Best Day Ever!

I have long awaited for this day. I knew there was a good chance it was going to happen this year, but I've been disappointed before. I didn't want to get my hopes up too high! So I'm sure that's why I was feeling nervous. Was this really happening?!?

You may think I'm talking about falling in love or a marriage proposal or maybe even getting pregnant? Nope.

MY CHIEFS ARE IN THE SUPER BOWL!!!!

For longtime fans of the Chiefs Kingdom, Sunday, January 19 was the best day ever! The last time the Chiefs were in the Super Bowl was Super Bowl IV. It's taken 50 years, my entire lifetime and then some, to get to this moment. So yeah, I'm very excited!

I remember in 1986 the Chiefs had their first playoff berth since 1971, and my dad was getting excited. I learned right then that if I wanted to hang out with my dad, I better start watching the games with him. But it wasn't until 1989 when I became a real Chiefs fan. Marty Schottenheimer became the head coach that year. Steve DeBerg was quarterback. Neil Smith and Derrick Thomas were tearing it up on defense. Tim Grunhard, Dave Szott, and Christian Okoye were names I heard often. It was a fun team and hopes were high. But we fell short time and time again. We came close in 1993 with Joe Montana as our quarterback, but lost to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC championship game.

From 2003 - 2017, we made the playoffs 7 times and only won 1 post-season game. Fans were convinced our team was cursed in the playoffs and with good reason! But I remained faithful as a fan and watched them every Sunday. My son, who was born in 2001, watched with me. He learned early how hard it is to be a Chiefs fan. But still we watched, sometimes to the bitter end. 2013 was exceptionally bitter. The Colts were trailing 38–10 after half. Indianapolis scored 35 second half points to overcome a 28-point deficit to win, 45–44, in one of the biggest comeback victories in NFL postseason history. Yes, it has been VERY hard to be a Chiefs fan.

But we all felt the momentum start to shift when Patrick Mahomes became our quarterback. We were one play away, just 4 inches even, from winning the AFC championship game last year. Heart-breaker!! The campaign to go all the way started at that very moment - with the team and the fans.

Everything started to line-up perfectly this year. We won the AFC West for the fourth year in a row. We got a first-round bye as the two-seed for the second year in a row. We launched our own comeback victory by scoring 28 points in the 2nd quarter to beat the Texans 51-31. And since the 6th seed Titans eliminated the 1st seed Ravens, we played the AFC Championship game at Arrowhead. And we won. WE WON!!! We finally slayed our playoff dragons. The Lamar Hunt Trophy now resides at Arrowhead.

Super Bowl 54 is going to be exciting! Chiefs vs. 49ers. My son and I will be watching with my dad. He's the reason that I am, and always will be, a Chiefs fan. I can't think of anywhere else that I'd rather be to watch the game.

So tell me.... How 'bout those CHIEFS!?!?!?!?!

#ThanksGP

It's the end of an era.

Coach Gary Pinkel resigned as head football coach of the Mizzou Tigers a few weeks ago due to health reasons. The team played inspired for their coach on November 14 at Arrowhead against BYU. But the last two games were very typical of this lackluster season ending with a loss to rival Arkansas on November 27. Final record of 5-7. We were invited to a bowl game (yes, even with a losing record) but declined because we're in the middle of a coaching search. Season done.

This is definitely not how I thought the season would go. And I'm sure it's definitely NOT how Coach Pinkel thought his last season would go. But I'm not going to remember him for this season. Not at all. Do you know why?

I remember when the Tigers always had a losing season. Bob Stull was the head coach when I was a student at Mizzou. We were lucky if we had one win. Larry Smith was the next coach. He wasn't much better, but we did have two winning seasons. We went to the Holiday Bowl in 1997 and the Insight.com Bowl in 1998 under his watch. That was pretty exciting and new. Bowl games were not a regular thing. They were a gift.

Gary Pinkel was hired in 2000. His first few seasons were really rough. It probably wasn't until 2005 when we won the Independence Bowl against South Carolina that Mizzou football became exciting.

Winning seasons became a regular thing and bowl games were expected....which is why this season is so bittersweet.

But I remember...

• beating Nebraska in 2003 for the first time in 24 years.
• being the number 1 team in the nation!
• playing back to back Big 12 Championships (and I went to both games).
• our team becoming the "Beast from the East" of the SEC.
• remember earning that title again!

Coach Pinkel put Mizzou football on the map. He has the most wins as a coach of all time earning that with the Cotton Bowl victory in 2014. When I watch Monday Night Football, I look forward to hearing NFL players say they went to the University of Missouri. You make me proud as a football fan and fellow tiger.

Thank you, Coach, for all of the memories you have provided for me and my family. You're the only coach my kids have ever known. You are Mizzou football to them. Your many accomplishments will remain in our hearts forever.

With every ending there is a new beginning! Thank you for bringing Barry Odom back to Mizzou! You know, you kinda hand-picked your successor. How cool is that? Now that the new coach has been named, I'm looking forward to the future. Go Tigers!

"And a bully for ol' Mizzou!"

Twas The Night Before Kickoff 2014

A couple of years ago, I wrote this poem to commemorate Mizzou's inaugural season in the SEC. I made a little update for 2014.

Twas the night before kickoff and in every house
not a fan was sleeping, just ask their spouse.

The coolers were packed full of bratwurst and beer.
It's almost September and football is here.

We're choosing our outfits, our black and our gold,
I swear this excitement will never get old.

The buses will stop, the team will unload.
They'll be fired up, ready to explode.

On Sasser! On Murphy! On Ray and Mauk!
On Golden! On Boehm! We're ready to rock!

The cannon will fire, the band starts to play,
the stands will be full, it's finally game day!

Every True Son exclaims all through The Zou
Fight Tigers, Fight for ol' Mizzou! 

College Colors Day!

It's the most wonderful time of the year! It's the day before the first football game. Campus is full of excited students. Everyone is wearing black and gold for College Colors Day. Mizzou is full of team spirit, and I love it! Football season is finally HERE!

To celebrate, I'm in black and gold from my head to my toes. Literally!

And my office mates and I entered a door decorating contest sponsored by the MU Staff Advisory Council. I had college flashbacks of pomping floats. I think it turned out great! Now if we can just preserve it for the rest of the year. And hopefully we'll win the prize! Voting will start on Monday on Facebook!

Mizzou-RAH!

'Tis the Night Before The Championship

On the eve of the SEC Championship game, I felt inspired to write about it. It's been an incredible ride this year! I couldn't be more proud of my team. Mizzou-rah!

'Tis the night before the championship and all through Mizzou Nation.
The fans are not sleeping, we're full of elation!

Our black and our gold is ready to wear;
And our hearts are in Atlanta (man, I wish I was there).

All through the media there has been such a clatter!
I flipped on the TV to see what was the matter.

We've had quite a season and shocked quite a few
Last year was depressing, conference winnings just two.

But we've won the SEC East and oh, so much more.
We've earned their respect, our team can't be ignored.

"Now Franklin, Now Josey, Now Sam and Bonner!
On Wilson, On Copeland, On Washington, and Ponder!

Go DGB, Sasser, Sam and Gaines!
And don't forget Pinkel!" the fans all exclaim.

We're in this together, everyone is with you.
So go and fight Tigers, fight for ol' Mizzou!