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The Detroit Lions have a new head coach. After an 0-16 season, it was inevitable William Clay Ford Sr. would pull the plug on the Rod Marinelli regime. Of course, most owners would have broomed the coaching staff AND the front office, but Senior decided to keep Martin Mayhew and Tom Lewand as general manager and president, respectively, and they were part of the crew that led to the most embarrassing season in NFL history.
I have been a Lions fan for nearly 30 years and Monte Clark was in charge when I fell in love with the Honolulu Blue and Silver. Since then, I've seen Darryl Rogers, Wayne Fontes, Bobby Ross, Gary Moeller, Marty Mornhinweg, Steve Mariucci, Dick Jauron and Marinelli take there turns on the sideline only to fail time after time. Despite the progression of head coaches who couldn't get the job done, I was excited each and every time they rolled out a new face.
"This is the one to make us a winner!" I would say, and then reality would hit a few seasons or games or snaps later and I'd say, "Man, are they ever gonna fire this guy soon?"
It's been a frustrating ride as a Lions fan, to say the least. So when the Lions unveiled Schwartz I wanted to be skeptical. I wanted to say, "He'll be like all the others. He'll talk a good game but fail to deliver on the field."
I wanted to scoff. I wanted to be negative because the Lions haven't given me anything to be positive about in years. I wanted to do a lot of things, but what I did was get a little excited. I know, having hope in the Lions is, at best, self-destructive behavior but I couldn't help myself.
Schwartz seems like a great hire. He was the defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans and was very successful. His defenses were always among the best in the NFL. He also learned under Titans head coach Jeff Fisher and New England head coach Bill Belichick when the two were in Cleveland - nice pedigree.
Schwartz has also said all the right things unlike Marinelli - who said he wouldn't change what he was doing because he believed in his system, despite the fact he was one of the losingest coaches in NFL history. Schwartz said he will adjust to his talent. He will make changes when changes are needed. He will not be locked into one style and stick with it no matter how bad things are going.
I decided to enjoy the moment. As a fan, I am going to watch with enthusiasm the next few weeks leading up to draft and I am going to give Schwartz the benefit of the doubt. My actions may lead to more heartbreak but I don't care. Part of the joy of sports is the highs and low. I know there have been far too many lows with the Lions but I don't care, I am going to invest some feelings into the Lions.
That being stated, I am not going to invest too much in terms of emotion. I will hold a little kernel of doubt so i won't be crushed if Schwartz doesn't get the job done. Also, I won't be investing any cash in the Lions until they start winning. I'll watch the games on TV and read about the team and I will wear my T-shirt but I won't spend money on tickets or the overpriced refreshments at Ford Field until they sniff at a winning record.
I know, if/when the Lions break my heart, don't come crying to you. I can't say I won't complain or whine if Schwartz is another rusty chink in Ford's armor, but for now, I am going to smile and hope for the best.
Feel free to trash me if you must, but when the Lions are lining for their Super Bowl victory parade, don't ask me for a ride to the celebration. (Ok, I am dreaming, but that what's sports are all about - dreaming big and for the past 30 years, all I have been able to do is dream.)
Until next time, enjoy Michigan and hope for the best when it comes to the Lions!
January 18th, 2009 at 2:21 am
Poor Jim Schwartz … his career is now just about over … sorry if I don’t share your enthusiasm, but I mean, c’ mon! It’s the Lions!