I have to admit. During that game, I just had this terrible feeling that we were not going to hold on. Call it PTSD. Call it Alligator Angst or Swamp Stress. I don't care. It was so damn nerve-wracking. Hell, I felt like we had to win that game 4 times in the last 5 minutes.
But I just knew that I was going to get gut-punched and end up with a broken heart. Without getting into a critique of the refs (which should be a whole other thread), I found myself not able to believe that we would pull this out win. After every "good" play for us, I scanned the field for flags. When we intercepted the ball late in the game (the first interception with less than a minute to go), I was concerned that they might overturn the call and I was convinced that the players running to the south end-zone was going to draw a 15 yard penalty which would put Ole Miss in great scoring position if they overturned the pick.
I didn't like the 3 off-tackle runs the series before when we were trying to run out the clock. I did the math in my head and knew that Ole Miss would get the ball back with a little over a minute left in decent field position. I was just hoping that DJ would fake one of those hand-offs and run outside for 12 yards to end the game. It was wide open. But I have since learned DJ physically could not do it - despite his early runs in the game. I wanted so much to believe we would hang on, but that has not been the reality of the Swamp over the past several years. I just had this dreaded feeling that Ole Miss was going to score with a few ticks left on the clock - take it to OT and beat us -- for a devastating loss. And an increase in the negative noise.
Some of you had to feel the same way.
I have to do better. This team didn't feel that way - I can tell you that. They knew they were going to win. I spoke with a coach last night who said that in those last few minutes, there was zero panic, zero nerves -- just plain ole confidence that we were going to win the damn game. So incredibly proud of this team.
Yesterday, was a nice therapy session for my past trauma. I need more sessions like that.
Go Gators!!!
KC
