An evening with Steve Addazio

Last night Brad Bates and Steve Addazio hosted a Town Hall. It was nice of Brad Bates to show up, but it was really the Steve Addazio show. Like a veteran performer, he mixed in a little comedy, a little drama and sent the crowd home happy. Per the recappers:

Make 'Em Laugh
Last night Addazio broke out his Spaz impression! No one got a picture of it, but I now have a new white whale. I must see our new coach openly mock our old sad sack coach. I guess it involved crossing your arms and sulking. I don't get the sense that this was premeditated. Addazio seems more emotional and seat of your pants in these types of situations. But his instinct to mock Spaz was right on with his audience. It also shows a sense of humor, something that has been sorely lacking around football for a few years.

Poetry Night at the Coffee House
Addazio read his new favorite poem the "The Oak Tree" by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr. He read this early this winter at some booster meetings. A bombastic, rah-rah football guy stopping for poetry is certainly different, but once again, it went over well with the crowd. Here is the text:

"The Oak Tree" 
by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.

A mighty wind blew night and day.
It stole the Oak Tree's leaves away.
Then snapped its boughs 
and pulled its bark
until the Oak was tired and stark. 

But still the Oak Tree held its ground 
while other trees fell all around. 
The weary wind gave up and spoke, 
"How can you still be standing Oak?" 

The Oak Tree said, I know that you 
can break each branch of mine in two, 
carry every leaf away, 
shake my limbs and make me sway. 

But I have roots stretched in the earth, 
growing stronger since my birth. 
You'll never touch them, for you see 
they are the deepest part of me. 

Until today, I wasn't sure 
of just how much I could endure. 
But now I've found with thanks to you, 
I'm stronger than I ever knew.

Always be selling
Ultimately this will be decided on the field, but Addazio does understand selling his vision to BC fans. He said he dreams of driving up to Alumni as it is surrounded by tailgating fans. He talked about fans noise and making the game day experience more exciting. He emphasized the he's in charge of recruiting and thinks BC is a sleeping giant. It was exactly what everyone wants to hear.

If not for his final season with Temple, I would be chugging the Addazio Kool-Aid. I like his coordinators, I like his passion and I like his work ethic. Now he just needs to translate those things onto the field. One thing is clear though from these meetings: Addazio knows how to work a room. Comedy and poetry are a tough tight rope for anyone to walk in front of a crowd and even more so when you are public figure and football coach. Most of his peers try to remain deadly serious (think TOB or Saban). Addazio is letting us see who he really is. Like anything else this is risky. But if he wins, it will make him that much more endearing.