GAME DAY: Today's Decisions Could Decide Friday Night's Matchup of Geneva vs. Rock Island

The fate of the Geneva Vikings varsity football season rests squarely on my shoulders.

Sure, you might think that , Parker Woodworth, Connor Einck, Ben Rogers or any of the other players have something to say about the outcome, and sure, and his staff are due some credit for Geneva's seven-straight conference championships, including .

But the real pressure, the ultimate responsibility, rests here at 730 Downing Place, where a decision must be made this afternoon that almost certainly will profoundly impact the course of Geneva sports history.

I must determine what superstitions to adhere to or abandon, what combination of diet, apparel and routine are most likely to ensure a Viking win.

You think this is easy, don't you? Believe me, a steel-cage chess match between the late Bobby Fischer and the Jeopardy computer Watson wouldn't hold a candle to the permutations going on in my head right now.

Here's a breakdown and analysis:

The Hats

Do I "dance with what brung ya," as the late Geneva football coach Larry Davis used to say, and go for the "Louisville Slugger" cap that carried us through the last year? Go to the tried-and-true U of I cap? Min-Aqua Bats, perhaps? Or switch to the "U.S. Open 2012—Olympic Club" cap that's on my head right now? The answer might surprise you, as I can see you are now on the edge of your seat.

Advantage: U.S. Open cap

Why? Because I don't like carrying over apparel choices from year to year, and we lost the last game of the season 28-10 to the . The Open cap is feeling good, right now.

The Shirt

The Harry Potter Azkaban Prison T-shirt has come on strong this summer. I like the Geneva Vikings shirt I was given by my friend and neighbor. There are a variety of Patch shirts, the green T and the golf shirt with the Patch emblem. Winter weather later in the season will have to be considered, should the Vikings go on a winning streak.

Advanage: Patch golf shirt

Analysis: I lean toward golf shirts generally, and Patch has been berry berry good to me. The Patch emblem is understated and elegant compared to the Patch green T.

Issue: It might be in the dirty clothes hamper. 

The Diet

This is a toughy. (Where's Bobby Fischer? I don't know! I don't know!) Last season, it was a hot dog, mustard and onions. Diet Coke. No chips, because they didn't have them at all the away games. I'm thinking pizza—universal, quick and easy. Possibly a brat. This might be one of those impulse decisions upon which a season rests.

Advantage: Hot dog combo

Analysis: I know, I said I didn't like to repeat from previous seasons. But that's apparrel. And you really have to go with food items you know you can land each week. I wouldn't mind a pork chop sandwich, but you just can't find a pork chop sandwich everywhere in the UEC. (Plus there's that whole mid-'80s fiasco at Sycamore that cost us dearly.)

The routine: Arrive sometime during the first half of the sophomore game. Purchase hotdog and . Eat. Start Tweeting sophomore game. Shoot photos of sophomore game and post story. Use facilities (TMI). Tweet varsity game. Post "At the Half" story. Interview coach. Post final story. Or go home and post final story. Drink beer. Not sure how daughter's-band-pack chauffeuring will impact home games. Options? We'll see. If the water tribute doesn't work, we'll have to find another offering to the stats gods.

Advantage: Dance with what brung ya.

Analysis: I should probably mention that the Vikings are playing the accursed Rock Island Rocks around 7:30 p.m. at Burgess Field. a year ago.

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT AND CAVEAT!

My air card, which enables me to transmit from the games, has been acting up lately. Should technical difficulties arise, you won't see any of that wonderful stuff—the Tweets, the sophomore and varsity game stories—until well after the game, which would force me to make one more adjustment to the routine.

Drink more beer.

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