…with all apologies to Clement Clarke Moore

 

'Twas the first week of football and all through the house

The beer that was purchased, my liver will be doused;

The TVs were hung on the wall over there

In anticipation of fools hurdled mid-air

 

The fans were excited, they’d been restless in beds,

While haikus and the playoff danced in their heads;

New remote batteries, tray for my lap,

All set for football and multitudes of snacks,

 

Finally, on the TVs, the pre-game shows did clatter

I sprang from the couch to once more empty my bladder

Away to the bathroom I flew like the Flash,

Stopped off in the kitchen for a little more tailgate hash

 

The sun on the press box shone with a glow,

Giving Heaven’s approval to the proceedings below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But the Michigan marching band, so crisp, so clear

 

Without it’s leader for the first three weeks,

No way these men will play mild or meek

The Go Blue club banner awaited as they came,

Gus naturally shouted, and called them by name;

 

"Now, JJ! now, Corum! now, Edwards and Loveland!

On, Johnson! on Jenkins! on, Mikey and Mason!

The coin toss, the kick-off; toe meets ball,

One hundred ten thousand screamed, enthralled.

 

As the defense is trained to achieve the sublime,

When they meet with an obstacle, at the scrimmage line,

To the football, the coursers they flew,

Pounding the quarterback and ball carrier too.

 

And then, in a twinkling, I saw on the field

The 2 time Moore winning O line wouldn’t yield.

As I drew in my head, a playground touchdown

Down the left hashmark Roman Wilson did bound.

 

They were dressed all in blue, from head to foot,

And hot damn! Those helmets look good!

The coaches prepared, clipboards in hands

Looking over their charges with incremental demands

 

Their eyes -- they twinkled! They knew what was coming!

CJ and Dunlap and Kalel just kept running!

The QBs all got in one throw or two

“An Orji in the endzone!” R G 3 is that you?

 

A chance to show out, a statement of force,

But the season is long, not one game, of course.

Get better and better, this team must keep winning,

But for now, they knew Harbaugh was somewhere, grinning.

 

Bellamy, Campbell, Herbert and Jay

Newsome and Partridge who’s back ‘round this way

Minter, Clink, Moore and the Mikes

Having this staff all back has me psyched!

 

They’d spoken not a word, went straight to their work,

And pummeled the opponent – “Sorry if that hurt”

The clock hit zeros, they graciously shook hands,

And took off running to their mates in the stands.

 

With a “1-2-you know what to do”,

They all sang The Victors ‘cuz they bleed Maize and Blue

Then they all could be heard as they walked out of sight,

GO BLUE TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!