Traditionally, this is bar-none the worst day of my year. It's even worse than my annual trip to the free clinic. Vandy scares the shit out of me, always have, and always will. Even in recent years, when Vandy has moved into the realm of respectability, there's nothing to be gained by beating them, and everything to be lost by losing. Both of our national championships have come through nailbiters at Vandy, and the overtime game a few years ago was a torture that I wouldn't wish on Donald Rumsfeld himself. Actually, I would, but whatever, fuck that guy.
Today is no different. We've got 3 healthy defensive linemen. Not 3 healthy starters. 3. Total. We've thrown a true freshman offensive lineman over there, which may be the best move of the year, but it still says alot about the state of the defense right now. Major Wright is still going to be playing with a club on his hand, Tebow's nursing his shoulder, and little Brandon James is getting the start at tailback. Throw in a Vandy defense that has given up the least amount of TDs in the conference this year, and this game is beautifully set up for me to commit hari-kiri around 3:45.
But still, it's Vandy. I expect to win (well, I always expect to win- kind of like Luke Skywalker. But that motherfucker got his hand cut off, so you never know.). Throw in the fact that T.S. Noel is bearing down on the Boston area right now, which means it's going to seem like the end of the world outside mid-afternoon, and so god help me if it seems like the end of the world inside too. Just wish I had my boy PL3 to help put things in perspective, with gems like 'I can't have this on my conscious.'
No conscious? No problem.
In the end though, it's Homecoming. I love homecoming: crappy comics, half-hearted and watered-down skits, old alumni plying the young folk with Crown Royal, it all spells a good time. Hopefully the players will appreciate it as well, it's been over a month since the last game at home, and that one didn't end so well either. So let's hope everything rights itself today, and my drinking straight from the whiskey bottle will be done out of joy rather than anger. Because remember kids, you don't ever want to do drugs out of anger. Do drugs out of hope and joy. Just like the baby Jesus. What, you think frankincense is just an aromatic? Sheeeeeit.