A Vivid Look at the National Championship Match-up - Part 3

[Vivid]

'Twas the night before kickoff, and all through the land,
The tension was building, excitement ran grand;
The stadiums were prepped by the crews with great care,
In hopes that a champion soon would be crowned there;

Baylor and Tennessee, their seasons on the line,
Each dreaming of victory and glory divine;
Coach Vivid paced his office, game plans in his grip,
While Tsweezy reviewed films of each offensive trip;

Travis Knebel visualized throws in his head,
As Brandon Savage's nerves filled him with dread;
The weight of their schools' hopes upon their shoulders lay,
As they tried to rest up for the upcoming play;

When out on the field there arose such a clatter,
Both coaches sprang up to see what was the matter.
Away to the windows they flew in a dash,
Tore open the blinds with a thunderous crash.

The lights on the turf of the well-manicured field
Gave a luster of prime-time to each painted shield,
When what to their wondering eyes should appear,
But their teams on the gridiron, faces showing no fear,

With determination and skill oh so slick,
They knew in a moment this game would be epic.
More rapid than eagles, the players they came,
And the coaches whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

"Now, Knebel! Now, Hinojosa! Now, Prochnow and Mozgov!
On, receivers! On, kickers! On, defense attack!
To the top of the polls! To the championship ring!
Now dash away! Dash away! Give it everything!"

As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So onto the field the fierce players they flew,
With hearts full of courage, and school spirit too.

And then, in a twinkling, they heard in the dome
The roaring of fans, who had all made it home.
As they drew in their breath, and were turning around,
Down the tunnel the teams came with a bound.

They were dressed all in uniforms, from helmets to cleats,
Their jerseys embellished with numbers and pleats;
A bundle of plays they had stored in their minds,
And they looked like warriors of all different kinds.

Vivid's eyes -- how they sparkled! Tsweezy's, how steely!
Savage’s arm was primed, Knebel’s legs feeling freewheely!
Their game faces drawn up like bows pulled so tight,
And the sweat on their brows shimmered under the lights;

The refs gripped their whistles held tight in their teeth,
And the headsets encircled the coaches like wreaths;
The captains stepped forward with determined faces,
Ready to lead their teams to their places.

The coin was then tossed, and the captains shook hands,
As millions watched on TVs across many lands;
A nod of the head to their teammates so dear,
Soon gave them to know the big moment was here;

They spoke not a word, but went straight to their work,
Lined up on the field; then turned with a jerk,
And raising their hands to signal all's ready,
They prepared for kickoff, nerves barely steady;

The kicker approached, to his team gave a whistle,
And the ball flew through air like the down of a thistle.
But they heard the announcer exclaim with delight,
"Let the championship begin! What a glorious night!”