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“BREAKING NEWS!"
The Mules are the first MIAA Team to make the playoffs in 2006!

Well Mules fans, you wanted the playoffs and you got ‘em early. While a three-loss team is essentially * out of the post-season picture at season’s end (without some help from other teams) and a one-loss team can usually afford one more slip up during the course of the season, that leaves the only two-loss team in the league, Central Missouri, going into this Saturday’s game with every game being “essentially” a playoff game.

THE QUESTION
Are the Mules hungry enough to make this season count? Will last Saturday’s loss serve as a wake up call for the Mules? Before we attempt to answer that, let’s briefly discuss last week’s game and take a quick look ahead to this week’s game.

THE TRUMAN LOSS
Guess what folks, the Bulldogs are back! The team with more MIAA titles than any in league history has turned things around. Now pay close attention to what I just said, the Bulldogs have “turned things around” which means… they are “headed back in the right direction” and are “no longer a team on a downhill slide”. I did NOT say they were there yet. I’ll credit Truman with having a strong running game and the ability to pressure the passer; two key components to a team that hopes to beat the Mules in 2006. Make no bones about it, last Saturday was an upset, but the Bulldogs got it, not by having a good run game or even the ability to get to TK. They got it by having the proper diet which we’ll discuss at the end of this weeks “Mules Report”.

THE FORT HAYS CONTEST
Now there are “0-fer” teams and there are “0-fer” teams. Last week, Truman was an 0-3 team that had played good teams tough. This week’s 0-4 team is a not so good team that hasn’t played anyone tough. Expect the Mules, even if they play poorly, to bounce back on the road and notch their first MIAA win on the season. While the Tiger’s first two losses against an LSC and an RMAC team, were respectable losses (within one score), their two MIAA Losses were both by 30 or more points, to teams very comparable to the Mules in their level of talent. Yes, the game is on the road, but even a poor performance by the Mules should result in a “W”. Whether the Mules win by 1 or win by 30 or more, I suggest Mules fans reserve judgment until we’ve played the last regular season game.

Okay, so the question again.  Are the Mules hungry enough to make this season count?

THE MENU

CROW PIE
Ingredients:
1 cup - Lofty Expectations
1/3 cup – Statistics
2 cups – Rubbing the Past in Someone’s Face
3 Unfounded Remarks (you may substitute vinegar)
2 Cups – Disrespect (chilled)
1 tbsp – Underestimation
½ tsp – Looking Ahead
½ cup – Blame (optional)
Directions: Mix Lofty Expectations, Statistics, and Rubbing the Past into a large bowl. Blend for 2 weeks until smooth. Slowly mix in Unfounded Remarks. Bake for 1 week and then cool until firm. Whip Disrespect, Underestimation, and Looking Ahead quickly, while still chilled, top Crow Pie and serve immediately. Some like to sprinkle Blame on top while others believe this hides the true taste of the Pie.

As fans, we’ve had our share of Crow Pie, so I might suggest a little Humble Pie instead. I’m getting kind of tired of Crow Pie, so I’m going on a diet. Besides, Humble Pie is better for your health.

CHANGE OF DIET
HUMBLE PIE
Ingredients:
1 cup – Reality
¼ cup – Results
2 cups – School Spirit
3 Compliments (you may use sugar instead)
2 cups – Respect
1 tbsp – Evaluating Match-ups
1 tsp - Staying Focused
½ cup – Deaf Ears (optional)
Directions: Mix reality, Results, and School Spirit by hand until blended. Immediately mix in compliments, bake, and then cool. Mix Respect, Evaluation, and Focus and spread on top. Turn deaf ears toward those trying to serve up something that will spoil your appetite. Eat in generous portions.

I have a theory about this team and about football teams in general. There’s not much difference between a 2-2 team and a 4-0 team except a break here and there.

Had the Mules scored one more time in each of the last two weeks games; had they hauled in one more pass by the QB that hit the intended receiver in the hands; had that one penalty not been called that allowed the other team to sustain a drive rather than suffer a sure “three and out”, we’d be looking at a 4-0 team that instead of being accused of “not being able to pull off the close game” would be “the team that manages to find ways to win”. The problem is, this theory tends to focus on the past and sounds more like excuses, which tend to become an appetizer for more Crow Pie.

I have another, less well known theory, whose focus is all on the future and goes much better with Humble Pie.  There’s not much difference between a 2-2 team and a 14-2 team except their diet.

Substitute a Good Attitude for the excuses. I have found that a “Good Attitude” in the face of adversity is the best appetizer for Humble Pie. You see, a lot of folks think being humble means accepting losing. WRONG! National Championships and humility run hand in hand.

Is this team hungry yet? More importantly, what are they hungry for?

A. Excuses, Crow Pie, and no desert?

…or…

B. Good Attitude, Humble Pie, and if they eat all that’s on their plate, possibly even some desert?

Think of a Good Attitude as you appetizer, Humble Pie as your entrée’ and a National Championship as your “eventual” desert. After all, you are what you eat!

* Note: A team from our own conference played for the National Championship last year with 3 losses going into the playoffs.
 

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