[NU Sports] We're back, ladies and gentlemen!

[neonrye at aol.com]

 As we embark on a hopefully exciting new season, fellow listers please indulge me in a little personal aside, which, under the circumstances, may be understandable.  

My dad passed away this morning, peacefully and at home, at age 92.  He was an amazing guy and a true member of the Greatest Generation, having been a Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps in the Pacific Theater in WW II, serving as a Bombadier on B-24's.  He loved to watch 'Cat football on the tube--not as much as his crazy, intense alum son--but he enjoyed the underdog aspect, and  loved that it made me so happy when we won.

He only attended 2 'Cat games in his life--both memorable.  The first was nearly 40 years ago--Sept, 1970--'Cats hosting ND on a glorious Saturday afternoon (no 11 a.m. starts in those days) before a packed house at Dyche.  We were tied 14-14 at the half, and I was stunned--and hooked.  That was a terrific NU team, led by Mike Adamle.  While we lost 35-14, we had a great time nonetheless, and he loved the atmosphere and our picturesque campus.  He only returned once (since we were from NYC)--for my rainy graduation.

Then, on New Year's Day, 1997, three proud generations of Levinson men--Saul (my dad), Yours Truly, and my son David (then all of 7 years old), trooped up the steep winding ramp and stairs to the Upper Deck at the broiling Citrus Bowl to watch us fall behind Payton Manning and the Volunteers, make a great comeback to 21-21, and then aftere Payton to Peerless (Price) before the half, saw a dull, painful second half of all Tennessee.  My dad was pushing 80 at the time, but he made the steep climb, although I was worried about him at the time, and we had a great family day together.

The year before he insisted on paying for my airfare out to Pasadena from Florida, where our entire family was on a vacation together, and I left them to take in the Rose Bowl..  He was that kind of dad--always doing more and more for his kids and grandkids.  And I will always remember calling him from a payphone after the game, standing outside the Bowl, and him saying, "You must be sad", with my reply being, "Yeah, but it was such a great game."

Sharing 'Cat games and comebacks, and many, many baseball games with him leaves me with a lifetime of priceless memories, and I know I am a lucky man, especially since we spent last night together and had real closure.


Thanks for sharing in my memories.

Paul Levinson (Proud Son)

 

-----Original Message-----
From: SjT (Stephen J. Truog) <sjtruog at yahoo.com>
To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
Sent: Thu, Sep 2, 2010 11:57 pm
Subject: [NU Sports] We're back, ladies and gentlemen!


Got back home just in time to catch some OT in Salt Lake City!

Pitt, the last best (and only) hope for Big East respectability goes down. Poor 
Wanny.

Utah may well get a preview of the prize they'll be playing for in the Pac 10 
next season ... with TCU visiting, there's a pretty good chance the Utes run the 
table. Looks like the Pac 10 got better by adding some red as well.

OSU looked impressive. Good to have football back! :)

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

* * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!
Super Bowl XLIV Champions!
==========================


      

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