The Handshake Blues

  In tennis, the handshake at the end is a moment to snap out of it and appreciate the competition. The one on one time often produces memorable emotions.

 In college football, the coach's handshake at the end embodies the same moment of clarity, and also produces some hilarious scenes.

 At the end of the Maryland v PSU game yesterday, it looked like Mike Locksley of MD was going to wrestle James Franklin. Franklin broke away, but not without shouting, "if that's the way you feel then fine." You can't take those two anywhere.

 At first, the meeting of Florida's Billy Napier and FSU's Mike Norvell looked even more heated than Locksley and Franklin's. Norvell initially rejected the handshake to focus on Napier's players trying to plant their flag at midfield, at the very same moment. 

 But this handshake became perhaps the most layered in history. Napier chased after Norvell, along with everyone's state troopers in tow. He actually gets Norvell to stop and shake his hand, which was impressive. But then Napier showed the true essence of the handshake. He sprinted alongside Norvell and began pulling his players off the field. 

 Not to be outdone, at the end of 8 overtime sessions, yes 8, to the point where they are just doing 2 point conversion tries, Georgia Coach Kirby Smart and Georgia Tech coach Brent Key looked like drunk cousins at Christmas as they embraced. Kirby in his visor that the 1990's desperately wants back, and Brent in his cap that no one will tel him doesn't fit, did the handshake justice. 

 Perhaps some work needs to be done on conveying the handshake to the current crop of college football players though. The brawl is on the field, y'all, while the clock is running. How some of these players act while their coaches are surrounded by police came back to haunt Michigan yesterday. Ohio State police broke out the pepper spray on everyone. 

 No pepper spray at the handshake ! I'm so old we used to actually shake hands and just say, "nice match," no matter what. Hahahaha

"Consolidated Break by Greg Gunther" 

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