"Wind in the east, mist comin' in...
Like something is brewin' about to begin
Can't put me finger on what lies in store
But I feel what's to happen, all happened before..."
No it is not the early signs of winter creeping in... Nor is Mary Poppins about to swoop into West Philly to get the children in order (yes that is a line from Mary Poppins above - just saw Saving Mr. Banks, great flick...and how can you not like Poppins? Go on, click the link on Poppins...ya know ya want to!)... Folks it is that cool and refreshing feeling of yet another soccer season...and with that, you get me!
Not just me though, but me and my upper lipholstery... me and my nose neighbor... me and my dirt squirrel... me and my soup strainer... me and Mr. Tickler... yes, that's me and my 'tache (that's right, that is a 100% bonafide m-u-s-t-a-c-h-e'!!! Taking things back a bit...back to when men were men and had names like Jim and Frank and Bob...and um, Doug!).
Tell me, why is it that the mustache gets such a bad rap? I mean, I had a beard for over a year. That form of facial hair - warm, inviting, distinguished... (umm, three words that I am well aware never described me despite wearing a beard...). But the moment you switch from beard to stache, something is wrong with that same guy!?! What gives? So suddenly, he transforms from happy-go-lucky and professorial to creepy, seedy, a bit off... A bit unfair I shall say to our crumb-catching, cookie duster friend! (Oh cookie, that reminds me of one of our young rookies - Joey Rodriguez a.k.a. "Cookie" Rodriguez - best nickname going of the freshmen if I may say so myself, kid can't resist a Tollhouse... he stalks the Insomnia Cookie Truck next to the library, kind of like a guy with a mustache would...)
So I am trying to keep the mustache, but don't think it will make it to the fabled month of Mo-vember... (wife teeters between being "ok" with it and hating it - kind of like she does with me in general...hmmm) but I doubt it will last.
Off and running we are people, three games already under the belt...blink again and this thing is over! So many new faces in our team and staff, it is almost like starting over again (ummm not, I've done this a time or two before). Been a challenge though to get so many new guys into the swing of things and get them up to speed with "how we do that thing we do" here at Drexel, but one that we accept and push through with each day. I seriously have to remind myself daily that it is a new process with lots of new people on board.
The group as a whole has been impressive though. Not playing our best stuff quite yet, still tinkering we are and fine tuning; but finding ways to win... at Temple in over-time to open the season and home against Nova under difficult conditions (playing with the lead for 89 minutes and down a man for 49 of them is no easy task). As for last Friday at our across-the-street-rivals....eh, a bitter taste in our mouths to say the least! Credit certainly to our opponent and taking their chances well, but we know we let one get away from us.
Which leads us to this week... big week... at home and also in our city! First, Wednesday at Vidas 7 pm (43rd and Powelton our favorite venue) against Loyola... then a short ride up to St. Joe's on Saturday for our second City 6 match. Hope you can make it out to both to cheer on your 2014 Drexel Dragons!
Until next time... "Keep it classy West Philly",
Doug
P.S. Get it on your calendar Alums: Saturday, October 11 is Alumni Day more details to follow!
