Someone once told me that "We only live once, but if we do it right..once is enough", this site tracks my journey as I set out to experience more in an afternoon then most do in a lifetime. To tell the full story I have to back track from 2004 to the present so bare with me as I post the HIGHLIGHTS of the past 8 incredible years....Lets get started!
Duane, Big Zach, Jonney Irons, Me, Bud & Alexandra
The Davidson Boys in Front of the IZOD Center
The Davidson boys made the trek to the Tr-State for the second time in as many years to catch a New York Giants game and celebrate the New Year. It would be hard to top the previous years' epic debauchery that was New Years Eve 2007 but we certainly tried. I will have dive into that in a later post...on to the GIANTS game!! To give you some background, the G-Men came into the game 10-5 and have recently wrapped up the wild card slot in the NFC. More importantly the New England Patriots came into the game with an historic record of 15-0. The Pats were trying to become the fourth team in NFL history to end the regular season undefeated. Since the boys were in town to get another taste of NY, I thought, what better event to attend than a big Giants game in the Meadowlands. The three Davidson pricks (Duane, Big Zach & Bud) and my amazing sister Alexandra bundled up, packed into the Jeep and made the 45 minute trip taking us over the G.W Bridge and into North Jersey. After meeting up with long time friend Jonney "Irons" Kaczka and his college football teammate at Bentley we proceeded to destroy an award winning tailgate spread and as many beverages as we could squeeze in the Cherokee. After partying with some season ticket holders (pics bottom right) and berating every Patriots fan that came in shouting distance we headed into The Giant Stadium.
Alexandra and Me
The Giants Game Crew with some 'Locals'
The game lived up to all expectations as the Giants and Patriots clashed for four quarters of great football. Some of the highlights included 2 touchdown catches by Plaxico Burress, a punt return for a TD by Domenik Hixon and an overall great performance by Eli Manning. Unfortunately, the Pats had some plays that were not only impressive but broke NFL records. Tom Brady broke Peyton Manning's record of 49 touchdown passes in a season and Randy Moss broke Jerry Rice's record of 22 TD receptions. The game went back and forth all night until NE finally sealed the deal for a 38-35 win. It was a tough lose to a great team, but the near victory gave the G-Men the confidence they would need going into the playoffs. Besides the 'instant classic' taking place on the field their were three memories that I will carry away from the Meadowlands. The first was how fricken cold it was in those upper level bleachers while trying to scrape ice off our seats, the second was Big Zach, Bud and I having to protect Duane "easy target southerner " Gregg from being beaten up by some loser Pats fans (who only started talking crap to Duane after the rest of us got up to make a beer run, and promptly stopped upon our return), and third was the overwhelming snowball fight that broke out after every bad call, Giant punt, Giant touchdown and when the final whistle blew. What a night with my sister and some of my best friends in the world, it was one of those games/nights I will never forget.
Me, Duane and Bud
Though the Giants lost it gave them the confidence they needed to win three straight road playoff games (@ Tampa, @ Dallas and @Green Bay) and take down the undefeated Patriots in the Super Bowl. Unbelievable! Check out some highlights below...
It had finally arrived, after fourteen consecutive football seasons, my career had come down to the last eleven games. The time had past too quickly and all I wanted to do was leave the game I love with no regrets and a feeling of accomplishment. My three previous seasons for the Davidson Wildcats were a never ending roller-coaster that went from a torn ACL, to receiving All-American honors, and finally back to the sideline with nerve damage in my left shoulder. Obviously not the way I envisioned my college football career playing out but I knew one thing....I was going to give everything I had to make my Senior football season the most memorable one yet.
Tackle for Loss v. Morehead St
WILDATS BEAT DRAKE!!!
The 2007 Davidson Football season had its high and low points like most season do, but there was something different about my last year of college ball. It was the first time as a member of the Cats that our team had the confidence and swagger to go out and beat any team in the country. Our Offense led by QB Ryan Alexander (broke school passing record for passing), WR's Beaux Jones (son of NFL star Bert Jones with almost as good hands as mine) and Ryan Hubbard (broke school receiving record, not to mention a 40+ inch vertical) were as good as they get and more than most defenses could handle on any given day. The O-Line gave up less then 3 sacks all season...yes all season, RG Zach Jacob and LT George Zoeckler were monsters in the middle and deserve as much credit as anyone for the successful season. The Defense was not made up of physical specimens by any means but they were some of the most football smart, hard-working and HARD hitting SOBs you could get on one field. Born leaders like CB Pat FitzGerald (a Pittsburgh prick that could do it all- cover, hit, return punts....anything), OLB Bud Crawford (a Marist High School product who worked harder in the weight room and had more passion for the game then anyone I've seen) and DB Jeff Scott (PLAY MAKER......enough said) made our defense a force to be reckoned with.
CATS v. VALPO
7TH CAREER INT
DON'T COME OVER THE MIDDLE
THE 2007 DAVIDSON FOOTBALL HIGHLIGHTS
The Highlight of the season came on week 8 when the Drake Bulldogs ventured into Richardson Stadium to battle the Cats. I'm sure they were confident coming into the game since the previous two years they had beaten us 58-17 and 35-15. Drake came into the game with the NCAA's active leading rusher, Scott Phaydavong, and all the confidence in the world. The Cat's Defense responded to the challenge by allowing 37 yards rushing from the NCAA leader and putting a choke hold on the Drake-O. Bud Crawford recorded a beastly 3 sacks, Matt Mikrut had the game ending interception, I added an INT (which made 6 for my career) and a decapitation of the Drake tight end when he caught a pass over the middle. It was, all in all, a remarkable effort and the best our D had played as a unit in my four years. We won the game 24-21.
Left Pic: (J Scott, Me, Coach Clendanial, Mikrut, Fitz) Top Right Pic: (Dad, Me, Uncle Joel & Jason) Bottom Right Pic: (Captains - Cats @ Wingate)
2007 DAVIDSON WILDCATS -- SENIORS
I never thought the day would come, but after 15 football season, my career finally came to an end. It was a sad day for my self and my family who had loved watching me play year in and year out. My final game was against Valparaiso at Richardson Stadium on November 10th 2007. Before every play I reminded myself it was my last game to ensure I left it all on the field. We came out victorious as we trounced Valpo, 44-6 in a great last game for myself and the rest of the Seniors. I was able to do my two favorite things about college football during my last game...I picked off a QB with a diving INT over the middle (pic above) for my 7th career interception and added another decapitation to my list when late in the game a WR tried to run a slant into my zone. The paper the next day said something to this effect,"the stadium shook as Zach Long delivered a bone crushing hit to a Valpo Wide Receiver." It was a great way to go....
THE 5 ROOMMATES - MCGREEVY, BIG ZACH, BUD, DUANE (IN SLACKS) & ME
I was never the biggest, fastest, strongest and I'm sure there were players that were better prepared. But I believe what separated me from next guy was my passion for the game, my hunger for winning and my loyalty to my teammates. Your heart can take you a long way if your fully invested....I know my heart took me farther than most thought a 5'9, White Running Back from Connecticut could go.
