83 Degreez: Setting the Stage
by Daniel Wilcox
Dec 3, 2007, 3:04AM
Dec 3, 2007, 3:04AM
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Alright, I have a huge game ahead of me after sitting out so many weeks. It’s going to be a great feeling to get back on the field with my teammates. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time, and it’s finally here. There is no bigger stage in the regular season than Monday Night Football, and we’re doing it against the best team in the league right now. This could be the best team in the history of football the way they’re beating people.
This is a big game for me. I feel like I have a lot to prove and a lot of things to get accustomed to. A lot of people are in the swing of playing every week, and obviously I haven’t been, so I’m looking forward to see what I can do.
I have to be honest. I usually try to keep myself at an even keel, but not this week. I have a lot of built up energy and frustration after being injured for so long. I went full-speed in practice last week to make sure I would be in shape and get my legs back. I want to play with a lot of emotion, with a lot of fire under me. I feel like this offense needs to get jump-started, and if I’m going to have an impact on it, I want it to be a positive impact, not negative. If I go out there and ply with that fire, I hope my teammates will see that and say, “Hey, Wilcox is playing as hard as he can. Let’s go!” You never know if that’s the spark we need.
Of course, this week I’ll get to see Adalius [Thomas], especially because my position is typically covered by a linebacker. A.D. and I are really good friends. I call him my “Unk” for uncle. It’s going to be weird to see him lining up across from me with another color jersey trying to headhunt for me. I expect him to play hard, and if he gets a chance to take a good shot at me, he should take it. If I get a chance to shake him or break his ankles, I’m going to give it to him.
I can’t wait to see that smile and winning personality before the game, but once we’re playing, we’re both going to be full-blooded animals. I’m going to make every catch I get an opportunity to make, and he’s going to try and stop me. That’s how it’s going to be. If I know Unk, he’s definitely going to put a hand on me, but I’m looking forward to raising that competition level of the game. That’s what you play for.
I got the chance to play another competitive game with the kids of Thurgood Marshall High School last week through the Homeroom Huddle. We went paintballing with the winners of the homeroom competition for grades and being on-time, things like that. I have to thank Downtown Locker Room for helping my Empowerment M.I.N.D.S. Foundation set up the event. This is so much fun, and I think the kids would agree. My cousin actually flew up from Atlanta to play, and we had Mark Clayton, Jason Brown and Steve McNair out there. Steve couldn’t play because of injury, but it’s a wonderful thing to have that support from your teammates. All they have to do is sign some balls and shake some hands, and it means so much to these kids.
The thing about playing paintball with the kids is that they are always out to get me, but I was prepared with a squad of guys from the school that had my back. We had strategy to our game plan, and my team went 3-0. I’ll write that again: 3-0! Now you know you can’t mess with Wilcox on the paintball field. (haha)
Imagine if the starting quarterback of your home team came out to your high school when you were a kid. For me, that would have been unbelievable to have a guy like Andre Rison or Deion Sanders come out to Decatur High (Wilcox’s high school). Oh man, that’s huge. We’re going roller skating next week, so tune in for that.
I’d like to thank everyone for reading the 83 Degreez blog, as always. Thank you for letting me share my life with you with every blog.
I’d also like to send my blessings out to Sean Taylor and his family in this tragic time. We’ve got a big game, so I hope the fans of Baltimore are behind us Monday night.
Happy holidays, and I’ll be back soon.
- D. Wilcox #83
This is a big game for me. I feel like I have a lot to prove and a lot of things to get accustomed to. A lot of people are in the swing of playing every week, and obviously I haven’t been, so I’m looking forward to see what I can do.
I have to be honest. I usually try to keep myself at an even keel, but not this week. I have a lot of built up energy and frustration after being injured for so long. I went full-speed in practice last week to make sure I would be in shape and get my legs back. I want to play with a lot of emotion, with a lot of fire under me. I feel like this offense needs to get jump-started, and if I’m going to have an impact on it, I want it to be a positive impact, not negative. If I go out there and ply with that fire, I hope my teammates will see that and say, “Hey, Wilcox is playing as hard as he can. Let’s go!” You never know if that’s the spark we need.
Of course, this week I’ll get to see Adalius [Thomas], especially because my position is typically covered by a linebacker. A.D. and I are really good friends. I call him my “Unk” for uncle. It’s going to be weird to see him lining up across from me with another color jersey trying to headhunt for me. I expect him to play hard, and if he gets a chance to take a good shot at me, he should take it. If I get a chance to shake him or break his ankles, I’m going to give it to him.
I can’t wait to see that smile and winning personality before the game, but once we’re playing, we’re both going to be full-blooded animals. I’m going to make every catch I get an opportunity to make, and he’s going to try and stop me. That’s how it’s going to be. If I know Unk, he’s definitely going to put a hand on me, but I’m looking forward to raising that competition level of the game. That’s what you play for.
I got the chance to play another competitive game with the kids of Thurgood Marshall High School last week through the Homeroom Huddle. We went paintballing with the winners of the homeroom competition for grades and being on-time, things like that. I have to thank Downtown Locker Room for helping my Empowerment M.I.N.D.S. Foundation set up the event. This is so much fun, and I think the kids would agree. My cousin actually flew up from Atlanta to play, and we had Mark Clayton, Jason Brown and Steve McNair out there. Steve couldn’t play because of injury, but it’s a wonderful thing to have that support from your teammates. All they have to do is sign some balls and shake some hands, and it means so much to these kids.
The thing about playing paintball with the kids is that they are always out to get me, but I was prepared with a squad of guys from the school that had my back. We had strategy to our game plan, and my team went 3-0. I’ll write that again: 3-0! Now you know you can’t mess with Wilcox on the paintball field. (haha)
Imagine if the starting quarterback of your home team came out to your high school when you were a kid. For me, that would have been unbelievable to have a guy like Andre Rison or Deion Sanders come out to Decatur High (Wilcox’s high school). Oh man, that’s huge. We’re going roller skating next week, so tune in for that.
I’d like to thank everyone for reading the 83 Degreez blog, as always. Thank you for letting me share my life with you with every blog.
I’d also like to send my blessings out to Sean Taylor and his family in this tragic time. We’ve got a big game, so I hope the fans of Baltimore are behind us Monday night.
Happy holidays, and I’ll be back soon.
- D. Wilcox #83
