Sunday sermon: governor or hangman?

Nov 7, 2010, 7:23 AM

Well, ACC ... look who's back!

Yep it's those lovable lunatics from up in the hills of South Carolina. Thought ya got rid of us after that fiasco in Boston last week didn't you?

Truth is, a lot of folks had us dazed and left for dead as we stumbled out of Boston. Don't even show up against Mighty N.C. State. They're destiny child, ordained after beating once-mighty FSU. Don't think so? Then I guess you didn't see the 2010 Wolpfack football media guide, did you?

But...but we're NC State! We're bona-fied!

Certainly we didn't help matters yesterday. Dropping the ball on the deck five times, KP throwing to a wide-open Wuffie defender, more kicking comedy, losing a gorgeous TD to an ill-timed (but entirely correct) holding call, not getting a fumble recovery on an ill-timed, entirely laughable catch interference call.

But here we are, right where we were before our ill-fated adventure in Boston. FSU and NC State and Maryland are a half-game ahead, and it's a sure bet that one of them will fall to us. We still have to win out, including beating an FSU that has proven admirably unable to stop anyone in the past few weeks and a Wake Forest team that Im not even going to worry about now because without the FSU win this is all a meaningless waste of time.

So, we're looking at a prime-time showdown next weekend. On the road. In Tally. in what amounts to a loser-goes- home Indian Strap Match.

Hey Tigers! I'm waiting for you!

So, I'm giving y'all a choice this week. You can moan and whine about how realistically there's no chance for the Tigers against the oh-so-mighty Seminoles. How our offense stinks, how without AE we might as well be arranging deck chairs on the Titanic while the boat's band, Dabo, Napier and Friends toot away on "Nearer My God To Thee."

How high's the water, mama?

Do you really want to go through the week thinking like this? Waiting for a Saturday night date with the hangman? Looking at a fate of woe and doom because you've put yourself into an emotional coffin that offers no other view than the grave you've dug for the team?

Or you can take yesterday's event, for all the bruises and black spots on the apple, as a reprieve, a call from the governor.

Of course y'all know how I see things. And before you join the doomed crowd on the Titanic's Poop Deck, I ask you to look, once again at yesterday's game: not as proof we stink, but as proof that we are called to greater things.

And that perhaps, just perhaps, destiny isn't done with Clemson. How else do you explain the one-handed catch and kick by Zimmerman? How can you view the back-to-back red-zone Wuffie drives that ended in nothing but heartache for State?

How else can a person view the parade of errors on offense, see us emerge with a win over the 23rd ranked team in the country and not think greater forces are at work?

Next Saturday night, comes either the hangman or the governor. Who you see tells a lot about yourself.

Here's what I think: I think ... no I believe, firmly and without pause, that next Saturday, our little ragtag bunch is going to march into Tallahassee. They are going to stroll up to Ol' Chief Osceola's flaming spear, pi$$ the fire out, break it in half and shove the business end up FSU's title hopes.

I believe we are going to win in Tally, in Winston and back home against the Chickens.

You can believe we're doomed if you wish. You can howl about how this team has no shot, that the coaches don't live up to your expectations, that the administration isn't pouring T. Boone Pickens money into the program. You can sit on the deck of your imaginary Titanic and watch the water creep over the rail.

Me? I'm going to sit back and watch the magic about to unfold. I have no doubt. Something special is unfolding before us.

The phone call has already been made. All we have to do is answer it.