Sick and Tired of Serendipity? OK, for now, this is my final story which falls into the category of Serendipity on Steroids! Do I hear a loud AMEN! out there?
OK, so this Serendipity Story really is Serendipity, and it has to do with all of my favorite football teams. And broader than that, it is about TEAMS in general (and I am not referring to the software program used by the Foxborough Public School System student on-line work).
So, about teams…I reflect to my days as the University Director of Telecommunications at Rutgers University…Those of you who attended my “Talks-Borough” presentation on “Leadership” in January 2024 will recall how much respect I have for the Rutgers University head football coach, Greg Schiano. He coached the Rutgers team from 2001 to 2011 and then resumed in 2020 and coaches there today. While serving as a full time Rutgers employee, I also served in the Army Reserves as a field officer for the West Point Admissions Office. Army and Rutgers would often play each other in football back in Rutgers “pre–Big Ten” era. Those matchups were quite competitive and school spirit for both teams (Rutgers and Army) was quite high during the week preceding the gridiron matchup. I recall with amusement back in 2000-2002 timeframe one of my relatively newly hired employees (a then-new Rutgers graduate) asking me the following question, “Joe, when Army and Rutgers play each other in football, which team do you cheer for?” My first thought was to say “Are you an idiot? I’m an Army grad and Army is my team!” But this was a young, innocent Rutgers man with a question for his almighty telecommunications director, and so I modified my response to the following, “We graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point (as well as those from the US Naval and Air Force Academies) feel that our schools provide the freedom for the rest of the universities in the United States to exist…now, who do you think that I cheer for when Army plays Rutgers?” With confidence, he replied, “Army!” I said, “good answer soldier!”
Before I continue to the Serendipity theme, I highly urge you to read my earlier published story “CK#14 – The Best Job in the US Army (for me) – Rutgers Army ROTC!” which describes my actions in support of the Rutgerrrrrrs team when I served as an assistant professor in the Rutgers Army ROTC Program. I didn’t get thrown into jail for my role in planning the violation of US airspace (yes, REALLY) (this was pre-nine eleven), so I felt comfortable sharing it with you.
I digress…
First of all, I must start this story with an editorial comment about rooting for the home team. Right now I live in the same town where the New England Patriots play. Naturally, most of my Foxborough friends (probably all of them) are New England Patriot fans. Makes total sense, especially since historically they truly have been a “Dynasty” over the years. And the Greatest of All Time, the “GOAT,” Tom Brady, won most of his Super Bowls in a New England Patriots uniform.
Continuing this “team theme,” last December the Army/Navy football game was played right here in Foxborough.
The Army/Navy game is commonly referred to as “America’s Game.” Why you ask? The answer is simple…Both Army and Navy (and Air Force) are fighting for the greatest team known as our country, The United States of AMERICA! That is why my heart swells in pride when I see the below photo of the Army and Navy players.
So, here comes my mid-story plug for US Veterans…. we, the citizens who have CHOSEN to serve the greatest team, AMERICA, all come from somewhere that may not coincide with where we end up. For example, I was born in the Detroit, Michigan area. I went to West Point (New York), then served in Oklahoma, Germany, Holland, Australia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and, for the last 9 months, Massachusetts. Yes, even though I am a retired US Army officer, I am still serving my country in the schools and the community at large here in Foxborough. If you don’t believe me, see the below letter from the Kraft organization:
Despite the above letter, don’t ask me who I would root for if the Detroit Lions ever play the Patriots, I told you where I am from originally. I am a Levey jr. High Jaguar, Southfield High School Warrior, Foxborough High School Warrior, Army Black Knight, Michigan Wolverine, Michigan State Spartan, and Detroit Lions fan. Throw in a University of Oklahoma Sooner (got one of my Master Degrees there) fan for extra measure. And for those of you who subscribe to the thought that only Philadelphia Eagle fans are true patriots, get over yourselves, you just happen to have grown up near Philly, there is nothing better about it than the rest of us growing up where we did. And IF you are a Philly fan reading this, leave my car and property alone, I can fight dirty too!
Whew, finally on to the football miracles of 2023!
The first serendipitous element of this story was mentioned in my November 9, 2023 “Foxtale” story where my son, Ian (named that because “Ian” means “Warrior”) was my hero and I ended up in Foxborough, home of the “Warriors”. I also learned that my Southfield High School has changed its name from the “Blue Jays” to the “Warriors.” So, I am truly a multi-Warriors fan (not Golden State Warriors, though).
As a multi-Warriors fan, in 2023 I attended as many Foxborough High School Warrior football games as I could and was thrilled to attend and observe my Foxborough Warrior football win the Massachusetts High School Championship game on December 1, 2023. SERENDIPITOUSLY, I learned a few days later that my beloved Southfield High School Warrior team won the Michigan State High School football championship on the same weekend!
Speaking of the Army/Navy game, this year’s game was even more special as the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy (awarded to the service academy with the best inter-academy record) was up for grabs if Army could beat Navy. As mentioned briefly in my previous CK#30 Serendipity story, the Army football team positioned themselves to win the CIC trophy by pulling off a major upset in Denver against the highly favored (20 point favored!) Air Force Falcon team. The Army team dominated Air Force that early November 2023 day, reversing the score by beating the Falcons by 20 points (a full 40-point swing between expectations and reality) On Brave Old Army Team! So, the stage was set for Army/Navy 2023, right here in my new home, Foxborough.
In an exciting game, my Army team beat Navy on December 9, 2023 to claim the Commander-in-Chief trophy, adding to my 2023 miracle season results.
Next up was the remainder of the college football playoffs and the NFL playoffs…Being from the state of Michigan, I was naturally pulling for the Michigan Wolverines to beat Ohio State. Michigan beat the undefeated Buckeyes (See CK#9 – Leadership Rivalries – Woody Hayes and the “State Up North) and then proceed to surprise the college football world and ended up being crowned the NCAA National Champions in January 2024.
The only thing left on my dream list was for the Detroit Lions to win the Super Bowl! I would have been happy to see them get to the Super Bowl. For my neighbors and other Patriot fans, let me just say you have been spoiled. I, like you, love Tom Brady (remember, he played for the Michigan Wolverines before he became a New England Patriot!). The Lions ended up one game shy of their first ever Super Bowl THIS year. It won’t be that way forever. They WILL get there soon and they WILL WIN.
But for now, I must be happy with a phrase I borrow from my late, great boss, Don Smith, who once told me, “We can’t let perfect be the enemy of good!”
And so it is… Serendipity on Steroids is complete, the football miracles of 2023 are history and I look forward to seeing what life brings as summer approaches. Stay well and healthy my friends!
Next Up – Substitute Teaching in Foxborough – The Kids call me Colonel? – Stay Tuned!
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