It's a Golden Day for the Game... Cocks!

In light of yesterday's win over number one ranked Alabama, I feel I have no choice but to post about my team:   South Carolina Gamecocks.  Being a Gamecock fan is truly not something to take lightly and is not for the weak of heart.  You see, South Carolina is not known for its strong football program.  We tend to start strong, but being in the SEC (the powerhouse conference in football), we tend to get beaten down mid to the end of the season... by teams such as Alabama!  So yesterday was definitely a golden garnet and black day for us!

But Gamecock fans are found not only in South Carolina - or even the south for that matter.  Two weeks ago, on the infamous Nantucket trip, I met John.  A friend of Gabi's, we saw him and his cute wife leaving the breakfast establishment we were walking into.  He was wearing a Carolina shirt with his Nantucket reds, and I literally squealed when I saw him.  After big hugs, we talked about Columbia and the bars we both frequented back in the day, his fraternity, and people we both knew!  His fraternity advisor is one of my father's best friends, and his initiation ritual was held in the basement of the Episcopal church where I grew up!  Oh. my. word!

Here we are with J's Flat Stanley

But the very best part was when John and his wife left.  He started the chant done at all the games and yelled, GAME!  And I immediately, with no thought at all, yelled, COCKS!  Only a cute girl from South Carolina could have gotten away with that.

... vs. What We Were Led to Believe

It's been a pretty hard week at Chez Bevy and I have not been really in the mood at all for blogging.  The only thing I have even been able to think about is how J was cut from his football team.  I am so mad and have quietly cried (without him knowing it) for the past few days.  Because J's birthday was three days before the cut off date, he was not able to play on the team with his peers.  He had to tryout for the older division with boys both older (some by two years), bigger, and more skilled than he is.  This "pee wee" football division has not had tryouts before and decided to this year.  (Tears are even forming in my eyes as I write this - I am so upset.)

I get competition. I get it.  I really do.  But I also get the fact that sportsmanship, team/player loyalty, and concern for the whole child was the primary vision for the organization - last year.  At least that is what we were led to believe.  I see now that winning is the primary vision.  I just sent the administrator a respectful and polite email telling him how my husband and I feel.  We are not trying to get J back on the team.  Right now I would rather have my eyeballs plucked out really don't want him to be a part of it.

Earlier last week and at his request, J and I prayed about the tryouts and asked for God's direction and what HE wanted.  My wonderful husband pointed this out after we got the devastating news:  maybe it was a blessing, and that playing football is not in God's plan for J this year.  I have to keep that in mind...

On the up side, J has taken up golf this summer and wants a new golf bag for his birthday next month... I think God must be a golf fan!

Heading to the Championship!

In honor of Sumter's football team, Aiken Tigers, I am writing in orange.  (See his football picture a few blogs down.)  We just won the last round of the play-offs and we are on to the CHAMPIONSHIP this Thursday!  Poor Jackson's team, the little guys' Aiken Tigers team, lost in the second round.  He was so sad that football season was over he had tears in his eyes!

I have never sat through such a nail-biter of a game as I did tonight.  But they won, 24-14.  They played great!  But what I am most proud of is the sportsmanship and integrity the coaches instill in his team.  Those coaches are tough.  They expect the best out of those little guys.  Both boys have come home exhausted, hungry, and filthy.  But, more often than not, they came home with huge smiles on their faces, saying, "That was the BEST PRACTICE EVER!"

Awesome, 'cause this Thursday night is going to be the BEST GAME EVER!!!

Go Aiken Tigers!!!