It has been a while since I have been to a game in person. Back in the day, I would swing entire seasons – using the NFL schedule as an excuse to hang out in different cities and explore the sights all the while following my beloved Rams.
As I’ve grown older, I’ve really come to enjoy the view from the living room. A big TV, high definition, the hydrocephalic man who invariably blocks 30% of my view at certain games noticeably absent. There is a lot of hassle of going to the games. The travel, the parking, the security screening, the fencing, the railing, the ticket checkers, the ushers, the obnoxious guy taking the selfie in the aisle you need to go down.
Lots of energy is used up just to get to the stadium.
But there is something magical about being at the stadium when you finally arrive.
Its about the way the helmets look in real life. The way the lights or the sun hits them which triggers fond memories from childhood. It’s about getting in early and getting the pulse of the team. Hanging out in the tunnel or nearby where the players come out and see whose attention I can get throwing out a random line plucked from the media guide.
I was very curious about this team.
I followed (literally) the greatest show closely knowing that you don’t beat teams by 20 points week in week out. Its not normal. Its an “outlier” and when it happens, you better pay attention because it won’t last. But those great teams (1999, 2001) had a way about them. Some will point to the swagger, the style, the offensive brilliance with which they played.
But I saw something different.
What struck me the most about those great teams was that I saw players who truly appeared to love one another and who were embracing the joy of playing the game at such a high level.
It was interesting to note that a few of the players talked about this at the 15 year anniversary celebration on the 1999 team held in St. Louis in 2014. Most notably WR Christopher Thomas. He played for 4 teams in 6 seasons in the NFL. He was also the unknown member of the WR room for the 1999 and 2000 Rams.
During the great celebration a few years ago, Christopher Thomas shared how even he, as basically a journeyman receiver in a room full of all time greats – Holt, Bruce, Proehl and special players like Az Hakim, felt and was embraced as one of the family. How in playing for the other teams, it was never that way. That the Rams truly had something special and close that few teams have.
Chemistry is a funny thing.
One may never know what becomes the catalyst for something great.
What causes something magical to suddenly appear.
One year ago today (its 12/04/2017 here in Arizona as I type this), the LA times delivered a gigantic gut punch to this fan:
December 4, 2016: “Jeff Fisher isn't going anywhere, signing two-year extension, and neither are Rams, who fall to 4-8”
One year ago, we were 4-8 and Jeff Fisher was one game from tying Dan Reeves as the losingest coach in NFL History.
He was given a two year extension.
H.T.F?!!! do you grant a two year extension under these circumstances???!
Fortunately, it turns out the extension was granted before the season started and someone had apparently leaked the news following the loss to the Patriots.
The resulting media firestorm started in motion a tremendous series of events.
Jeff Fisher was fired.
Bones was retained in the position as interim coach. A nod to how his special teams were a shining beacon on this team.
Following the season, an announcement was made:
January 12, 2017, Rams Hire 30 year old Sean McVay.
January 12? Isn’t that the date the Rams moved back to LA from StL? (1/12/2016)
January 12? Isn’t that the day Owner Dan Reeves, in 1946 moved the Rams from Cleveland to LA (1/12/46) exactly 70 years prior to them returning from St L.
January 12 appears to be an important date in our history (also in mine, its my mom’s birthday).
From afar, listening to McVay, researching his history, it was readily apparent to almost anyone paying attention that this guy had something special.
But how does even the most special coach – at age 31 when the season started – turn around the train wreck which has been the rams for the past 14 years?
Apparently, Sean McVay understands chemistry.
He jettisoned nearly the entire coaching staff. Understanding his strength is the offense, he wisely keeps Bones whose special teams were elite even in the down years. He hires the Son of Bum to run his defense, understanding that wherever this guy goes, results will follow.
As I stood in the tunnel and saw Coach Kromer and Coach Olson come out with their respective units, I realized that Coach McVay truly is following the blueprint set out in Bill Walsh’s book “The Score Takes Care of Itself”. This is a book he calls most the influential of his career (a great read or listen for anyone who wants to dig deeper into Coach McVay’s thought process) built on the philosophy that you surround yourself with the best people, and you let them do their jobs.
I looked closely at the players as they walked on to the field.
The body language was different. The players steps were different. The camaraderie was different. This team was different from the many previous seasons I had watched.
My nervousness I usually have before every game evaporated as I stood in the tunnel.
This team is having fun.
They are enjoying the game.
It is so clear from up close and watching the players interacting with each other that they share some of the same characteristics of those great teams from many years ago.
The love, the camaraderie, but most importantly, their joy of the game.
Not too long ago, I heard Rodger Saffold talk about the stories he heard about the GSOT teams when he first got to the Rams. How the players from that era would talk glowingly about how they loved to come to work even to practice. It was a sensation that was foreign to him. He concluded by saying now after all of these seasons, he finally understands what they meant.
The last guy to enter the stadium was the old man himself. Coach Phillips. The guy is as chilled as they come, giving all the fans in the tunnel high fives as he walked on to the field. It was clear that he too was having fun.
As I left to my seats, I thought of my friend Julian who I met on this board. Known by his board name of “Ungulate”, we met at many games during the dark years including several games in Arizona. Julian died a few years back, well before his time and I knew if he was still with us, how much he would enjoy this season.
I thought of Bucky and TonyHunter87, neither of whom I ever met but loved to interact with them on this board. I wished they were still with us and hoping that they could still see or feel what was happening with the Rams.
By the time I had arrived at my seats, I had finally shed the losers mentality that I have carried with me for so many years.
The fear of other teams, the dread of going to Seattle, or facing a streaking Saints team. The thought of taking on the Eagles or having the wheels fall off of our 9-3 start. The hope that some other team knocks off the team in front of us rather than us taking care of our own business.
Those thoughts are for losers.
The Rams, with 9 wins, literally are winners. They are about to smash through Rams43’s lofty prediction of 10 wins with 3 regular season wins remaining after that.
But its more than that.
The players I saw up close today are winners. They have fully bought in and they are having the time of their life.
The have that look that I haven’t seen for nearly a decade and a half.
So on a day where we didn’t play our best football, I looked up and saw a final score that said the Rams had scored 32 points and held their opponent to half of that.
You know who does that on a day where they play their C+ game?
Winners do.
As I move into the second leg of my three game “bury the birds” tour (cards, eagles, seahawks), I carry no apprehension or fear but only excitement.
As I left the stadium following our win, that glorious winners walk back to the car, so many ram fans were streaming out but I didn’t see any who appeared to be feeling the excitement like I was.
Just yards later, we turn a corner and come upon group of about 15 rams fans just buzzing with the same energy I was feeling.
Nothing needed to be said as they saw me and my family decked out in defensive Rams Jerseys ( #26, #20, #52, #99)
I raised my fist ala Robert Quinn and all of them immediately erupted with the same unbridled enthusiasm that I was feeling.
As we approached closer, I let out the feeling that was just itching to get out:
“BRING ON THE %U#K&*G! EAGLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”The group of Ram Fans went bezerk and immediately joined in with similar proclamations.
So as I travel to LA next week, I carry with me an excitement that I haven’t felt in so long.
The feeling that this ride is going to go on for some time . .
.
The feeling that – as Kurt Warner titled his book – ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!
So as I browse the many wonderful feelings which are shining through on this great Ram Board tonight, I leave you with this final thought:
“BRING ON THE %U#K&*G! EAGLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
