My dad passed away two years ago.  After serving in World War II, he and my mother raised four children, and he supported the family through his employment as a manager of a prominent jewelry store in Cumberland, Maryland.  At this time of year I can remember him getting geared up for the demands of the holiday retail season:   12 hours per day (9 am to 9 pm), six days a week….from Thanksgiving to Christmas.  Sunday afternoons in December were for using NFL football as a pretext for his simply falling asleep in the recliner.

When I graduated from college, it came as quite a surprise to me that I actually had a TWO-DAY weekend.  My experience with my father’s employment was that “weekends” were simply Sunday events.  What an eye-opener!   It brings to mind what was perhaps the greatest angst of my life as a 9-year-old:   worrying/wondering what would it be like to be working like my father did—Monday to Saturday—and to NOT BE ABLE TO WATCH “THE LONE RANGER” ON TV EVERY SATURDAY AFTERNOON!!  What unspeakable deprivation that seemed like.  How could I ever cope with being a grown-up??Of all the things that I had to do, why did I have to work on Saturdays!!

I haven’t seen “The Lone Ranger” for several decades now.  But for those old enough to remember, we can still conjure up the images of his galloping white horse Silver, of faithful Indian companion Tonto, of “Kemo Sabe” and the silver bullet, and of that incredible music.    Musical purists will insist that the theme music is really “The William Tell Overture”, by Gioachino Rossini; historians also tell us that the William Tell story was likely mythical.   Sounds about right to me….William Tell was myth, but The Lone Ranger was REAL, and the real name of the music, of course, just had to be “The Lone Ranger Theme Song”.

I had a similar musical experience the other evening while searching the 800 channels on my DishTV line-up and looking for something to watch.   I had had my fill of Barack McCain and Sarah Biden—they all kind of just ran together after a while.   ESPN wasn’t offering much.  North East Southwestern Tech was playing somebody, and the announcers were breathless in describing the BCS implications.  And then……finally…….. I found a movie I like—“The Gladiator”.     It did not take long though, before the musical experience of the movie began to overtake the movie itself.   As I watched, something struck me as slightly incongruous.  The movie was “The Gladiator”, but the music they were playing reminded me of the Maryland Football Highlight Film.   I saw Maximus, and there was likely some Roman dude named Darrius somewhere, but where was the real Darrius—Darrius Heyward-Bey?   Where was Jaimie Thomas?   Where was Moises Fouku, and Obi, and Dan Gronk, and Da’Rel?    It was MARYLAND MUSIC that we have heard so often……and seen in the “agony of defeat” post-defeat locker room images—only to then be followed by the triumphant music of the conquering gladiator, of our conquering Terps. 

Our 2008 football season has certainly had this “Gladiator” musical accompaniment.  Moments of gut-wrenching disappointment.   Even MORE moments of sheer joy—Danny’s catches at Clemson and clutch hands vs. Cal, Kevin’s hit, Obi’s FG against the Wolfpack, the domination of Wake.  There is more to come, and especially more THRILL OF VICTORY.   Savor the role that you play in this.  MGN membership numbers remain very strong.  The committed remain committed.  The faithful have not lost the faith.  It has not been easy, but that makes the satisfaction even more pleasant.

Thank you for your continued loyalty to the football program and to MGN—it is the gift that keeps on giving (at least, most of the time).  Thank you for your gifts of both time and treasure.  The economic times are difficult, and your generosity and support are never (repeat, NEVER) taken for granted.  Expenditures are guarded very carefully.   And thanks for showing up on game day….especially on our rainy day games.  Even more importantly, next time bring a friend….and let’s see what we at MGN can do to help build the season ticket base as well.

As always, thanks for your support of MGN.  Many more good things to come in 2009…..we keep doing what we can to keep things fresh.

GO TERPS !!