Missing My Friend...

For some reason Victor is on my mind tonight and I can't sleep... so I thought I'd write about him.

On March 25, 2008, the world lost a great person, the University of Alabama lost a great former-player, proud alumnus and prominent supporter, and I lost one of my dearest friends.

Victor Ellis had a smile that could light up the room and an attitude that would almost irritate you to death because it was just so positive about everything. Victor passed away after only 28 years of blessing those around him. But in his 28 years here, he made the most of every single second. I issue a challenge to find someone that Victor came in contact with, who is not better for the experience. Victor was a hard-fighting, head-strong leader for the Crimson Tide on the field, and he was a hard-fighting, head-strong, AMAZING person off the field.

While I am not usually a mourner or someone who gets caught up in sad situations... I have never in my life been more devastated than I was when my hero and my friend passed away almost a year and a half ago. Victor was not only someone that I looked up to but someone whom I aspire to be just like. He was never bitter and never angry about the hand he had been dealt, instead he encouraged everyone around him to just smile, make the best of it, and move on. It doesn't seem that easy to me... but it sure did to him.

My fondest memory with Victor and one that I will cherish forever, was being able to walk out to midfield with him for the coin-toss before a game in which he was named as a honorary captain. We walked out together and walked back... and even though you could tell his body was weak, he insisted that we keep going. I walked with him back up to the skybox where he was sitting for the game and as I turned to walk out and make my way back down to the field to work, he stopped me, gave me a big hug, thanked me for being with him, and told me he loved me. I cried my eyes out the whole way back to the field... it is amazing the impact that one person can have on your life and I am thankful to God for allowing Victor to be a part of mine.

I love him and I miss him... and I think about him everyday. On that day when it seemed like everyone was losing, someone else scored a touchdown. God received an ambassador, a role-model, and a great man.

God bless you Victor... thanks for the memories!

Counting Down to Kickoff: 61 Days...

As summer continues to heat up, the days until the start of the 2009 Alabama Football season continue to count down. We are now just 61 days from the kickoff of another year of Crimson Tide Football here at The Capstone.

This season will be Coach Saban's third in Tuscaloosa and the excitement from the Alabama fan-base is still as high as it was on January 3, 2007, when he first arrived. With each season comes another top-notch recruiting class, another year of experience in doing it the "Saban way" and more and more high expectations for the end result. I would challenge any one to find a coach in college football that is as intense and passionate about the game as Coach Saban. For example, take a look at this video, which is originally from www.coachsaban.net and features highlights of last year's dramatic 27-21 win over LSU in Baton Rouge in overtime to secure a spot in the SEC Championship game in Atlanta. The very beginning of this video is the pre-game speech from the lockerroom. The very beginning shows the intensity that is given 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year by the man who is putting Alabama Football back on the map. Watch the video and tell me you aren't fired up! ROLL TIDE!