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(Sorry 01, you know me, Mr. Supersticious!)
This is it folks. This is the day we've waited for, talked about, contemplated, imagined and dreamt of, some of us for a life time. After brilliant wins, after difficult losses. In the dorms, in the student section, staring at the field in stunned silence after another season gone by, over a beer on the hill or main street, on a sunny August night at the first tailgate of the year, we've grinned a big grin, and allowed the mind to wonder to what this day might be.
That day has finally, after the long wait, arrived.
You can be a fan of a team, or of many teams, for a lifetime, and only wake up on a morning like this a very few times. Personally, I'm equal parts Panther, Cub, Bear (and something else that will be left conspicuously out, and isn't important right now.) With all those allegiances, in my short quarter-century plus, this is only my second one. You may have seen more of these days then I, however for most of us, this is amoung the rarest of occasions.
Today, our Panthers play for the Championship.
Think about that. Between the two D1 classifications, over 200 teams sit idle this day, wishing they could be where we are, playing for the biggest prize there is.
We have been blessed to be in ways both large and small, associated with one of the great Universities in the country, even if more often then not it is a hidden jem. At times great and average, we've stood proud as alumni, supporters, employees or students of the University of Northern Iowa. Today, we have the unique opportunity to do so again, this time as the entire nation looks on, and proudly proclaim what we already know. That nobody, on no day, on no stage, can compare to the Panthers.
To the team, coaches, support staff, athletic department, former players and others associated with this team: Thank you. Thank you for an incredible ride, thank you for making the impossible, possible. Thank you for making dreams come true. Thank you for representing our school, alumni and community as we'd wish to be represented...with class, dignity, hard work, determination, and a never say die attitude. You guys truly embody the very best of what it means to be a Panther, and for that we owe you a tremendous debt. Enjoy this day, we could be the most successful program of all-time from here on out, and there would still be few like it.
Today, we become Champions! Go Panthers!
This is it folks. This is the day we've waited for, talked about, contemplated, imagined and dreamt of, some of us for a life time. After brilliant wins, after difficult losses. In the dorms, in the student section, staring at the field in stunned silence after another season gone by, over a beer on the hill or main street, on a sunny August night at the first tailgate of the year, we've grinned a big grin, and allowed the mind to wonder to what this day might be.
That day has finally, after the long wait, arrived.
You can be a fan of a team, or of many teams, for a lifetime, and only wake up on a morning like this a very few times. Personally, I'm equal parts Panther, Cub, Bear (and something else that will be left conspicuously out, and isn't important right now.) With all those allegiances, in my short quarter-century plus, this is only my second one. You may have seen more of these days then I, however for most of us, this is amoung the rarest of occasions.
Today, our Panthers play for the Championship.
Think about that. Between the two D1 classifications, over 200 teams sit idle this day, wishing they could be where we are, playing for the biggest prize there is.
We have been blessed to be in ways both large and small, associated with one of the great Universities in the country, even if more often then not it is a hidden jem. At times great and average, we've stood proud as alumni, supporters, employees or students of the University of Northern Iowa. Today, we have the unique opportunity to do so again, this time as the entire nation looks on, and proudly proclaim what we already know. That nobody, on no day, on no stage, can compare to the Panthers.
To the team, coaches, support staff, athletic department, former players and others associated with this team: Thank you. Thank you for an incredible ride, thank you for making the impossible, possible. Thank you for making dreams come true. Thank you for representing our school, alumni and community as we'd wish to be represented...with class, dignity, hard work, determination, and a never say die attitude. You guys truly embody the very best of what it means to be a Panther, and for that we owe you a tremendous debt. Enjoy this day, we could be the most successful program of all-time from here on out, and there would still be few like it.
Today, we become Champions! Go Panthers!
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