Jan. 13, 2010
Editor’s Note: The following was written by Mike Hlas of the Cedar Rapids Gazette. It first appeared in the “Hlog.” Mike’s blog, on Jan. 6, 2010. It doesn’t tell the story about some Hawkeyes making a difference. It talks about the people behind some Hawkeyes that make a difference: The family of some members of the 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl champions.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Sitting in the airport here waiting to see if getting home via Detroit is a distinct possibility.
I got to Land Shark Stadium hours before Tuesday night’s Orange Bowl, and went out into the parking lot to see who was who, and where. I know, that makes no sense. I’m tired.
Anyway, I found a cluster of family members of Iowa players lined up five or six deep behind a barricade, waiting for the Hawkeyes’ team buses to arrive. So I got to talk to a few parents and other relatives of Iowa players.
There was no bravado from these people, no insistence the Hawkeyes were going to win the game ahead. These were people who know the game better than most of us. And by knowing the game, I mean they know how fragile teams and players can be, how sometimes you’re simply not as good as the opponent, and how those opponents are deserving of respect.
They know how hard those players have worked over a lot of years to get to that place and time and situation. They know it’s never always been easy for the players, or for themselves, for that matter. They know the commitment that has been involved. The family commitment.
And for the vast majority, it’s also a financial commitment to load up the family for all those road (and home) games, events they couldn’t and wouldn’t miss.
Some just quietly hope their sons or brothers or nephews or grandsons don’t get hurt in the game, and can walk away feeling good about themselves. After that, everything else like winning is a bonus.
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The day before, I saw Tracie Clayborn overcome with the reception she got when it was her turn to be introduced at the Hawkeyes Huddle in Miami Beach. It’s a tradition at the bowl-game Huddles that parents of the players who are present are brought to the stage, named, and given the chance to say a few words.
Tracie was flabbergasted at the ovation she got. It was easily the best moment of the Huddle. Mike Hlas, The Gazette
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I talked with Tyler Sash’s uncle and aunt from New Jersey, Don and Bonnie Colaluce. They were so, so proud, but in a quiet, dignified way. They made sure I knew about everyone else in their extended family who had done well in athletics.
I saw Rick Wegher, Brandon’s dad, who definitely looked like a football guy himself. By that, I mean he didn’t say much, but he had the visage of someone full of anticipation for the night ahead. I found out later he was an all-state player himself back in the day.
He hoped his son, a first-year freshman, would have another good game. But with Brandon coming back from an injury, Rick couldn’t really know just how well his son would be able to play. As it turned out, Brandon had a terrific game.
I talked to Lauren and Anthony Koulianos, the parents of Derrell Johnson-Koulianos. Their son was off to a big start in last night’s game, but then was injured in the first-half and missed almost the entire rest of the game. A pity, but DJK will have some days in 2010.
You suggest to the Koulianos that their son will play in the NFL in the near future, and their responses are verbal crossed fingers. But when you tell them DJK is a great interview, articulate with something to say and smart, they like that. I told them that, because I’ve found it to be true.
The day before, I saw Tracie Clayborn overcome with the reception she got when it was her turn to be introduced at the Hawkeyes Huddle in Miami Beach. It’s a tradition at the bowl-game Huddles that parents of the players who are present are brought to the stage, named, and given the chance to say a few words.
Tracie was flabbergasted at the ovation she got. It was easily the best moment of the Huddle.
The family members cheered and chanted like any Iowa fans when the Hawkeyes’ buses arrived. But there was no beer-fueled bellowing. They were there out of love and pride. They couldn’t have known and wouldn’t have dared predict the good feelings they would have four hours later and long into the Florida night.
They know it doesn’t always turn out like this. They also know there are good reasons when it does. What few of them will say is they are among the most-important of those reasons.