[JeffInCorvallis]

We sit with a great view of the tunnel and I couldn't help but notice how uninspired the whole team looked before they came out.  The music was blaring, steam was steaming, Frost was going bonkers on the PA system, the band was bouncing around in song -- and there was the team and Shaw just calmly standing there like they were waiting for a museum to open.  When they were given the green light, they all jogged out ho-hum; Shaw jogged maybe 20 steps toward the side line and then started doing his diplomat thing chit chatting with sideline VIPs, shaking hands, etc.  Maybe calm resolve, I dunno, but it had the vibe of a charity exhibition game.  Or, more accurately, it felt a heck of a lot like the 2005 UC Davis game.

It would be great for us to have, I dunno, a duck that rides a motorcycle, or a guy in an ancient Greek costume that stabs a sword into the 50-yard line, or a 1200 pound live mascot that mercilessly drags its handlers around the field. What would be even better would be some significant attendance that generates some electricity in the air. But in the end all that stuff affects about the first five minutes. Football is a long game. Gotta have talent, athleticism, and good game plan, and a little bit of luck to be successful.

[JeffInCorvallis]

We sit with a great view of the tunnel and I couldn't help but notice how uninspired the whole team looked before they came out.  The music was blaring, steam was steaming, Frost was going bonkers on the PA system, the band was bouncing around in song -- and there was the team and Shaw just calmly standing there like they were waiting for a museum to open.  When they were given the green light, they all jogged out ho-hum; Shaw jogged maybe 20 steps toward the side line and then started doing his diplomat thing chit chatting with sideline VIPs, shaking hands, etc.  Maybe calm resolve, I dunno, but it had the vibe of a charity exhibition game.  Or, more accurately, it felt a heck of a lot like the 2005 UC Davis game.

It would be great for us to have, I dunno, a duck that rides a motorcycle, or a guy in an ancient Greek costume that stabs a sword into the 50-yard line, or a 1200 pound live mascot that mercilessly drags its handlers around the field. What would be even better would be some significant attendance that generates some electricity in the air. But in the end all that stuff affects about the first five minutes. Football is a long game. Gotta have talent, athleticism, and good game plan, and a little bit of luck to be successful.