Ode to Sarah

If you're a Husker fan you know by now that the volleyballers were swept Saturday evening by Cal. The saddest part of that is that Husker Sarah Pavan's career as a Husker is over.  What do you do when the weight of the world is on your shoulders? I suppose
that you shrug.

Wait a minute baby...
Stay with me awhile
Said youd give me light
But you never told be about the fire

Sarah Pavan. Beauty in motion.

I love Sarah Pavan. I do. But Mrs Corn Nation and I have been married 18 years already so I've already found the love of my life. Oh, but Sarah. She's the uber athlete. And she's the uber student. She's the full package.

Drowning in the sea of love
Where everyone would love to drown
And now its gone
It doesnt matter anymore
When you build your house
Call me home

I wanted to write an article about how Sarah Pavan is the greatest Husker athlete ever, in any sport. I was counting on a second national title to provide the impetus for it. With the Huskers' loss against Cal,  Pavan didn't win two national titles.  I wanted her to win two national titles. She didn't.

I guess she didn't prove herself, right? Such stinking thinking. She doesn't need to prove herself to anyone. She has won so many awards. And a 4.0 with a major in biochemistry.

She didn't win two national titles, though. I think most people thought that was a given, with Pavan and Houghtelling on the same team (not to mention Tracy Stalls).

Sara, youre the poet in my heart
Never change, never stop
And now its gone
It doesnt matter what for
When you build your house
I'll come by

Still, she is beautiful, Sarah Pavan. I don't want her to go. I don't want her to leave the University of Nebraska. We talk so much about the toughness of football. What about the toughness of trying to return a kill by these young women? Doesn't that count for something just as tough as football? It should. Dammit.

Drowning in the sea of love
Where everyone would love to drown
And now its gone
It doesnt matter anymore
When you build your house
Call me home

It's not just Sarah. It's Tracy. And it's Christina. And it's Maggie. Their careers are over. At least at the University of Nebraska as volleyballers. Does it mean anything less that  they couldn't repeat? I wouldn't love my daughter less regardless of the games she won or lost and that's what they all are, daughters of the Nebraska spirit.

All I ever wanted
Was to know that you were dreaming
(theres a heartbeat
And it never really died)

They are forever Huskers, Sarah, Maggie, Tracy, Christina. Over their career, they won 125 games and lost only seven. It's Monday and I have to get to work. Should you and I get that percentage of winning in whatever we do, the world would be a significantly better place.

So, good bye Sarah Pavan. And Christina, and Tracy and Maggie. Thanks for what you've given us. I only wish that it would have lasted a little while longer.