Our Town
9/6/2011 9:30:52 AM | Football
Do you remember Doug Marrone's first public speech to the community after being named head coach? It was at the Dome, at a basketball game. Here's a refresher:
“For the people of this community, I've worked here in the summers, you've brought me into your homes, I've sat with your families, thank you for being such a large part of my life.
“For the people of this community, I've worked here in the summers, you've brought me into your homes, I've sat with your families, thank you for being such a large part of my life.
"No matter how many championships I win, I will never be able to pay back what this school and this community has done for me.
"And now, for the people that are going to grow up and be an alumnus like myself, and the student body in front of me right here, we need to make this place the hardest place to play in the country. We need you, we need everyone. This is our state, our town, our team, and we gotta win. Now! Go Orange!"
He could have talked about the past. He could have talked about our tradition or the path he took to get here. Instead, he just asked for support. He knew what was needed to bring this program back to respectability.
Those words rang out in the Dome nearly three years ago. So much has changed since then:
We've…
- Broken an 8-game losing streak to traditional rival West Virginia.
- Beaten the University of South Florida for the first time.
- Won two straight games against Rutgers after losing four straight.
- Had only our second winning season this millennium.
- Won the inaugural Pinstripe Bowl.
And yet, for whatever reasons, the support Doug was asking for just hasn't materialized.
Doug Marrone and his teams have lived up to their end of the bargain. They've played hard and they've won. Yet the fan support has been erratic at best, anemic at worst.
What is most frustrating for the die-hard fans and the coaching staff is that they KNOW this can be one of the hardest places to play in the country. They've lived it. And if you don't believe them, ask Tennessee...ask Virginia Tech...ask Florida..ask Miami...ask Texas.
This team deserves more. Our town can do more.
If you're on the fence, it's time to fall off it. If you're waiting for us to be regular conference contenders, it's time join the ride, because sometimes the journey is as important as the destination.
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