Greetings Cougar Nation and Brinkhater Army. Hope you all had a Happy Monday.
Well, in case you haven’t noticed, today is Tuesday. And while it may seem like just any other Tuesday to you, to Brinkhater it is “Semantics Tuesday.” And so, in this post, I delve into the simple semantics of the difference between a “declaration” and a “prediction.”
Because I am too dumb to read, I couldn’t consult Mr. Webster to see if my distinction has any relationship to real words or fact.
With that in mind, I am left to simply tell you what I THINK the differences are between the two words/concepts. Simply put, in Brinkhater’s book, a “prediction” is something that you THINK might happen. A declaration is something that is GOING TO HAPPEN (or not).
So, to illustrate the distinction, I will give you a few examples from me own ‘lil life.
First, lets get the prediction thing clear: Each week, I PREDICT the Cougs’ fortunes. And, in spite of my gaudy record recently (17-0), my predictions are simply that: I THINK that they are going to happen. But I don’t really KNOW (if you know what I mean). But in my near 4 decade long tenure as resident Sports Dork del Mundo, I have also been privy or part to several important Declarations.
Like many of you, I spent my wee early days pretty high on Steve Largent and the rest of the expansion Seattle Seahawks.
I remember being SO excited when the Hawks became the quickest team to ever finish with a 9-7 record. “We’re going to the playoffs next year” I said to anyone who would hear me.
Unfortunately for me, someone did.
“As long as Jim Zorn is the starting quarterback” roared the voice of my dear Uncle Hummer, “The Seattle Seahawks will NEVER, EVER make the playoffs.”
Now, mind you, my dear Uncle is more often funny than serious. So, when he made that statement, I HAD to take notice. I mean, it wasn’t as if he was saying that he THOUGHT that the Hawks might not make the playoffs with Zorn, he was saying that the Hawks would NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER make the playoffs with “Jimmy Puke Puke” (as he called him) at the helm.
In short, He was making a DECLARATION.
Years later, at the Red Robin on 5th Avenue in Seattle, Sedihawk and I were enjoying our weekly Football Friday Lunch. After talking about the Cougs for about an hour, we quickly shifted to the Seahawks and their Rookie Quarterback Rick Mirer. “Sedi,” I said, “The Seattle Seahawks will NEVER MAKE THE PLAYOFFS with Rick Mirer as their starting quarterback.”
Now, at that time, I was really making a prediction. But in hindsight, because I was right, I was really making a DECLARATION.
The Seahawks never did make the playoffs with Rick Mirer. He was, after all, a miserable failure (takes one to know one, right?)
Years after that, I made a similar statement about another #10 (Zorn was the first) and his fate. Although this time, it WAS a DECLARATION. I let anyone (and it was no one besides Rooster, Sedi, and maybe Hooty who may have read one post or e-mail during that time) that Alex Brink would NEVER lead us to a bowl game.
Tragically, I was right. And to this day, I have the world’s worst Moniker to show for it as a HORRIBLE battle scar.
But, instead of being humbled by the righteousness of my past declarations (and to quit while I’m ahead), I feel the need for more.
And so, to get to the “lead” of this post, I offer you first a picture:
You all know who this is? Its defensive coordinator Jody Sears.
Grant you, the only thing I REALLY know about Jody Sears is that he was an average player on the first Cougar team that I fell in love with (1989).
I also want you to know that despite being the most unfair person in the world, Brinkhater TOTALLY gets the fact that its unfair to judge Mr. Sears on his record at Eastern. After all, who can get a decent defensive player to commit to EASTERN of all places?
That said, Mr. Sears didn’t exactly light the world on fire at Eastern, did he Cougar faithful?
So, if any of you “homers” out there are questioning where I am going with this, I beg of you to look at the state of affairs over at Montlake.
And when you ask yourself why it is that Ty is going to get kicked to the curb in the coming days and weeks, you need to find only one word:
Defense.
Moreover, when you ask yourself how it is that Oregon State became good after being the laughing stock of the world, you need only speak one word:
Defense.
When you ask “what wins championships” or “what made us really good from 2001-2003,” you can say:
Defense.
And if you want to know what it will take to turn this program around, the answer is simply:
Defense.
Now, with regards to Mr. Sears, I am sure that he’s a good recruiter and a good coach.
But, as a former WR, does he know SO MUCH about the other side of the ball that he is able to match wits with some of the greatest offensive minds in the game?
Does he know enough to be able to coach up sub-par talent and get them to compete with All-Americans who are bigger, faster, and stronger?
My answer is “N-O, NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
And so, I give you all this painful, painful, painful, DECLARATION:
The Washington State Cougars will NEVER make a bowl game with Jody Sears as the Defensive Coordinator.
You all can bicker about all the things that you want, but I BELIEVE that Coach Paul and the rest have what it takes to turn this whole thing around.
But how Coach Paul deals with his dear friend Jody will be the most telling and critical decision of his tenure.
He already demonstrated his ability to call a spade a spade and cut ties with Rosey.
Now, the fate of the program rests with this last deep, personal connection.
Sears won’t take us where we need to be, folks, its plain and simple.
Take the ball out of his court. Demote him or let him go.
The fate of the program depends on it.
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