Season Opener!

First off, check out the uniforms! I think they look great! Only problem: our big sponsor is Entega, and their bright orange logo dead center on our helmets doesn't exactly match the blue and silver.

Ok, with less than two minutes remaining and down by eight, we received the ball around our own 20 yard line. This was a familiar situation for me, and one that most quarterbacks love--the chance to lead the team the length of the field to tie (and eventually win) the game.

We marched the ball down the field and inside the ten yard-line with nine seconds left. I called for double slants, our most effective play in the second half. Marc, our best receiver all game, got inside his man right as I released the ball. He trapped it against his chest and fell into the end zone with two seconds remaining--just a two-point conversion away from tying it up.

Here's where the story takes a detour. I found out at practice earlier in the week that our starting center, Sasha, would miss the game for a school project. It required him to spend the weekend in a city several hours away. Stephen moved from Guard and filled in nicely as a replacement. As anyone football fan knows though, every play begins with the Center to Quarterback exchange. So to switch up Centers two practices before the first game is not ideal.

We had our third fumbled snap of the game at the worst possible time. I tried to pick up the ball and run it in myself but was stopped short. The two-point conversion failed and the Diamonds lost, 15 to 17.

I could list probably 50 reasons why we lost, but my main reflection is not about technical or schematic failures. My concluding thought is this: given some time for young guys to develop and for the offense to start connecting and playing better together, we'll soon be a very hard team to beat. And we're gonna have a lot of fun no matter what.

In other news, I received a job at Berlitz language school and will begin training on Monday. So my car washing days are finished, praise the Lord. Teaching English really is a great opportunity here. It gives me a lot of flexibility in what days I work and we'll connect me with resources to continue learning German.

Rumor has it that some Davidson boys and girls will soon visit me.... Looking forward to some adventures with Mandy, Phil, and Ashley starting May 10.

God Bless!