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CU Guru [1299]
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Proud
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Dec 9, 2023, 10:49 AM
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Sitting here in Missoula pondering the end of my sons football career after a tough Furman loss to Montana. In this day of NIL, portal etc we tend to lose site of the good still in college sports or sports in general. FCS football takes you back to an earlier time where guys just play for the love of the game. The Furman team was a team whose sum was better than the individual pieces. When never had the talent of many teams in the SOCON much less the Montanas of the world. But those guys were a group of young men who cared about each other and just worked their butts off to make up for a little less talent. Back to back 10 win seasons and a SOCON title
But mostly they are just a group of great young men who will now head out into this world and be lawyers, doctors, business owners, coaches and just better citizens for the lessons of toughness, commitment, team, sacrifice and all the other traits sports can build in the growth of young adults
My son with tears in his eyes looked at me after game and said what do I do now. Football has been his life ….. he left for Furman 7 days after high school graduation and it has been summer workouts, weight room grinding, spring practice on top of the season for five years. His knees are shot.
I just hugged him and said …. I love you and am so proud of you and I know the lessons of football will help him in the ups and downs of life. Go paladins !!
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Orange Blooded [4150]
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Re: Proud
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Dec 9, 2023, 11:06 AM
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Your son will be just fine. He already knows that one must work to get ahead in life, has established a work pattern that will sustain him when he enters the work force in whatever field he winds up working. Unlike a lot of kids who finish college he is ahead of the pack. When I was in the workforce as a Manager I was glad to get a kid who had his background of working with other to achieve goals. He will do well in life and could adapt to change.
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Legend [15530]
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Re: Proud
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Dec 9, 2023, 11:12 AM
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My post, following yours, has a very similar message. When I started my post, yours had not yet been posted. You did a great job, and I am sure this young man will make a lot of people proud throughout his life.
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Legend [15530]
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Re: Proud
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Dec 9, 2023, 11:09 AM
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Very nice! His discipline and learning to work together with others as a team for a common objective will be blessings he will take with him for the rest of his life. Congrats to him, and to you.
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CU Medallion [67908]
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Re: Proud
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Dec 9, 2023, 11:11 AM
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Not the result you or I wanted but they battled hard and showed amazing resilience. They had a great season and should be very proud of it.
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Hall of Famer [22395]
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Great post. FCS football is what NCAA football should be.
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Dec 9, 2023, 11:47 AM
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Those kids go to college to get a degree and prepare for life after college. They get the privilege of playing football and having it pay for their college education.
That is what I wish football would return to. But, it won't. The presidents of the universities (the NCAA) decided that academics are a "necessary evil" they have to put up with for their minor league system.
Thanks for your reminder.
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Orange Blooded [2182]
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Re: Proud
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Dec 9, 2023, 12:10 PM
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Congratulations on a nice ride, I'm sure you're going to miss all the fun as much as your son.
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CU Guru [1299]
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Re: Proud
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Dec 9, 2023, 12:21 PM
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It was a great ride. Great trips to some fun places and FCS football is quality football at a decent price, less crowds(traffic) and what I think of as DIV 1 about 40! Years ago
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All-TigerNet [10496]
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Re: Proud
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Dec 9, 2023, 1:50 PM
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FCS football now is what college football should be all about.
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CU Guru [1243]
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As a proud Furman alum
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Dec 9, 2023, 2:09 PM
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I can tell you he will look fondly on his time at Furman. And will forever be grateful for that Furman degree. Go paladins!
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Legend [16263]
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Go Dins!
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Dec 9, 2023, 2:19 PM
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F-U!
Son is an alum. Incredible experience for everyone involved.
Congratulations to you and your young man.
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CU Guru [1769]
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Re: Proud
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Dec 9, 2023, 2:41 PM
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Tough one to lose. As others have so eloquently stated, he will do just fine. Encourage him to keep a personal relationship with God first in his life and family and work will be a piece of cake. The great Gayle Sayers said it best, “I am Third!” God is first, family second, and I am third. That advice and always the golden rule and he will succeed.
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Hall of Famer [22901]
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Re: Proud - excellent posts, OP and these replies
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Dec 9, 2023, 4:13 PM
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That Gayle Sayers autobiography "I Am Third" is a great read. I read it about 40 years ago. Seems he was as good or better a man as a football player.
Sadly injuries cut his football career short so it's good not to base your whole life on football. Football caused him health issues later in life. And of course we all know about his relationship with Brian Piccolo
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Legend [16027]
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Re: Proud
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Dec 9, 2023, 3:02 PM
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This is a part of football I miss. Guys that love their school and teammates. But since your son is graduating from Furman I believe he will do well in the future. When sports has been a major of your life it’s difficult to just walk away. Sometimes I still get really sad thinking about those times in my life. I wish your son the very best.
The guys who commit to a schools in today’s CF environment is sad. Players are easily lured away for $$$$, easy playing time and lack of commitment. It’s now mostly about( what is in for me.)
Dabo’ phrases of All In, Next man up, WRU, BYOG don’t have the meanings they had when we were always competing for NC’s. It’s really sad it’s come down to Greed !
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