FOOTBALL BEGINS. YOUNG MEN GALLOP TERRIBLY.

by Orson on Aug 31, 2006 6:48 PM EDT

The rest of Football Christmas will come tomorrow. As for tonight, let this put you in the key of football:

Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio

In the Shreve High football stadium,
I think of Polacks nursing long beers in Tiltonsville,
And gray faces of Negroes in the blast furnace at Benwood,
And the ruptured night watchman of Wheeling Steel,
Dreaming of heroes.

All the proud fathers are ashamed to go home.
Their women cluck like starved pullets,
Dying for love.

Therefore,
Their sons grow suicidally beautiful
At the beginning of October,
And gallop terribly against each other's bodies.

--James Wright

Football, dammit. Football.

Tweet Comment 20 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Amen.

The first two games of the college season in my home state (Northwestern @ Miami and Minnesota @ Kent) kick off in about 40 minutes.

by DevilGrad on Aug 31, 2006 6:57 PM EDT reply actions

we’re just a half hour away. and it’s the Ol’ Ball Coach. Special.

by The Big Picture on Aug 31, 2006 6:58 PM EDT reply actions

wonder if people dislike sylvester croom in Mississippi because he’s bla…err, not a great coach yet.

by The Dish on Aug 31, 2006 7:00 PM EDT reply actions

I know it’s not football, but I feel like I have to point out that Bill Mazeroski is a Tiltonsville Polack.

by strangebrew on Aug 31, 2006 7:04 PM EDT reply actions

Sniff

Awful dusty in here…ain’t it?

by Sam on Aug 31, 2006 7:12 PM EDT reply actions

That poem is apt. AAAAPPPPPTTTTT!!!!

by kate on Aug 31, 2006 7:14 PM EDT reply actions

holy hell, that picture is of my alma mater, lewis and clark college, we had to cut our season short last year as only 20ish players were on the roster.

by mfdoom on Aug 31, 2006 7:16 PM EDT reply actions

Can you see it? I guess you can’t…it was a tear, running down my face. Damn how I love College Football.

by Stockman on Aug 31, 2006 7:47 PM EDT reply actions

Ummm, I wouldn’t want to be the SC QB after that first play of the season. I can’t imagine the old ball coach is too happy about that 1 ’n out.

by Lucas on Aug 31, 2006 8:05 PM EDT reply actions

I’m surpised the Visored One didn’t drop dead of a stroke after that wonderful play.

by Chuck on Aug 31, 2006 9:07 PM EDT reply actions

Statistic of the season so far- on the Central Michigan squad, 22 out of 108 players are DBs.

by italiangator on Aug 31, 2006 9:30 PM EDT reply actions

is it just me or is this USC-MSU game taking FOREVER? or has it just been that long since football has been on? Happy football christmas everyone, it’s been a long time coming.

by J on Aug 31, 2006 10:17 PM EDT reply actions

God, all those people have is football. Are you suggesting something about us?

by Donnie trismegistus on Aug 31, 2006 11:13 PM EDT reply actions

In an earlier post, you mentioned that the worst thing that could happen for your UF-Southern Miss game would be Rece Davis cutting in. So what does it say when ASU is tied at 14 with NORTHERN FREAKING ARIZONA going into the 4th?!?!?!?!

by Mark on Sep 1, 2006 12:23 AM EDT reply actions

I think of Polacks nursing long beers in Tiltonsville,
***Polacks***..think of Pan Zbiikowski
Christmas came 2 days early for me…
MY CYCLONES WON IN OVERTIME AGAINST TOLEDO

by J.J. on Sep 1, 2006 12:34 AM EDT reply actions

J,
Actually, I thought the game was FLYING along – the kickoff was at about 10 after 8 and halftime came at about 9:25. I think it ended right at 3 hours, give or take a few minutes.
That said, I HATE the new time rules.
This “starting the clock after change of possession thing” is going to drive some coach to choke his assistants or starting QB. I am all for speeding up the game, but why, oh why, can’t the NCAA just adopt the NFL rules?!

Oh, and Miss State may have the worst Division I offense I have ever seen. Outside of their Freshman RB Dixon, there isn’t a lot of talent there.
Sly has his work cut out for him.

Go Cocks!

by GamecockTony on Sep 1, 2006 8:11 AM EDT reply actions