Thursday, April 29, 2010

Tryouts Are Over

I find out in a couple days whether I made it or not. I don't really want to get into the tryouts themselves right now, but let's hope everything went well in the coaches eyes and I'll update as soon as I know my fate!

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Thank You

I believe some thank-yous are in order for help along the way to get to tryouts tomorrow. Without you guys, I wouldn't be able to even attempt this, and for that I am eternally appreciative.

In no particular order whatsoever, thank you:

Mom, Dad, Marykay, Matt, Kristen, Josh Hawley (beast), Natalie Daurio, Colleen O'Hara, Chris Jarmon, Rich Teesdale, Jordan Adams, Phil Daughton, Mike Daly, Coach Luther, the guys at WAER, Sham Kala-kadima, Danny Fersh, Daniela Bianchi, everyone at NFL Films, the guy that broke my ankle, Sean Haley, Dr. Puleo, anyone who read the blog at any point, offered me support or advice, and anyone else that I am forgetting THANK YOU!!!

Tomorrow is time to ball..wish me luck everybody.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Last Workout Before Tryouts: Done

So that's it. It's all over. Nothing to do now but sit around and wait until tryouts on Monday.

7 months of work, and there's nothing I can really do to change anything at this point, and it's strange. I began to plan my day tomorrow a couple different times, and had to stop myself. Kinda funny that it's turned into a bit of a compulsion...not that compulsions are funny in general, just this one...

I hope I'm on the cusp of something great. I know how corny it sounds, but I do believe in miracles.

So it's 1 a.m. and I'm sitting around not going out again all weekend so I'm well rested and stuff. I'll have some more today before tryouts, I'm sure, but right now it's just strange that I'm at this point- you kind of daydream about what it's going to be like down the line when you're doing this, and what you're going to be thinking about, and it wasn't like this...I don't really know what it was like, but it wasn't like this. I guess I kind of figured I would turn into some sort of beast throughout this and be a machine of sorts, and I don't know, I still just sorta feel like me. Beastlier maybe...but just like me.

Not that this is bad...I'm definitely ready to go, although I think I always find problems and holes in what I've done. I'm rambling. I'm going to bed. Tomorrow I'm doing the post-game show for the SU Lacrosse game on WAER as well as an NFL Draft special at 7 as well. Tune in for more coherent, organized ramblings.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

7 Days Left

I've been putting myself through 2-a-days for the most part this past week, since I don't want to skimp on the lifting because we'll be tested on that, but I also need to get in better running shape. I'm exhausted, but I feel good about the progress that I'm making and the effort that I'm putting in.

This thing isn't about playing football anymore, for me. Absolutely, I'm doing this for the love of the game, and I can't think of anything cooler than being able to finish up my time at Syracuse playing football for a team that is going places a lot faster than most people think, don't get me wrong. I want nothing more in the world than that.

But I really, at this point, after months of working for this, (see previous posts) just want to see what I'm made of. Sure, win or lose here, I can walk away proud of what I've done, but I didn't do all this to not make the team. I didn't do it to walk away and say, hey, I tried really hard, but it just didn't work out. This is about setting a goal (even if it's grandiose and borderline bat-sh-t crazy) and doing everything in your power to get to it. It's about second chances for guys that didn't do things the right way when good things were there for them picking themselves up and doing it the right way from there on out. Learning discipline and toughness.

I'll be working myself to the brink this week in final preparation. I know I won't stack up as well as some guys on certain things, but I'll be there from an effort standpoint.

Watching the Spring Game was surreal, exciting, and somewhat infuriating since I wanted to be on the field so bad. We'll find out soon enough whether that will be the case or not.

Priceless

So I'm in on a Saturday night for the first time in a long time- about to go to bed here nice and early and wake up early for a run. Did the same thing last night, look at me go...

Anyway, in my random Internet searchings to keep me busy this evening I found this priceless bit of humor... priceless if you are familiar with the venerable Emmitt Smith and his on-air strugglings. I was crying from laughing so hard. Enjoy.

http://walterfootball.com/draft2010emmitt.php


Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Less than 2 weeks to go

And I am frrrrrrrrrreaking out! In a good way though I guess- my roommate Josh said it best, if you actually feel good about what you're doing, you've probably lost a bit of your edge- it's best to feel like you're failing, so you work harder...that's paraphrased from sweaty gym-talk.

I've heard some things here and there about what happens during the tryouts, and what I would be expected to do in terms of working out, and I gotta be honest, I'm a little nervous. I'm not sure (pretty damn not sure) that I'll stack up well with the other guys, but we'll see.

2 years ago I weighed 135 lbs. 1 year ago I weighed 150. I now weigh 180 and have worked harder at this than anything I've ever worked at before, and I'm not embarrassed to say it. It's not uncool to really try at something, whether it fails or succeeds. Hell, I only started benching 9 months ago, then lost two straight months to the ankle thing, so we're talking about 7 months of benching and I can do a pretty damn good amount for that kind of period. I'm assuming the other guys will have been doing this throughout high school football and the like, so I dunno.

I do know that I'll outwork them if given the opportunity. Why? Because I'm a sick, sick bastard. I love the pain, and I love to work.

I've amped up all efforts for the final push here, then am taking like 2 days off before tryouts to let the body recoup. For example, tomorrow is all-cardio day, and I'm doing two workouts, one after class is over, then one later on at night. To hell with the ankle, which continues to swell and be a pain in the ass. Screw the blood blisters that cover the bottom of both of my feet. It's go time.

Pray for me, I'm gonna need it.