4 Hard Downs: Father-Daughter Weekend, Safety Issues & Combine Starts Today

Busy Week, Busier Weekend Coming & Field/Court Stormings and it is Combine Time

Feb 26, 2024

We are literally on the day of the start combine (interviews and height/weight/medical) and I will do a thing I almost never do in my everyday life that isn’t work; watch TV. Yes, for those of you who listen to Hand In The Dirt (a gardening podcast about football, and really a lifestyle podcast) you already know this. I don’t watch shows, I watch a part of movie on my iPad at night in bed, but I have really stopped watching television.

This week though?

Oh your boy is going to be dug in to the combine. I love it. I’m so excited to watch how guys move, who understood the assignment and who thought they could just show up and everything would be fine. I also do like to measure my wingspan and hands compared to everyone to get a real feel of how big things are, or aren’t.

So after a big weekend, let’s SPOT THE BALL!!!

1st Down: Pre-combine Daddy-Daughter Days

My wife went to a Lady’s Weekend at the Lake this weekend. 4 Ladies. Drinks. Some gummies. A fire. Sushi platter. A good hang.

Me?

I got to hang out with my 5 going on 6 year old and we had a blast. Went to the neighbor’s and played a little baseball. I realized I am terrified of hitting off a tee or hitting fungo to my kid because my wife will kill me if I smash her face up.

However, we did work on the idea of, “the ball can’t hurt you,” as a way to not be scared of the ball. My dad did this with me and my brother, especially my brother who played catcher. Once you realize the ball can’t hurt you, you become invincible.

Get buckwild.

She also learned how a toilet works. Waterline. Why we don’t use a ballcock anymore. The flapper. Fill valve.

So, that’s my Rad Dad for the week.

2nd Down: Beatles Puzzle is Hung Up

Speaking of my wife, her birthday present is complete.

My wife’s father passed before I met her. She just had a major birthday. I got her a puzzle of her father’s favorite album of the group he and her bonded over and then I got it framed.

Me? I hate puzzles. My kid constantly tells me how bad I am at them. My wife and my mother bother are like, “this isn’t for you,” with respect to me just jamming pieces.

Very cool puzzle and she loves it and it is hung in our home.

We are a few months from our 10 year wedding anniversary and this just felt like a great lead off to being in love with my best friend.

3rd Down: Follow Me To Talk Combine

Combine starts today but on Thursday we get to see actual TV action.

I am going to be all in on this Thursday through the weekend so let’s freaking go, folks!!!

4th Down: I Hate Court/Field Storming

Be mad at me for this but listen to why I don’t like it.

I got my face cut open against NC State when our fans stormed the field.

I walked into the lockerroom after fans were hugging and jumping around and had blood on my jersey and pants and my teammates were like, “how did you get hurt, you didn’t play?”

They were right.

I got headbutted by a fan celebrating.

This is a win for UNC and I still got my nose sliced open.

They also stole a bunch of helmets and miscellaneous equipment like coolers and bottles and clipboards.

Gone. Goodbye.

So you show up to practice (again this is my own fans not even the opponents) with no helmet and now, you’re in trouble.

A few weeks later as we were about to beat number four Miami, we course corrected.

Helmets on. Walk strong. Get to the lockerroom to celebrate with each other. Cigars and all, Joe Burrow didn’t start that shit.

Don’t get on the playing surface. The opposing players want to talk to each other. The team who just won wants to celebrate together. The players don’t want to get hurt. The players don’t want you to get hurt. Stay in the stands and go to whatever your version of Franklin Street is at your respective spot.

ItsFelder

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