[Hulk01]

Very nice tribute by Fitzgerald.

I was stopped when I read the Kevin's dad was 64.  My dad died at that age, too, totally unexpected; he never missed a day of work or play in his life, save for a hernia operation in his late 50's.

But I was ten years older then than Kevin is now.  Had I been that age and in college at the time, I would not have been as prepared to deal with the loss of my idol.  Two things gave me some comfort, and I hope they give Kevin this, too,

First, I quickly realized I would always have him with me, somehow.  And I do; he is dead but not gone

And I felt so grateful that of all the fathers I might have had, I had this one, and all that he gave me for so many years of my life.

But these realizations only came some weeks after his death.  Unlike Kevin, I did not have to live for months with the grief and fear that Kevin must have felt--the fear of losing dad and trying to imagine a good life without him. Kevin must have felt that for months I can imagine his pain and hope he soon finds peace, comfort, and gratitude foe what he had rather than merely the pain of what he has lost.

[Hulk01]

Very nice tribute by Fitzgerald.

I was stopped when I read the Kevin's dad was 64.  My dad died at that age, too, totally unexpected; he never missed a day of work or play in his life, save for a hernia operation in his late 50's.

But I was ten years older then than Kevin is now.  Had I been that age and in college at the time, I would not have been as prepared to deal with the loss of my idol.  Two things gave me some comfort, and I hope they give Kevin this, too,

First, I quickly realized I would always have him with me, somehow.  And I do; he is dead but not gone

And I felt so grateful that of all the fathers I might have had, I had this one, and all that he gave me for so many years of my life.

But these realizations only came some weeks after his death.  Unlike Kevin, I did not have to live for months with the grief and fear that Kevin must have felt--the fear of losing dad and trying to imagine a good life without him. Kevin must have felt that for months I can imagine his pain and hope he soon finds peace, comfort, and gratitude foe what he had rather than merely the pain of what he has lost.

[pcgoode]

Kevin is a class act. He must have known that his father was very close to the end when he played against UCLA. His stellar performance in that game is all that much more amazing to me given what he was going through. I'm happy that his father saw what I think was his best game at Stanford. I hope he comes back next year and really demonstrates on a consistent basis what a great athlete he is.

[pcgoode]

Kevin is a class act. He must have known that his father was very close to the end when he played against UCLA. His stellar performance in that game is all that much more amazing to me given what he was going through. I'm happy that his father saw what I think was his best game at Stanford. I hope he comes back next year and really demonstrates on a consistent basis what a great athlete he is.

[Griffins78]

I have been thinking about Kevin Hogan and what he and his family has been going through.

I suddenly lost my dad right after graduating at the age of 22. It was completely unexpected and a big shock. Like many college kids - I thought I knew a lot about the world that my parents didn't. But, I was just entering the stage in my life where I really didn't know anything about being an adult. I was just beginning to really appreciate my dad and to want a close relationship with him just before he was taken away. As the oldest child, it left a big hole in all of our lives.

Since then, we've lost several close family members to cancer that went through difficult and painful transitions. We would remember, value, and look for moments of joy. It makes me look back at this season in the context of knowing how difficult it must have been for Kevin Hogan to go through school let alone a difficult football season. That he and his coaches and teammates did it without excuse makes me feel bad that we fans were so critical of his performance. He had things that were a lot more important to deal with.

I'm so glad Kevin had such a great UCLA game and that his dad got to watch it. I have a feeling it will be a lasting memory that gave them one of those moments of joy.

[Griffins78]

I have been thinking about Kevin Hogan and what he and his family has been going through.

I suddenly lost my dad right after graduating at the age of 22. It was completely unexpected and a big shock. Like many college kids - I thought I knew a lot about the world that my parents didn't. But, I was just entering the stage in my life where I really didn't know anything about being an adult. I was just beginning to really appreciate my dad and to want a close relationship with him just before he was taken away. As the oldest child, it left a big hole in all of our lives.

Since then, we've lost several close family members to cancer that went through difficult and painful transitions. We would remember, value, and look for moments of joy. It makes me look back at this season in the context of knowing how difficult it must have been for Kevin Hogan to go through school let alone a difficult football season. That he and his coaches and teammates did it without excuse makes me feel bad that we fans were so critical of his performance. He had things that were a lot more important to deal with.

I'm so glad Kevin had such a great UCLA game and that his dad got to watch it. I have a feeling it will be a lasting memory that gave them one of those moments of joy.

[fullmetal]

That UCLA game was the bowl game (I mean, Maryland, come on).  What a great performance by Hogan to hold it together and give his dad one last game.  Shaw's refusal to criticize his players, particularly Hogan, was absolutely high-character coaching through a tough time for both Hogan and the team. 

[fullmetal]

That UCLA game was the bowl game (I mean, Maryland, come on).  What a great performance by Hogan to hold it together and give his dad one last game.  Shaw's refusal to criticize his players, particularly Hogan, was absolutely high-character coaching through a tough time for both Hogan and the team. 

[Langdude]

I saw once on Kevin Hogan's twitter feed, before a game, the message "AMDG." For many, this may have been cryptic. It is an abbreviation for "ad majorem Dei gloriam," Latin for "for the greater glory of God," and a motto of the Jesuits. It was likely a slogan at Kevin's high school, Gonzaga in D.C.

In any case, I do hope that during this difficult time - after months of having to focus on football and schoolwork while his heart was on the other side of the continent, all the while keeping the pain largely to himself - he can draw comfort in his family, friends, and his faith, which includes in its liturgy another relevant phrase: dona nobis pacem.

-m.

[Langdude]

I saw once on Kevin Hogan's twitter feed, before a game, the message "AMDG." For many, this may have been cryptic. It is an abbreviation for "ad majorem Dei gloriam," Latin for "for the greater glory of God," and a motto of the Jesuits. It was likely a slogan at Kevin's high school, Gonzaga in D.C.

In any case, I do hope that during this difficult time - after months of having to focus on football and schoolwork while his heart was on the other side of the continent, all the while keeping the pain largely to himself - he can draw comfort in his family, friends, and his faith, which includes in its liturgy another relevant phrase: dona nobis pacem.

-m.

[yvonne]

That UCLA game was the bowl game (I mean, Maryland, come on).  What a great performance by Hogan to hold it together and give his dad one last game.  Shaw's refusal to criticize his players, particularly Hogan, was absolutely high-character coaching through a tough time for both Hogan and the team.

I'm a fan of Shaw, but c'mon, you've set an extremely low bar to clear! What kind of human being knowing, what Hogan was going through, would publicly criticize him?

As for Maryland, well, what you just wrote would be bulletin board material were it uttered by a player or coach. Besides, without the UCLA game, there would be no Maryland. It was necessary, but it wasn't the bowl. Take care of Maryland, and a lot of this year's troubles will fade. Don't take care of them, and they will magnify.

[yvonne]

That UCLA game was the bowl game (I mean, Maryland, come on).  What a great performance by Hogan to hold it together and give his dad one last game.  Shaw's refusal to criticize his players, particularly Hogan, was absolutely high-character coaching through a tough time for both Hogan and the team.

I'm a fan of Shaw, but c'mon, you've set an extremely low bar to clear! What kind of human being knowing, what Hogan was going through, would publicly criticize him?

As for Maryland, well, what you just wrote would be bulletin board material were it uttered by a player or coach. Besides, without the UCLA game, there would be no Maryland. It was necessary, but it wasn't the bowl. Take care of Maryland, and a lot of this year's troubles will fade. Don't take care of them, and they will magnify.

[fullmetal]

/shrug.  Wlat Harris, for one, I could imagine saying that QB performance was unacceptable.  Better coaches might even say that QB performance was shaky, uncharacteristic, rough, etc.

Maryland's best wins are over Iowa, Penn St., and maybe Syracuse.  Maryland is also not currently ranked.  It's not a stretch to say that beating #8 UCLA was a greater upset opportunity than playing Maryland.

[fullmetal]

/shrug.  Wlat Harris, for one, I could imagine saying that QB performance was unacceptable.  Better coaches might even say that QB performance was shaky, uncharacteristic, rough, etc.

Maryland's best wins are over Iowa, Penn St., and maybe Syracuse.  Maryland is also not currently ranked.  It's not a stretch to say that beating #8 UCLA was a greater upset opportunity than playing Maryland.

[StanFan88]

I can only imagine how hard it was for #8 to get out there and play this season.

I hope he goes out on Dec 30 and plays the game of his life for his dad.

[StanFan88]

I can only imagine how hard it was for #8 to get out there and play this season.

I hope he goes out on Dec 30 and plays the game of his life for his dad.