Always great to see former students. David Webster came by last week to visit my new office. He was in my last senior English class last May. He was a good student. He is an even better guy. He wrote a poem about the squat rack in the weight room. An apparatus that damaged me greatly in 1983, I was able to make peace with it after reading David’s thoughtful and inspiring poem. I had him autograph a copy of the poem for me. I took him down to the weight room for a “photo shoot”. It was a great time. One that both of us remember fondly. That is my NH Football line on the wall. There is a theatre line as well, from the year I was the drama club sponsor, and we put on a couple nice plays. One of them was The Great Gatsby.

I attended the Corydon @ North Harrison JV Football Game on Monday. I have been telling folks if you hang around this game long enough you will still be surprised at times. It went like this: Corydon attempted what looked to be about a 33-yard field goal. The Panther kicker gives it a good poke. The kick looked a little left and a little short. I know this field. The ref behind the goalpost HAD to of lost it in the sun. He deferred to two refs watching around mid-field. They looked at each other, as if to ask if either one of them was watching. They both raised their arms to signal that the kick was good. 10-0 is now the score. The kicker from Corydon came over to the bench, grabbed his kickoff tee and looked at his buddies on the sideline, “I didn’t make that thing.” Then he ran on to the field to kick off. At halftime I could hear the Panther players and coaches laughing about the whole episode. This was a first for me.

I was there for Indiana’s beat down on Western Illinois last week. I am not sure how much a team can accomplish in a game that, at one point, featured 21 first downs to 0. 406 yards to 24. Is that going to prepare you for UCLA?

Coach Cig cracks me up. He talked like going to The Rose Bowl to play a game was something of insignificance. The way he talks you’d think he was there when Princeton played Rutgers in 1869 and knew what they were doing wrong. That was the first college football game.

I really want to believe Indiana is ready for UCLA. The Bruins have a quarterback named Ethan Garbers. Indiana has not seen the likes of Ethan Garbers. Indiana’s offensive line has not seen what they are in for with the UCLA defensive front. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke had to be way too creative in the self-preservation category against FIU in game one.

Yes, I want to believe the Hoosiers are ready.

The Hoosiers have their chance to do it for real this Saturday. I have been to that “old stadium” as Coach Cig has referenced it.

I have seen the USC-UCLA game twice in The Rose Bowl. And I spent a little personal time on the field when the “old stadium” was empty. The place is different. It is not just some old stadium.

Hoosier football fans have bought into more optimism than anyone, save Chicago Cubs fans. Believe me, I know all about it.

All these Bruin promos are courtesy of emails I receive from UCLA, except the ones with helmets. I thought it was cool and I just lifted it.

Northern Illinois let us know there are still real college football teams out there.

Thirty-two years ago this week, The Moody Blues played with a symphony orchestra for the first time at Red Rocks Ampitheatre outside of Denver. 1992 was the 25th anniversary of The Moodies’ groundbreaking album Days of Future Passed. We were amazed they were still at it. Nineteen years later, my dear wife, Carrie, and I saw them play Red Rocks for the last time in 2011. They were scheduled to play there in 2015. Snow had other ideas. The gig was moved to an indoor venue. I was glad. And, as I listen to their album Seventh Sojourn from 1972, I am still glad. I’m glad I found this music. I really think it was given to me.

Speaking the rights.

Danny Johnson