Twas the Night Before Christmas

Submitted by XM - Mt 1822 on December 24th, 2021 at 7:38 PM

Posted this last year right after Don Brown left.  Turned out to be correct, "Beat Ohio, it's time, and to all a good night!" 

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the Big house

Not a fan was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Jimmy soon would be there;

The fans were nestled all snug in their beds;

While visions of Defense Coordinators danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,

When out on the pasture there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,

Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,

When what to my wondering eyes did I see,

But a miniature sleigh and new DC,

He promised a defense so lively and quick,

I really hoped this wasn't some schtick.

More rapid than eagles his cornerbacks they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on, Cupid! every down we'll be Blitzen!

To the edge of the formation! form up a wall!

Now break up those passes, one and all!"

As Defensive Tackles that before a spread offense fly,

When they meet with an O-line, blast them to the sky;

So up to the housetop the cornerbacks flew

With the sleigh full of DT's, and St. Jimmy, too—

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the peak

The prancing and pawing of each little cleat.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Jimmy came with a bound.

He wore maize and blue, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of recruits he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!

His cheeks were like rose bowls, his nose like a cherry!

Still lamenting the departure of Don Brown,

Dr. Blitz had done great work, but was asked to leave town;

The stump of a pipe Jimmy held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly

That shook when he played touch football, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, because he looked a lot like myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke to Warde Manuel and went straight to his work,

Time to beat ohio, that team full of jerks,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—

“Beat Ohio, it's time, and to all a good night!”

 

Merry Christmas everybody.  

XM 

MGoBoard
Football

rob f

December 24th, 2021 at 8:34 PM ^

Enjoyed that so very much, my friend!

Merry Christmas ?✨????? to you and your wonderful family!

And a very Merry Christmas/Happy Hanukkah/Happy Kwanzaa/Happy Holiday & New Year to all!

Joined: 11/11/2010

MGoPoints: 195022

chatster

December 24th, 2021 at 11:44 PM ^

With thanks to XM - Mt 1822 for the inspiration, here's my take on the 2021 Michigan football version of Clement Clarke Moore's A Visit from St. Nicholas

On this night before Christmas in Wolverine Nation,
It’s time to rejoice in a great celebration.
Football’s delivered a season quite rare
The playoffs are coming and Michigan’s there!
When pre-season began, many thought they would dread
A six-and-six record or worse some had said.
Last season was awful; at times it was crap.
Jim Harbaugh’s head coaching just took a bad rap.
With message boards filled with discouraging chatter,
Many wondered if Harbaugh could handle the matter
And if Michigan was going to suffer a crash.
Of course, now in hindsight that thinking was rash.
But who could’ve predicted the results we now know – 
That Michigan football was most ready to go
And opponents would face a strong team they would fear
And Wolverines fans would have something to cheer.
There’d be so many standouts for this team to pick. 
Three running backs who were determined and quick – 
H. Haskins, B. Corum, D. Edwards by name
And with Mike Hart’s good coaching, they truly had game.
And a tough offensive line that did not need much fixin’
Hayes, Stueber, Keegan, Zinter, Vastardis all got their licks in.
When Ronnie Bell went out hurt in the first game this fall,
Other receivers stepped up like Schoonmaker and All.
Johnson, Henning and Anthony proved they could fly.
Baldwin, Wilson and Sainristill often were the right guy
To pick up extra yardage and know what to do
To embarrass defenders who just had no clue.
Though Cade McNamara had a tough burden of proof,
His quarterback play reached the top of the roof.
Meanwhile J. J. McCarthy turned a few heads around
When he showed on one play how he’d outrace the hounds.
All-American Jake Moody and his magic right foot – 
Nearly perfect on where all his field goals were put.
And Brad Robbins’ punting kept opponents at bay
By always directing his punts the right way.
Aidan Hutchinson carried the defense all year on his back
When in those crucial moments they’d needed a sack.
He and David Ojabo hunted QBs to bury
And rush their decisions and not make them merry.
Mazi Smith and Chris Hinton were both ready to show
They’d plug holes where some running backs just couldn’t go
Into piles of big bodies or they’d wind up beneath
And some of them might end up losing some teeth.
Jenkins, Morris and Upshaw, Welschof, Jeter and Speight
All had their moments to make the defense look great.
With star backer Josh Ross briefly out on the shelf
Michael Barrett came back playing like his old self.
Daxton Hill always found the right pass routes to shred.
Moten, Hill-Green and Colson made opponents feel dead.
And with Vincent Gray and Brad Hawkins, DJ Turner, Rod Moore
Mike McDonald’s new defense might’ve found the right cure
For devising the schemes that he’d expected to work
To make opponents’ offensive coaches just go berserk.
Assistant Coach of the Year Josh Gattis proved that he knows
How to add surprise plays on some runs and some throws.
When Michigan next hears the ref’s opening whistle,
They’ll face Georgia, the team that rose up like a missile
To be the number one team almost from opening night
Until Alabama put them out of sight.
Whatever the outcome and whatever the score,
This season, Michigan fans couldn’t have asked for much more.
Jim Harbaugh erased many doubts and some fears,
Beating Ohio State – the first time in nine years
And not having to suffer many more taunts or shame
By winning the Big Ten’s latest championship game.
So, all you MGoBloggers celebrating tonight,
Here’s wishing you another football season that’s bright!

Though I'm not from the tribe that celebrates the Christmas holiday, to those who do, here's hoping that you’ll be healthy and safe and that you’ll enjoy whatever you’ll be able to do to celebrate.

Joined: 09/14/2010

MGoPoints: 26987