest to anyone.But throw in
anticipation, desperation, aspiration, dejection, anger, sorrow, love, hate,
fear, yada, yada and you have the makings of a murder mystery story around this
same plot.Of course I will change scenery,
names, careers, etc. to make it more interesting.And of course I am not really crazy so I have
never actually thought about making fiction reality here. JBut I do think it is a good story idea.So what follows will be my attempt to put
that story into an initial script outline so to speak.
By the way, I'm a little late to the game now that Netflix has scored big with Last Chance U. I am a total addict to that show as it hits close to home.
Fourth and Long (or Two Minute Warning):
The Background:
Dalton Drakeford is the archetypical All-American guy.He is from Santa Cruz, CA.His dad, Duke Drakeford (“Double D” to his
friends), was a legendary high school football coach from the area.Double D was famous for being ahead of his
time for his high energy, wide open, throw it all over the field style
offenses. Dalton
was his greatest quarterback.Dalton was all everything in high school and went on to
play quarterback and star at NorthernCaliforniaStateUniversity
(mythical).He had a great career and
was All-Conference and Academic All-American.He did get some pro try-outs but in the end although “mobile and cagy – the typical coaches son”
he was a bit undersized to make it in the pros.But that didn’t matter because as his dad told him “it’s time to move onto your life’s work.”And that was to be a coach, the path he
always knew he would take from the day people started calling him “Double D
Jr.”Additionally he was now engaged to
his college sweetheart Katie.Katie is a
beauty from Northern California as well and
was majoring in Elementary Education.They
were excited to start a life together eagerly awaiting the path of success that
undoubtedly lay ahead.
Hell-a-Good Hair Coach T as DD Jr.
Early on Dalton
and Katie’s life charted according to plan.Dalton
stays on at NCSU as a graduate assistant while Katie finishes school.
Note:underpaid graduate assistant is usually the
necessary entry into college athletics and even at that you usually need to
have connections to get that first opportunity but of course Dalton always had plenty of connections.
Could be Katie or cute adviser from LCU
After Katie and Dalton finish
there degrees Dalton gets that first full time
opportunity as a position coach at OmahaStateUniversity
(mythical) in the Mid-West where his old quarterback coach at NCSU had gone to
become the head coach.Life away from California is difficult but Dalton
loves being fully dedicated and Katie knows this is the sacrifice that needs to
be made to get Dalton
started on that career path that will undoubtedly land him that Pac-10 coaching
job by his mid-30’s.For the meantime
Katie is content to be a wife and a kindergarten teacher and of course she is
excited to plan for the family she dreams of.
Dalton
becomes somewhat of a guru on recruiting in the Mid-West, particularly that
great JUCO talent base throughout the Plains.Over the next 8 years Dalton moves three
times to progressively better jobs and eventually is the offensive coordinator
at TexasPanhandleState
(mythical) a top notch FCS school.He is
now on the verge of being a head coach.But upon sending out feelers about some head coaching opportunities at
the D-I level he gets feedback that his biggest detriment is that he has never
been the “top guy,” that he needs
some actual “head coaching experience.”Isn’t that always the catch how do you get
the job when you can never get the experience.
On a whim a colleague suggests he go interview for “that opportunity at OklahomaPanhandleJunior College.It’s a solid if not great program with great
potential.If you can turn it around
there it will build your resume and give you that experience you need.With your energy you should be able to turn
that program around in 3 years and be on your way.”
So Dalton
and Katie are now off to a small town in the Oklahoma Panhandle.At 32 now Dalton is not exactly a youngster but this
should get him at least a “Mid-Major” head coaching job by 35.And then it would be on to the big-time.
Of course the best laid plans don’t always work.Three years turn to 5 and Dalton is still at OPJC and the turn around
isn’t as easy as it seemed.And now he
is not the up and comer, he is starting to be the guy who can’t get things
turned around.It’s not that the team is
awful; it’s just that a 27-23 record over 5 years with no bowl games just
doesn’t turn heads.And for coaches on
the fast track as they say “just win
baby.”So the big time slowly gets
farther and farther away like the tide going out after midnight.The folks in the OPJC community do love Dalton and Katie and they
would be welcome there indefinitely.The
good side is no pressure here for championships; the downside is when do you
let mediocrity become satisfactory.
But as Dalton starts
preparing for spring football again he sees that the Offensive Coordinator at NorthernCal
has just left to take the head coaching job at Colorado Tech.And Dalton
knows that Coach C at NCSU is near retirement.The guy that gets that Offensive Coordinator job now might be on an inside
track to being the Head Coach in just a few years.Yes, these are the fates determining his
direction.Dalton calls Coach C about the opportunity
and they have a great conversation.Coach C is glad Dalton
is interested and encourages him to apply.
Soon after the call Dalton
gets his chance to interview.He and
Katie are ecstatic.They begin earnest
discussions on what neighborhood to live in, where are the best schools.Dalton’s
mom and dad are cautiously optimistic but all are happy.
The interview goes well although Dalton is a little underwhelmed by the
reception at NCSU.Coach C was certainly
glad to see him and asked a lot of questions about Katie, the kids, his dad,
etc.It was more like a family reunion
than an interview, should he be worried about that?The team of assistant coaches, while certainly
cordial and respectful, didn’t seem really excited to meet him.Perhaps he is just being conceited.He did leave NCSU 13 years ago, for most of
these coaches he is just a name on the wall of letter winners and just another
guy trying to score a great coaching opportunity.A few days after the interview Dalton has a follow up
call with Coach C and he finds out that one of the offensive coaches he met (Jim
Bergsten) has also applied for the job.Coach C says “nothing has been decide
yet and that nothing is a slam dunk, I’ll be in touch in about a week to keep
you posted”
Of course one week turns to two and then two and a half and
finally Dalton
calls Coach C.Apparently the job was
offered to Jim and they were working out the details.Coach C is sorry and says he was going to
call later in the week.He says he
wishes he had 2 jobs “because we would
love to have you on board.But with your
experience you will land something soon.Best of luck to you and stop by whenever you’re in town.”
So there it is the dream over, no plan B – only reality back
to Western Oklahoma.But how does one feel when your dreams die - sad,
angry, happy for Jim (he did seem like a great guy), glad we don’t have to move
the kids half way across the county (rationalizing)?
The main point though – one guy, good or bad, stands between
Dalton and the
life he had dreamed of since he was a boy!
Dalton
goes back to work, spring football starts in one week but this year he has
little motivation.He is all consumed by
the lost opportunity – his lost opportunity and how to feel about it.
Then one night he has the dream.In the dream he travels back to NCSU and
removes the road block, the guy standing in the way from HIS life.Just a little accident, something that could
easily happen on one of those windy Northern California
ocean-view drives.And with the road
block removed, he is back on track.A
horrible act to be sure but one deal with the devil and then a lifetime making
up and enjoying the good life he was destined for.
Main Cast:
Dalton
DrakefordLuke Wilson
Katie DrakefordElizabeth
Banks
Duke DrakefordScott
Glenn
Coach CBruce
McGill
Jim BergstenPaul
Rudd
President NCSUJames
Cromwell
Story Progression:
The story would be in medias res.The opening scenes will be set in a
dream-like sequence just after Dalton
has apparently acted on his dream.From
there, the story will alternate between the recent past to include the lead up
to the interview, the rejection after the interview, the planning of the act,
and then the act alternating with flash-backs to his life growing up,
in-college, meeting Katie, playing at NCSU, and his coaching career through his
years at OPJC.
Ultimately at the end we are brought back to the present
which will be just after the act.There
will be another scene where Dalton
wakes up from a dream in a pool of sweat and we will be left to wonder if the
entire story of the act is in fact a dream.
The story could be left there if you want an Indie-style
movie.Perhaps sirens sounding in the
background or a police officer at the door and we are left to wonder if he has
been caught.
For a Hollywood ending Dalton would wake up, realize it was
a dream, realize the thought is horrible, and then go off to practice feeling a
bit better while breathing a sigh of relief and determined to “gut it out and persevere like his dad
would.”
Once at practice his assistant would say “good mornin’ coach, hey coach, there is a
message for you from Bobby DeLoss at Colorado
Tech.” The assistant says, “isn’t he the new coach there?He must be needin’ some quick fixes from the
JUCO ranks, you think Jefferson or Marshall (OPJC players) could play at the
FBS level?”
Dalton
walks slowly to his office sighs and then dials the number on the note left on
his desk.The secretary at the CTU
football office politely answers and says “Hello
Coach Drakeford, Coach DeLoss was looking forward to your call, he said put you
through as soon as I hear from you.”
A few seconds later the husky but energetic voice of Coach
DeLoss answers the phone “Coach
Drakeford, thanks for calling!Hey, I
was just on the phone with Coach C up at Northern Cal;
you know I worked for him over there!He
says I need to be talking to you about the new offense I want to put in here at
CTU!I know you were disappointed……
(conversation continues but slowly fades away).”Dalton
slowly turns in his seat while listening to look out of his office window onto
the OPJC football field as players in practice uniforms make there way onto the
field.
…..Dalton:“Sure
Coach DeLoss, Katie and I would love to visit CTU when would you like to see
us.”
