For any of you who are familiar with Georgia Football, this title should strike a chord. If not, let me explain. At the beginning of every game, and start of the fourth quarter, the Redcoat Band strikes up a little number we borrowed from Superman called "Krypton." As they do, every citizen of the Bulldog Nation reverently lifts their hands in an inspirational "FOUR" formation, sticking up every digit but the thumb. This is to symbolize either the four quarters of football we've got left to play, or the beginning of the fourth and final chance to defeat your opponent, the fourth quarter (that is, excepting an overtime game).
A few weeks ago was the final home-game of my fourth year at the University of Georgia. It was possibly my last game between the hedges (as a student) and possibly the last time I would get to see the Dawgs, as a 6-6 season almost happened, and would've probably kept us from a bowl game, and I didn't have a ticket to see the Tech game. So as the band plays Krypton to start the game, and once more at the start of the Fourth, I realized something.
When I looked at my fingers and realized this was possibly my final Krypton in the student section of Sanford, it made me think about the last few years of my college career. Had I accomplished all that I wanted to? Had I seen all of the things that I planned on seeing? Had I had the best impact I could on those around me? In four years, what have I done, and what has been done through me?
I say all of this to say that if you're a senior preparing for college, go into it with the intent of doing all that you can in those four years. Hold up your four and realize, you only get so long to enjoy these opportunities. Hold up your four and know that you only get this one shot to do it right.
Or do you?
As you may know, we lost that last game in Sanford Stadium. Kentucky pulled off two last-minute turnovers to keep us out of the endzone and to break our hearts, winning in Sanford Stadium for the first time in over thirty years. Now I was devestated. It just further enforced the feeling that I wasn't going out on the best note possible, either academically, spiritually, socially, or athletically. It pretty much sucked, if you must know.
Fast-forward about twelve hours short of a full week. Skip past the walk home, the camping trip, the Thanksgiving meal, and all that. Skip it. Now pull on up to Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, 12:30pm. I'm woken up by Dad asking me if I want to go to the Tech game. Now I'm pretty sure we're gonna get our tails handed to us, but I take the ticket that has been offered because I can't pass up a chance to see my Dawgs play. So I hop in the car around 5pm and we head to Atlanta to watch the Dawgs and the Jackets embrace once more in the rivalry known as "Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate," or as we call it, "The Backyard Brawl with that Nerdy Cousin from Down the Street." They play Krypton.
I had my "FOUR" up, and there was no way I was going to let it go down in shame.
Then, to start the fourth quarter, we had done the impossible. We took a three quarter lead against Tech into the fourth, and we were tasting blood. As the band lifted their music up to the Bulldog Nation here and across the world, I once again looked up at my "FOUR." This was a second chance. I had been given a second chance to do what I could not before. I was given a second chance to see the Dawgs end my (maybe) last season victoriously.
However, this really would be my last chance. Even though I will be in Shreveport for the bowl game, nothing really matters after beating Tech. The point to all of this is simple. First of all, you never really know how many chances you'll have to live it out as well as you can. You may get a second chance, but there's no guarantee. There's just no promise of that. And college students, even though you can usually count on those four years to do your best and to make your impact, after graduation, that counter is gone, and every day needs a little "FOUR" added to it. Every day should be your great, final moment. Or at least you should treat it that way, knowing that you may well not get another one.
I got a second chance to lift my four fingers in victory, but it was not a promise that I cashed in on. It was a blessed gift from God, and I learned most valuably that I only have so many chances to do what I should. Sometimes, that's only one chance. That's all for now, as I am going to try once more to sleep. Church in the "morning" is gonna come early. Like, three and a half hours from now, early. This'll be a short nap.
Either way, I hope that this has meant something to you, as always, and I promise once more that there will be some new prose coming up soon. Have a great one, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!
PS. In case you missed it, Georgia ended up winning that game. And what was the final score, Josh?
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