Of Dads, Sons and Dreams

'06 Football Alums General29

Carolina conservative, scourge of “message-board loons,” and card-carrying StateFansNation.com Fan Bob Lee Swagger writes a great column reflecting on Daniel Evans’ getting the starting nod at QB for NC State this coming Saturday.

Under the subheading “Good Guys Do Win!” ol’ BLS writes:

This Saturday in Carter-Finley will be a “retro-gameâ€?. [StateFansNation has touched on how “retro” this game will be.] The Wolfpack will be led at Quarterback by “a kid named Evansâ€? just like they were in the late 70s … Johnny’s son Daniel will be living out a dream that every father and son in America can envy… This isn’t the first time a son has followed in his dad’s cleats steps but it does represent something often overlooked in today’s society.…. Yes, this is a two-Kleenex column … but with a special Swagger twist that will have many of you yelling HOORAY!

Go give BLS the page views he deserves for this one. It’s worthwhile in the midst of a season (frustrating or not) to reflect on greater matters and remember where in life sports stop and life is. Remember, Jim Valvano used to say how his greatest task was preparing his kids for “when the cheering stops.” One of the great things about sports is that they offer you a glimpse of life writ small, if you are circumspect to see it that way. There are life lessons to be learned from the game. There is adversity, there is unfairness, there is winning and losing, there is fighting the good fight, there is giving up, there is joy for the sake of the game, there is talent without heart and heart without talent and everywhere in between, there are just desserts and the crazy bounce of the ball, and there is chasing the dream … and sometimes catching it.

Lord knows we Wolfpack fans have witnessed all of it, but the ones we cherish most are the dream-catchers. They’re the ones we all cherish. They stir the dream-chasers in all of us. Even Carolina fans — right, Bob Lee?

I’ll let him have the last word:

Imagine Dad Johnny’s thoughts as he watched Daniel and Andrew play in Pee Wee, Pop Warner and into Middle School and at Broughton. Dare he imagine that one day BOTH sons would have football scholarships at his alma mater … and he would be “in the boothâ€? when Daniel barked signals as “the starting quarterback for the Wolfpackâ€?. If that doesn’t give a guy goosebumps he has no soul …

… I hope the dream has a few more chapters including one where Daniel connects with Andrew on a fly pattern for a Wolfpack TD. I hope it’s a 50-yard plus pass and catch where everything is in slow motion as Johnny sees it develop in the booth and Beth and the girls see it from the stands. Daniel hits Andrew in full stride and the brothers embrace in the end zone as “The Caisson Songâ€? blares out across the Fairgrounds. …. yep, thats the way BobLee, Clair Bee and Grantland Rice would write this story.

If it should happen “just that way� I can guarantee you that BobLee, and Jim Branch, and Prince Albert, and Pastor Leon, and the Tucker boys … and everyone in Raleigh who knows “The Evans� will be smiling and saying YES! … score one for Dads and Sons and Moms and Daughters and families everywhere who “do it right�.

'06 Football Alums General

29 Responses to Of Dads, Sons and Dreams

  1. BoKnowsNCS71 09/20/2006 at 12:44 PM #

    I’ve always admired Johnny Evans. He is a person to be admired not only for what he did on the field but off the field. He raised his sons with character, poise, and the ability to take the good and the bad in stride.

    No one knows what will happen on the field. We hope it will be a magical field of dreams. Realisticallly, it will be a tough fight. It could be nasty and look ugly. The outcome of the game and the paly will depend upon the the character of the rest of the team who will be protecting him, catching those passes, and playing on defense.

    Regardless, we have a remarkable man on the field who bleeds wolfpack red and sideline reporting by a father who raised him for this day. I’m not sure who has the toughest job.

    Whatever happens — it makes me proud to be a pack backer.

  2. Wolfpack4ever 09/20/2006 at 12:49 PM #

    Oh my!! I hope the national press gets a hold of this one. I can see it in Reilly’s column in SI now.

  3. Wolfpack4ever 09/20/2006 at 12:52 PM #

    Johnny’s work with the FCA, his classy responses to leading questions about his son playing… Daniel has got to be good for the Pack. the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.

  4. BoKnowsNCS71 09/20/2006 at 1:03 PM #

    Yeah. Could make a nice Disney movie or at worse — future trivia.

    I can’t imagine annoucing one’s own son’s first game on WP radio for your alma mater. WPTF is going to be an interesting listen.

  5. Clarksa 09/20/2006 at 1:06 PM #

    Ol’BLS did a great job with that write up. I wonder if Ol’Chuck could put Andrew in on the first series and a quick hit to him could be Daniel’s first pass?

  6. redfred2 09/20/2006 at 1:06 PM #

    Hey Wolfpack4ever,

    Still waiting for an appearance from you on the “Daniel Evans starting…” thread.

    What’s the matter?

  7. Pack92 09/20/2006 at 1:10 PM #

    “the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.”

    Conservatively said but hitting the nail on the head nonetheless. Johnny has been a class act for so long we may as well stop trying to describe him. Now that his son is on a national stage we can see he does indeed practice what he preaches. The last thing my Dad said before putting me on a bus for the Army was “be a man”. I expect Johnny has in so many words told Daniel the same thing.

    I cannot possibly imagine how hard it will be for Johnny to call this game.

  8. redfred2 09/20/2006 at 1:12 PM #

    Beowolf

    Your added comments were incredible!!! Thank you sir!!!

  9. BobLee 09/20/2006 at 1:29 PM #

    Anyone know who “Brady Quinn’s sister’s” tailor is? Maybe I should get one of those half/half jerseys?

    The best part of this story is that even if it does not have a Field of Dreams ending … the Evans family will still be rock solid.

    Playing the “what if” on Bomar’s goal line tackle can be “interesting” for both programs.

    BLS

  10. beowolf 09/20/2006 at 1:42 PM #

    Thanks, redfred!

  11. Lock 09/20/2006 at 1:55 PM #

    it was great until the ‘diverse society’ part…

  12. packpigskinfan23 09/20/2006 at 2:22 PM #

    I am going to put this here, as it is the most recent Football related topic. I really want everyone to read… If SFN would so kindly help me out, it would be great. There was a GREAT article on Manny Lawson.

    heres the link:

    http://www.newsargus.com/sports/archives/2006/09/15/hes_still_manny/index.shtml

  13. packpigskinfan23 09/20/2006 at 2:24 PM #

    dont know why that didnt work…

    http://www.newsargus.com/sports/archives/2006/09/15/hes_still_manny/index.shtml

  14. packpigskinfan23 09/20/2006 at 2:27 PM #

    damn it.

    http//www.newsargus.com/sports/archives/2006/09/15/hes_still_manny/index.shtml

    if THAT dosnt work (and it should… I just copy pasted. the _ between “hes_still_manny” dsont seem to be comming through)

    go to http://www.newsargus.com and search the archieves on Friday Sept 15th.

  15. TampaPack 09/20/2006 at 2:49 PM #

    ^ Manny is also featured in this months Men’s Health describing the vigorous workouts which made such an increase in his combine scores for the draft.

  16. redfred2 09/20/2006 at 2:51 PM #

    packpigskinfan23

    I just typed lawson in the second browser bar and it came up.

    Good article.

  17. packpigskinfan23 09/20/2006 at 2:54 PM #

    ^he probably could buy Goldsboro for $800,000!!!

  18. redfred2 09/20/2006 at 3:14 PM #

    ^I don’t know, that barbeque stand is usually pretty busy, might take a few more $$$ to get them to surrender.

  19. packpigskinfan23 09/20/2006 at 3:45 PM #

    you must be talking about Wilbers? hahaha… he is a die hard State fan. Him and Manny know each other pretty good also. I am sure something could be done!! If anyone should own Wilbers it should be ME after working there for 7 years of my life!!!!

  20. kb7377 09/20/2006 at 4:04 PM #

    one of my greatest feelings was seeing my son run on the field at cfs last year, and i doubled my emotions this year when both of them ran on together, we will all be pulling for the evans GO PACK!!

  21. WolfPup35 09/20/2006 at 5:36 PM #

    It was a great feeling for me seeing my nephew run out there, too. Even if it was just during that HS scrimmage they hold at CFS. He told me that it was all he could do to keep from tearing up when he first set foot on the turf. Hopefully, he’ll be playing LB at NCSU, and living his dream, too. When he read about Daniel, he told me he knew anything was possible!!
    Keep dreaming, and work hard. DREAMS DO COME TRUE!!

    Hell, I may be a sentimental bastard, but it’s hard for me not to tear up every time I walk into CFS and remember all the great things that have happened there in and before my lifetime.

  22. GrandWolf 09/20/2006 at 8:12 PM #

    Kudo’s to BLS. That was good. HOWEVER, Mr. Bobby boy left out what was probably the gutsiest move ever pulled off in Carter Stadium (Not yet C-F as you whippersnappers like to call it)

    Exactly 31 years ago this date… 9-20-75, Johnny Evans pulled off the “ballsiest” move I have ever seen in NC State football. Playing Doug Dickey’s ??? (was he coach?) Gators to a tight game. Near the closing minutes, State was down 7 zip and finally scored. State was now down 7-6. Lou Holtz (not being a “tie” kinda guy) went for two. Evans got the call… and the entire FSU defensive line seemed to know where Johnny Eeee was going. Evans hit the line of scrimmage (and as I recall) turned his back to them and strongmanned.. willed… and back-plowed his way into the endzone. It was almost like one man against an entire line.

    Evans won. 2 points. State wins 8-7.

    I have been watching NC State football since a little kid in 1960. That one single play stands out. Both my Dad and I left Carter that night shaking our heads.

    Johnny Evans never quit on any play. I dare say his offspring will play wth the same way.

    GO PACK!!!! And good luck Daniel. We will driving down this weekend and will be as loud as anyone pulling for you!

    Damn! I am glad to see Daniel get the call!!!!

  23. BobLee 09/20/2006 at 8:49 PM #

    Aha GrandWolf … you caught my reference to “Carter Stadium” when Johnny’s punts would rise above the upper deck.

    Before the AppState game this year … the first without old Finley Field House … I asked Johnny how many of his punts landed on that roof. We tried to figure who kicked the first ball up there … we both figure it was Gerald Warren from Eliz City.

    BLS

    BTW… Johnny and I will both be on WPTF this Friday AM (8-9) talking about Daniel’s debut. Should be fun!

  24. GrandWolf 09/20/2006 at 9:02 PM #

    Dang… I said “FSU” defensive line. How “Freudian” was that?

    And B’Lee… yes. Johnny’s punts sometimes did rise above the “upper deck”

    Literally. I will attest to that having seen it first hand.

    (Should have seen the real rainmakers in warm-ups!) 🙂

  25. packman12 09/21/2006 at 12:16 AM #

    GrandWolf-I was at the Florida game too. Johnny really didn’t get in on the two-point conversation when he dove for the pylon. But most State fans would never admit that. Thanks goodness there was no replay! On second thought, replay officials probably would’ve gotten it wrong anyway.

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