A Strange Fall Breeze Blows through Michigan's Summer

Midway through another beautiful Michigan summer, there is an odd breeze blowing through the state; a breeze that has not blown through our state in many moons.

Some things happen during Michigan’s summer every year. For instance, we are accustomed to the Tigers playing well enough in the first half of the season only to break our hearts in some fashion after the All-Star break.

But other events we are not as familiar with, like the Pistons becoming the Clippers, leave us wondering what direction they are headed. Nor are we used to watching the Red Wings age before our eyes while other teams are getting younger, faster, and better.

But just when we want to bury our heads in our pillows and cry over the days of yesteryear, a strange breeze of enthusiasm blows over our souls. This enthusiasm has a weird football emotion tied to it, but it can’t be Michigan football...can it?

We have not been excited about Michigan football for awhile now, and the realization that we are worse than the Indiana football program is a sad, but true, reality. The Spartans have not only jumped leap years ahead of the Wolverines in basketball, but it seems their football program is headed down the expressway while Rich Rod still has not figured out how to turn off the side streets.

If our feeling of enthusiasm is not rooted in Michigan football expectations, or Pistons retooling, or a Tigers pennant push, or a big Red Wings signing, then what team is left here?

No. Come on! Really? No, really? Them? But they have been bad for so long.

As unbelievable as it may sound the Detroit Lions have somehow convinced us that watching football this fall may not involve tears, Tylenol, or a bottle of Pepto. No one here is talking Super Bowl, heck, most will not even utter the "p" word.

But the fact that people are uttering about the Lions says something about their offseason and the fantasies of our youth growing together to form a winner. We have had a beautiful stadium for a while now, but we have never been able to watch a team play there.

Last year at this time, people in the state had successfully held the Lions at an arm’s length away. Sure, we’d watch every game, but we knew we’d lose before it started so the feelings of frustration, shattered hopes, and beliefs never hindered our Sunday evenings. We developed a way to love, but not care. Deep down though, we want to care...we have been waiting to care.

Last year, Matthew Stafford showed flashes of greatness that made us dream of a time where maturity would reign supreme, and his talents would take us to the Promised Land. He has a long way to go, but there is no quarterback controversy here.

Bryant Johnson and Derrick Williams failed to help out the rookie quarterback which really hurt Calvin Johnson. This year, the signing of Nate Burleson, along with Tony Scheffler, and a rehabbed Brandon Pettigrew should allow Calvin Johnson more one-on-one coverage. Along with a true game-breaker in rookie Jahvid Best, and the Lions should have a great mix of youth and talent.

The thought of our team actually cutting up someone else’s secondary for once makes us all smile, which has not happened since the pre-Millen years—and even those smiles were grins.

Sure, our defense will continue to be a question mark. The Lions secondary has more holes than a cribbage board, but it also has one strong piece as well. Louis Delmas is the second coming of Bennie Blades, and his intense passion and bone-crushing hits make him a fan’s favorite. The rest of the defense has pieces to build a solid foundation.

DeAndre Levy has a chance to show everyone that he was the steal of the 2009 draft. Also, Ndamukong Suh has the chance to be the face of Detroit sports for the next 15 years if he reaches his maximum potential.

Although many of us have these feelings, we also understand that we are the Lions and there is a possibility that every single one of these players named could be busts. We could go through eight more losing seasons and constantly be a lead joke on the Kimmel Show.

But maybe this fall breeze in the summer could be the Football God’s reminding us we deserve to dream too. Hopefully, these dreams will be realized with our eyes open this football season.