Hello.  It’s good to be back.  You know, the hardest part about being idle for almost a whole week (which felt like it went by in dog weeks) was looking on powerlessly as all those news cycles went down.  Witness:

• The basketball team went 2-0, albeit not overly impressively.
• The football team went 0-1, albeit not overly impressively.
• The field hockey team reached yet another championship.
• Power forward Ashton Pankey (ranked 36 among power forwards) committed to Maryland, and should be a solid puzzle piece next year.
• A football game on non-computer TV…does not compute!

But then something happened that I just couldn’t ignore, that DEMANDED we get this site up. Maryland punter Travis Baltz — The Baltz Man — is done for the season.

You know, you go through life hoping never to confront something like this.  That’s why I think part of me knew this all along.

You go on ahead and cry.   

If you’re one of those callous souls, thinking “he’s just a punter,” then I’m afraid you haven’t been taking in much Maryland football this season. Just a punter?!?!?  This guy can do it all, I tells ya. The End-Over-End. The Big Boom. The High Looper. The Frozen Rope. The Barking Pooch. I once saw him use the masse to spin the ball out of bounds at like the 2. It was unbelievable – it was Tiger Woods spinning an iron shot toward the cup. Poetry.

Oh, you think I’m exaggerating? Well, maybe he wasn’t having the greatest season. But let me repeat: have you SEEN Maryland football this year.

I should look on the bright side, though. The Baltz Man is only a junior. So if he made All-ACC last year and was a Ray Guy Finalist this year, imagine what he can do next year. Plus, the injury was to his finger, not to his leg — that fine, golden punting leg — so he should be back to full steam next fall. Until then, I’ll just lay back and bide my time…waiting for the triumphant return of The Baltz Man. Perhaps I’ll get a countdown widget.

Hope you like the new site, by the way.