Maybe not for good--not yet, anyway...
But for the last coupla minutes last night in Columbia (after a mainly EXCRUCIATING 58 minutes preceding it) we got to recall what an absolute BLAST Saturday night in the SEC can BE!!!
And yes; This time all that stuff Billy had to say about "this team", their dedication and mutual support, how much they cared and committed accordingly, THIS time you could see it, FEEL it--you could take it to the BANK:
It made all the difference.
We are still "a work in progress", make no mistake. We are not "THERE" yet, by any means.
But those "fruits of their labors" are definitely made real and tangible in just this way.
So now we go back to reality--back to work.
A well-timed, much-needed bye-week, then in 2 weeks--Georgia in J-ville.
I'm not even gonna begin TALKNG about that one yet--except to acknowledge what a tall order even squaring up and going into it with total commitment and positive attitude, ironically enough, will probably be harder for US, the FANS, rather than the young players, whom at least for the moment are likely so bought into their belief in EACH OTHER that the main trick will be to allow them to somehow hold ONTO that connection--let the energy continue to build and flow along and through it somehow these next two weeks.
But all that, whatever they do and however they manage it, is for team and Coaches to design and pull off as they see fit from here forward.
For now, we can actually catch our breath, turn the page and look forward with some trepidation, yes, but with some pride and excitement too.
And MAYBE in months, years ahead we will be able to look back on this "Sunday after that big 4th quarter comeback on the road against the Gamecocks", when our imagined and once DREAMED OF "return to the top of the CFB World" was made real and whole after all.
But for the last coupla minutes last night in Columbia (after a mainly EXCRUCIATING 58 minutes preceding it) we got to recall what an absolute BLAST Saturday night in the SEC can BE!!!
And yes; This time all that stuff Billy had to say about "this team", their dedication and mutual support, how much they cared and committed accordingly, THIS time you could see it, FEEL it--you could take it to the BANK:
It made all the difference.
We are still "a work in progress", make no mistake. We are not "THERE" yet, by any means.
But those "fruits of their labors" are definitely made real and tangible in just this way.
So now we go back to reality--back to work.
A well-timed, much-needed bye-week, then in 2 weeks--Georgia in J-ville.
I'm not even gonna begin TALKNG about that one yet--except to acknowledge what a tall order even squaring up and going into it with total commitment and positive attitude, ironically enough, will probably be harder for US, the FANS, rather than the young players, whom at least for the moment are likely so bought into their belief in EACH OTHER that the main trick will be to allow them to somehow hold ONTO that connection--let the energy continue to build and flow along and through it somehow these next two weeks.
But all that, whatever they do and however they manage it, is for team and Coaches to design and pull off as they see fit from here forward.
For now, we can actually catch our breath, turn the page and look forward with some trepidation, yes, but with some pride and excitement too.
And MAYBE in months, years ahead we will be able to look back on this "Sunday after that big 4th quarter comeback on the road against the Gamecocks", when our imagined and once DREAMED OF "return to the top of the CFB World" was made real and whole after all.
