Last [Game] Day of the Year

It’s the last day of year. Our last football game for 2020.

The last game of a season that always felt one dreaded phone call away from cancellation.

The boys took their last COVID test (at least for this semester) which I know felt pretty darn terrific!!

I won’t write long – I have an important game to get to – but I woke up with these thoughts on my heart…

This game is important.

The game of football. The 9th-but-should-be-14th game of our season.

This bowl game.

There is so much chatter “in the media” about the relevance of bowl games, and by “in the media” I mean every random person with a social media account or video camera and a data plan or Internet connection.

Including me.

In a world where everyone seems compelled to share their every thought and where every comment and every sentence is criticized, spun, and framed to fit another person’s need in that particular moment, even the experts are no longer experts, and I am no different.

But I am close to college football. I am blessed to be a coach’s wife, and I have the treasured role of being an extra momma to a legion of incredible young men who’ve touched our lives over the past 25 years, so here is my take:

I think this game is really important.

Not because it’s a “must win” – truly, that phrase and concept is a bunch of bunk!

And not because “it’s the next game on our schedule” – honestly, that’s just coach-speak.

It’s important because it’s an opportunity.

Today is a Gift

2020 has reminded us that nothing is promised. We’ve rediscovered that things we took for granted or felt forced to do in our routine of life are not “have to” do’s but rather “get to” do’s.

My boys were blessed to take three to four COVID tests a week for the past 5 months because it meant they got to play football.

I was lucky that every one of our games aired on ESPN or ABC which meant I got to watch every single snap even though I didn’t go to any out of town games until today.

This bowl trip was a two-night stay complete with renting out Joe T. Garcia’s for dinner and showing a movie in the hotel versus the usual week-long stay of work-ation complete with outings and activities hosted by the bowl committee; this is a wonderful praise because it means they get to experience this bonus ballgame.

That’s what each bowl game represents: a reward.

A bowl trip is a fun, festive, final touch to a fabulous year.

A bowl game is one last chance to suit up, go to battle with your family by your side, and build each other up.

I see a lot of relevance in that.

Football, school, work, church, hobbies, friends, family…none of them are guaranteed.

As I enjoy this last [game] day of the year – gladly and proudly cheering for my boys while standing in 38° rain – I encourage you to be still, notice the beauty around you, embrace the gift of today, be present in this moment, choose joy and kindness, and give the people in your life all of your love and hugs,

Ashli