Field of Study

On a bus ride back from Saturday night's football game, I talked with an older gentleman who has seen our team's ups and downs over the decades. He said that what he liked best in a quarterback is a person who knows change. ["Change is having no point of reference from the past," as someone once told me long ago.] For both him and me, we have seen great quarterbacks graduate from our university, including a former college player now playing in the pro league, a seasoned signal caller and winner of a championship ring.

Our current college quarterback dreamed of playing college ball at our school. He has survived the past year's change of coaching staff and leads his team during his senior year. I see in him sparks of confidence that the pro player shows week in and week out.

What is the difference between the two? A good point of reference.

The pro player had his father as an older quarterback point of reference and later his brother as a younger point of reference. From that view, as well as a professional approach to all aspects of the game, the pro player has ensured his legacy.

The college player has a different point of reference, matching his dreams against reality. I wish he could see that the coaches, the players, the fans and even the pro player are all standing beside him and willing him to make his dreams a reality. He can take the 2 to 3 seconds of fast-paced game decision making and make it his own, just like a great baseball player can watch the spinning stitches of an incoming ball and decide which one to hit. The field is his to own, to stake his claim on the remaining games of the season and declare victory, melding his ability and the ability of his receivers, backs and blockers into one complete moment.

I take a satirical approach to life so that I can offset reality and look for insight into human behaviour. The college quarterback can use humour to lighten up his mood and loosen up his on-field performance as well as show others his ability to have fun even when the game is rough.

A great leader seizes the moment and shares it with everyone. I'm ready for the college quarterback to make this season shine, leading his whole offensive unit to greatness. His moment is now.

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To the reader asking about the last blog entry, the reference to breath and other fluids traveling through our weather was inspired by this:

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/090911-space-water-dump.html