UNION COUNTY Shopper news • SEPTEMBER 14, 2013 • 5
Please tell Butch this one matters If you see Butch before I There was one stretch where do, please tell him this next the winner won the SEC one matters. East 11 of 14 years. No point in going back to the beginning of time. The two schools had a few early connections and played an occasional game but for this Marvin tale, let’s start with 1963. Tennessee’s acting athWest letic director went to a late summer fish fry in Fayetteville, Ark., so he could see his former Florida quarterThe Florida Gators are back, a young assistant on an official problem. They’ve Frank Broyles’ Arkansas whipped the Volunteers staff. eight consecutive times. Just as Jim McDonald That is pretty close to be- was starting as coach of the coming a habit. Volunteers, athletic director In theory, this would be Bob Woodruff was thinka fine rivalry if Tennessee ing who might be a replacecould win one now and then. ment. Doug Dickey was first Once upon a time, this choice. match of salty words and The switch worked for hard hits was really big. most of six seasons, un-
til Florida wanted Dickey back in Gainesville. That idea hatched in late summer 1969. What followed were denials, lies and damn lies. The Gator Bowl, bringing together Tennessee and Florida, was the depths of awkwardness. There remains some question as to where Dickey’s heart was that day. A funny thing happened the next September. Dickey had to bring his new team to Neyland Stadium to play the guys he left behind. The Vols annihilated the Gators. In no other so-called rivalry has there been so many sticking points. Consider 1977: the Gators scored with 46 seconds left to build a 10-point lead. The Vols responded with a fumble. Game over, right?
The Gators gained easy ground. With three seconds remaining, they surprisingly called time out. More surprisingly, quarterback Terry LeCount threw what looked like a TD pass to Wes Chandler. Officials interceded and said out of bounds. Trying to pile on points and further embarrass beaten visitors caused an explosion. All heck broke loose. There was a genuine brawl at midfield. Said John Majors: “Our time will come.” It took a while. After growing up in Johnson City, Steve Spurrier went off to be a Gator great, returned as coach and added other insults to injury. He scored far more points than necessary and made big jokes at Tennes-
All we have are questions No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions. (Matthew 22: 46 NRSV) Ring the bells that still can ring, Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in. (Leonard Cohen)
In my first job after college, my boss was a man whose most famous quote was, “Don’t bring me problems! Bring me solutions!” In his discussions (argu-
ments? banter?) with the Pharisees, Jesus was the consummate debater. He discussed and sparred with them, taught them and led them into traps designed
see that Jesus was at times impatient with the slowness Cross of his students, especially Currents his disciples. However, if someone came to him sinLynn cerely seeking knowledge – Pitts or better yet, wisdom – Jesus was willing to teach. It was my discovery of to open their eyes to see Leonard Cohen’s verse things they had no desire (quoted above) that was an to see. He asked them ques- “Aha!” moment for me. Our wondering, our cutions (what our teachers called “thought questions” riosity and (let’s be honest) when I was in school) to our ignorance are, in truth, the “crack in everything” make them think. In other words, he that provides the entry point for the light to get in. brought them problems. If we read the Gospels If we are willing to allow carefully and honestly, we new thoughts, to reach new
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see’s expense. Florida was the beneficiary of the infamous fax of the Tennessee playbook. Florida was the beneficiary of the Jabar Gaffney noncatch. Florida did miss a field goal in 1998. Phillip Fulmer had serious difficulty with the Gators. The hall-of-fame coach lost 12 of 17. Peyton Manning was in the eye of that storm. He did not beat Florida. Some setbacks were not all his fault. Consider 1995: The Gators, trailing 30-14, scored 48 consecutive points to turn an exciting game into a 62–37 romp. Danny Wuerffel threw for six touchdowns and won the cover of Sports Illustrated. Consider 1996: The Gators scored five touchdowns
in the first 25 minutes. Later, Tim Tebow inflicted hurt on the Vols but Eric Berry got him for a big one, a pick and 96-yard interception return. Alas, Florida won, 59-20. Lane Kiffin was a lot of help. He popped off, accusing Urban Meyer of cheating. Next he said he was going to sing “Rocky Top” all night long after his Vols beat the Gators. I suppose you recall how that turned out. Nothing happened during Derek Dooley’s three years but the losses were not runaways. Tennessee-Florida needs serious rejuvenation. When you are talking to Butch, ask him to begin to start to turn this thing around.
understandings, to learn, we can begin to find answers to our questions. That is when we grow and become. I remember when my daughter Jordan came home from college for her very first fall break. She described her experience in classes as “honing my mind,” and she accompanied that statement with a movement of her head as if she was sharpening a knife on a whetstone. She was discovering the “crack in everything” and the light was pouring in. There are some folks who are afraid to ask questions, particularly about matters of faith, about the Bible.
They think it is impertinent, or sacrilegious. I believe that the Bible is sturdy enough to stand up to our questions, and I believe that it contains the answers we need to find our way to God. It is a compass that points us in the right direction. It is a whetstone that we can hone our souls on. Our questions are “the crack in everything,” the opening that lets the light in. Ask your questions. Ask them over and over, if need be. Ask them of different people. Ask them of God. Keep on asking, until you find answers, until the light gets in.
Marvin West invites reader reaction. His address is westwest6@netzero.com.
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