The Big Upset

I told everyone that Ole Miss would be 3-2 at this point in the season. A lot of folks didn't believe me then, but I think they do now. I said at the start of the year we could beat Vandy and that we would lose to Fla. I guess I showed you all that I know my football.

It matters little in the long run who wins a football game. I know that as well as anyone. Life is, however, a lot more fun if the team you pull for comes out ahead every now and then.

There are those who say the NFL is a better game, but give me a Saturday afternoon with two rivals on the field and I'm happy. College football is the universal game. It is played almost every where, not just in large cities. To see an NFL game from where I live in Mississippi is at least a four or five hour dive to St. Louis or Nashville. A twenty minuet drive will take me to the Liberty Bowl and a University of Memphis game, an hour will take me to Ole Miss, two hours will get me to Mississippi State or Arkansas State. The time it takes to get to an NFL game would give me the choice of Vanderbilt, Middle Tennessee State, Alabama-Birmingham, University of Alabama, and Southern Mississippi. Those are just the 1-A teams that are a day trip for me.

For me a national game should be played nationally. I know that pro-football is played from New England to Los Angles and from Minnesota to New Orleans, but not in Boise, Idaho or South Bend, Indiana.

I wish I could credit who I heard this from but I can't. It is not original with me. The difference between pro and college football is this: I may be a Rams fan but I am a Rebel.
William

The hype around the presidential debate at Ole Miss next week has set me to thinking about a lot of things. I have over the last few years attended games in Oxford regularly, and listened each time to a watered down version of "Dixie" played by The Pride Of The Southland Band. For years, I have held that they should play it right or not play it at all. A few weeks ago something in my heart changed. I am not sure where the change came from but it was for me a fundamental change. This time when the announcer said "Now listen to 'From Dixie With Love'." it became the right song for this time in history. For those who do not know "From Dixie With Love" is a medley number that combines "Dixie" with "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic". I grew up with the old stile "Dixie" being played at Ole Miss games but, on this Saturday, I realized that I grew up in the old stile Dixie.

There are some who would have us do away with "Dixie" altogether, but I can't let go of music that was played during our national championship seasons. The song that lead John Vought , Jake Gibbs and hundreds of others onto the field cannot be written off completely. However we can no longer disregard the feeling that Deuce McAlester, thefamily of Chucky Mullins, and more hundredsof others

If we are going to ask "ARE YOU READY' we must ask are we all ready and we must be ready together.

A statue of a Confederate solder stands near the administration building on the Ole Miss campus. on the opposite side there stands a statue of James Meredith. They are part of our history. Nether can or should be ignored. The statue of the solder is one of a man standing still. The statue of Meredeth is on of a man moving forward. I do not believe that it dishonors our past to see that the future of who we are lies with the one moving forward.

Sleepy Sunday 9-14

We are setting around the house this afternoon slipping off to sleep in front of the T V. We do that a lot on Sunday, and look forward to it. At our house Saturdays are usually hectic, and it is especially so this time of year. We are among that special group of people that are blessed to be Ole Miss football fans. Seven Saturdays in the fall are set apart for a chosen few who understand the importance of being there. I say "few" but it doesn't seem like a few while I'm walking two miles to get back to my car after the game. It is a special place and we have special times there, good friends and true fellowship that, win or lose, make the drive to Oxford worth it. I come away every time with a puzzle in my heart and mind, I have heard that there are people in the world that do not want to be in Oxford, Mississippi on Saturday afternoons in the fall. This I do not understand.

YIC

William

Where Have You Been

I guess a lot of you have asked, where has this guy been? And that is a good question. I just wish I had a good answer.
One thing that is true is, I have had to pray about, and rethink, what FCAWAM was to look like. That is, what it is to be. I think the LORD has given me some direction to get started but like Abraham, I am heading to places I'm not sure of. Also, like Abraham, I am finding that no matter where I go, God has already been there.
I have had so many great things to share and God has put so much on my heart but for some reason I've not been able to sit down and write it out. Some reason, I know the reason, if I'm honest about it. It is writers block.
What is writers block? I'm not sure. Some say there is no such thing, but I know better. I know better because I suffer from it. It can be described as a case of debilitating laziness. Laziness that is so deep and pain full that it keeps some of us from taking one finger and pressing one key on a keyboard. So, kind people, you see that if you get no post from me it is not my fault. It is the writers block that holds me back.
I will get regular with my post and keep regular, and I pray that you all will keep me accountable.
Anna and I have had some opportunities to minister and God has shown us some direction and I will be sharing those with you in future posts.
For His Glory
William