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There he was, Buck Hankmeyer, straight from Malibu Beach or thereabouts in California, all West Coast, Surfin’ Safari and Hollywood and the chilled life, the California kid, just arriving from the other side of America, just in time for us, a concerned football fanbase.
There he was, taking a few steps back last night in Winston-Salem, a place remarkably different from all things California Kid-like, quick releasing to a receiver cutting to the sideline looking all Dan Marino-esque, whipping fireballs.
Say hello to the new kid from a far-away town. The California kid. Buck Hankmeyer, firing touchdown passes, lifting our spirits that this will the greatest football ride of our Wake Forest fandoms, bringing us what we need more than all other things – hope.
The dude is our new quarterback. Kid California, the West Coast Whirler, Dan Isotoner Gloves Quick Release Bullet Marino Buck Hankmeyer, chucking five or maybe more touchdown passes.
This our eyes tasted last night. I was there sweating and wondering if the humidity was more fierce than the Sun at high noon, asking myself if I sweat more than anyone else.
Wolfed down a Dominoes Pizza pre-game. Tasted just as delicious as the Dominoes we would eat at 2:57 am on weekends in Kitchen Dorm next to the Quad back in the early eighties. What doesn’t change, if it’s good, tells us life has its privileges.
Sweltering like a shaggy dog in New Orleans in June, I had to sit resting my back against a wall and that didn’t help when the guy in front stood up so I couldn’t analyze the delayed run pass option mesh. The self-absorbed guy made me stand because I’m fascinated with the fake handoff and bullet pass and didn’t want to look at his sweaty back and oversized backside. I wanted to see if I could figure out how many defenders our QB was looking off before deciding whether to hand it off or pass.
Before the game I noticed Taylor Morin and he looked stronger in the legs than last season. It appeared as if he’d spent four hours a day in offseason beefing up, which we all hope he actually did because he’s a key player who can help us win the national title.
He ran a punt back 73 yards for a TD and I thought to myself there my not be a higher achieving Wake Forest student/athlete in the history of the precious and incomparable university.
As an undergraduate he finished with a 3.9 grade point average which is more impressive an academic achievement than anything I’ve ever heard of. It implies he got an A in Freshman English Composition – a rarity at Wake — while also being a whiz in engineering, his major. Now he’s getting his MBA from Wake where, it’s safe to assume, he’s getting another avalanche of As and shining brightly, which is all this guy does.
One day we’ll hear about him leading some Amazon-like tech company or something else that takes enormous work ethic and brainpower. He told me last year he wants to play in the NFL. I wouldn’t doubt this spectacular young man doing whatever he decides.
I also noticed two new faces on the field, some linebacker from Eastern Illinois or somewhere near there. A big guy who can hit looking like he could play for Penn State or any of those Big 10 or Big 12/14 schools. And a new tight end, number eighty eight or eighty nine, looks like he can run and get open like Travis Swifty. Hopefully Taylor will start coming to the Wake games, stand in press box, watch eight eight/nine play then hold a concert over at the Dixie Fairgrounds across the street from the stadium where we will all sing our lungs out to “Love Story” and dance together as one big family united in a common cause, like-minded and in love.
I also noticed Dylan Bob Hazen has bulked up – probably did four-hour weight sessions with Morin during the off season — which should make him stronger and capable of making even more tackles from his middle linebacker slot. Beefy is he. And after games I don’t think any of us would be shocked if he listens to his spiritual songwriter, Bob Dylan Hazen.
The Demon Deacons are off to a winning start and we should all relish this weekend knowing the undefeated season I predicted a few weeks ago remains intact.
You can imagine it right how. All of us together. And we’ll be joined in this football bliss by the Class of twenty twenty eight Wake students – some 1,000 strong – who ran across the field before the game taking selfies of themselves, having just arrived in college, hopeful as we are that this is the year Wake Forest football does the unthinkable.
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Sammy Sportface, a sports blogger, galvanizes, inspires, and amuses The Baby Boomer Brotherhood. And you can learn about his vision and join this group's Facebook page here:
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