NC State Wolfpack

The world we live in has survived many catastrophic events. There have been hurricanes, earthquakes, famine, wars and----the aftermath of Florida State losses in football. I witnessed one such event almost one year ago.

As a member of the Duke radio crew, I accompanied the Blue Devils down to Tallahassee for their annual fall spanking. Upon our arrival in the Florida capitol, it was obvious that the entire community was still in a state of shock. The locals walked around as if they had just returned from a family member's funeral.

For a moment, I to was dazed and confused, but then it all made sense. Tallahassee and its citizens had not yet recovered from Florida State's shocking 24-7 loss to NC State a week earlier. I reached out to a middle-aged gentleman and proclaimed, "it's just a football game." He looked back with a blank stare, no response. If only Don Mclean would have been there to write a song.

"In the streets the children screamed
the lovers cried and the poets dreamed
but not a word was spoken
The church bells all were broken"

Thanks Don.

Believe it or not, it got worse. Some fans were sporting new 'Weinke Stinks' T-shirts (true story). Against the Pack, FSU quarterback Chris Weinke had thrown six interceptions. It is, after all, unforgivable for a Seminoles quarterback to demonstrate human frailty.

Weinke wasn't alone in the doghouse he had unceremoniously inherited. On the local call in shows, fans were asking talented offensive coordinator Mark Richt to relinquish the play calling duties. "Bobby Bowden should be callin' em plays again," they said angrily.

The absurdity of it all didn't reach a climax until the next day. In the sports section of the Saturday paper, it was suggested that Florida State should probably be an underdog against Duke.

Shall I repeat that or did you get it the first time? I am not making any of this up---scouts honor (the middle-aged gentleman story was a stretch).

Somehow, Florida State was able to get off the mat that day to edge the Blue Devils 62-13. It was a statement of courage, the likes of which many of us had never seen.

Life goes on.