Things That Make You Go Hmmm....

Before my current writing life, there was The Hilltop, Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form.

From The Hilltop Archives 

Originally published in The Hilltop, Howard University — September 16th, 2003

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Things That Make You Go Hmmm.... 

Off jump, my Bison fans, y'all are some soldiers. 

I want to give big ups to all that showed up to Greene Stadium and risked the chance of getting sick to support our football team.

It rained Friday and we knew it was going to rain on Saturday, you think that was going to stop us?

We showed up with hoodies, ponchos and umbrellas. Nothing was going to keep us away from the Battle of the Real HU.

It's serious.

To all y'all fakers, transfer, cuz there's no excuse for missing the biggest game of the season. I don't care if it is raining, suck it up and get wet.

As far as I am concerned, you go to the Institute. If you're not with us, you're against us.

And you probably heard it by know, T.I. performed at halftime, sorry for ya'.

Didn't I call it? Nip-and-tuck all game. 

The defense kept us in the game fo' real, fo' real causing four fumbles and an interception, but it was questionable play calling on fourth down that killed us. 

Fourth and goal and they send out the kicking team. A field goal?!

Let's think about this. 

The defense gets us to the one-yard line, we go three plays that gets us negative yards and then we try a field goal. 

It's only three points. In the red zone, you go for it on fourth down. If you don't make it, you put their backs to the wall and the defense knuckles up, it's simple.

Despite that, it was a close one and I was worried when we were down 17-7 in the fourth. 

But we battled back to make it 17-14 with 2:47 left in the game. 

The rain was gone and Moreno was in a zone (rhyming, my bad). 

The Pirates couldn't defend against those quick passes. Play after play Moreno picked up six, seven, and sometimes ten yards. 

So why, if Moreno is breaking down the D down for at least six yards, is the call on fourth and six a field goal?

Now, forget the fact that they blocked a 27-yard attempt earlier, because that is of very little relevance.

Again, it's fourth and six, we're down by three and you opt to go for the tie?

This is gut-check time, it's Hampton. The only tie against Hampton should be at 0-0. 

In the fourth quarter, you put it in their mouth and make 'em swallow, period.

By no means do you go for a field goal, a 52-yard field goal at that. 

Now, I heard Rocky can put it through from 50 plus in practice. That's practice, things change in a game situation.

Second, it's a 52-yard field goal. 

Hell, there are few NFL kickers, Jason Elam, Sebastian Janikowski and the Gramatica brothers, who can hit it from 52-yards out. What makes them think that someone in college could do it?

Moreno's been hitting receivers for six yards the whole drive, why not go back to him, let him keep his confidence?

I love my team but the coaching was suspect.

Personally, I'd rather a blow than getting my heart ripped out and stepped on.