May The Schwartz Be With You

A very excellent evening to all of you in Lions Land,

Before I begin with Jim Schwartz becoming our new head coach let me share with all of you a few things.

Every season the Lions host a kick-off luncheon that benefits Detroit area charitites which is admirable. This past aseason like the one before I attended with my good friend Darin. This luncheon is sort of a rally for the team, the coaches and last but not least, us hardcore fans. You eat lunch, the food is good not very filling and depending on your table assignment a player may sit at your table. I had WR Brandon Middleton at mine, a really great guy. This luncheon is about what to expect with the coming season, they give awards to players for most improved, etc., coaches give speeches and also to encourage the fans. Lots of optimism and hope abounded.

This hope and optimism encouraged me to host a Welcome Back NFL season party and (sorry the venue was small everyone the next one will be bigger) which some of you attended. We quickly saw the Lions get smashed 34-21 by the Atlanta Falcons, down 21-0 before we started to put points on the board. As the season progressed we saw loss after loss accumulating into our now infamous 0-16 season with thee worst defense in the league.

Hope and faith are requirements if your a Lions fan. If the Cardinals can go to the NFC Championship one game away from the Super Bowl so can we! When Matt Millen was fired and Martin Mayhew was interim General Manager and Tom Lewand was interim President, I was counting the weeks until this terrible season was over and a 0-16 season would finally force William Clay Ford's hand to actually put together a solid football team. Lions fans would have sold their first new born's soul for a Scott Pioli or a Floyd Reese to be GM. When Lewand and Mayhew were promoted from their interim titles, I like many of you felt betrayed, discouraged and felt there was no hope. The sweeping changes we were all hoping for never happened other than Rod Marinelli and that joke of a DC Joe Barry getting fired.

This brings me to the concept of hope. Titans Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz has agreed to a four year deal as head coach of the Lions. He was the leading candidate but I was worried when they interviewed Miami Assistant Coach Todd Bowles that we were going to get stuck with another Rod Marinelli. He would be the sacrificial lamb as to why the Lions are as bad as they are. His resume is a solid one. In a league where coordinators get fired all of the time he has been with Titans Head Coach Jeff Fisher for 10 years and Coach Fisher has given Jim Schwartz a ringing endorsement.

Everyone will agree that the French Army had a better defense against the Germans during WWII then the Lions defense and Jim Schwartz will strengthen our defense. Jim Schwartz has talent scout experience, served as DC for one of the league's top defenses, is a brilliant tactitioner graduating second in his class at Georgetown with a degree in Economics. Bill Simonson of the Huge Show and Tom Killer Kowalsky like this hire. I love this hire.

One question has been answered but others remain. Who will he bring on as DC, OC and other assistants? Will any of the other coaches be retained? Which players will stay and shown the door? Will he have any say in personnel decisions? What will be his strategy in the April draft with us having the number one overall? Lots of questions but there is hope where there was none. I am willing to give Mayhew the benefit of the doubt. He is off to a good start with the Roy Williams trade and the hiring of Jim Schwartz as Head Coach. Tonight when we put our heads down on our pillows and go to sleep we can dream of a better future for our Lions instead of the nightmares that has plagued us.

May The Schwartz Be With You and GO LIONS!