WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS! OF THE WORLD!

My beloved BRONCS! won, WON {!!!!!!!!!!} Super Bowl 50!!!!!!! 

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Orange Crush BROUGHT it and it was incredible to see the Panthers go down 24-10! 

{Not to mention 13 hits and 6 sacks to "super" Cam....bahahaahaha!}

I went nuts when we won.

{Shocking, I know.}

 I cried, I screamed, I called my dad, my brothers and my friends called me, and we were all crazy happy. 

I've been on a high ever since. 

The hype started when I went to the AFC Championship game with my best friends and they CRUSHED Crybaby Tom Brady 23 times. Man, that was FUN! 

Brian and I went to the celebration parade in downtown Denver with one million other people who bleed orange and it was incredible. 

I've written a lot about the BRONCS! on this little blog and as I read through them I saw consistent themes of loyalty, family, passion, and optimism that someday another Super Bowl win would be a part of my very special BRONCS! story, 

 {It's been 17 years, for heaven's sake!} 

and here we are. 

Champions. 

I think some of my emotion is connected to the most consistent part of my BRONCS! story; my family. The BRONCS! have been a part of my family for my entire life and it's difficult to put into words what this win means to all of us. This post captures some of the emotion I have and why I feel so sentimental about it all.

So, I am pretty sure that John would agree:

This one's for the Jacobsens! 

Thank you, BRONCS! for proving all the haters wrong and for reminding all those underdogs out there that it can be done. And, thanks from all the Jacobsens from the bottom of our orange bleeding hearts.

BRONCS!!!!!!!!!!

P.S.
I feel the need to include a very important part of our story.  See, I knew this was going to happen. When Brock Osweiler stepped in to save the day, my dad reminded me that in 1997, John Elway was out and Bubby Brister stepped in. Bubby went on to win 5 games which propelled us into the playoffs and ultimately into the Super Bowl. We played the Packers and we were severe underdogs. But, thanks to the incredible 1997 team, and the amazing plays by John "Helicopter" Elway and Terrell "MVP" Davis, we won 31-24. 
Fast forward to the 2015-16 season. Does all this sound familiar? Yup! Brock stepped in, he helped us win 5 games, we got into the playoffs, the Super Bowl--where we were underdogs, and then WE WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Each game that Brock played, I had the Bubby Brister story in my head. When he led us to a fifth win, I knew history would repeat itself. Then when we were severe underdogs?? Why, it was the icing on the cake. Championship, here we come, and sure enough, we did it. 
We really did it. 

In It to Win It!

Today is the first game of the BRONCS! 2015-2016 season. 

I'm pretty psyched.

I listened to my BRONCS! playlist this morning while I cleaned and put stuff

 together for the game. 

Brian went to the store for me to get all of our orange food--

cheetos, cantaloupe, carrots, etc. 

He also got us some new toothbrushes that we needed. 

Poor Brian.
He didn't know that I have a thing about toothbrush colors--and especially

 during BRONCS! season. 

You guys. 

He got me a red toothbrush.
RED!!!!!!!!!

Does he know me at all????

Red=KC Chiefs!  

Red=The Patricheats!

I have NEVER had a red toothbrush in my life.
No joke.

As we were working out the toothbrush debacle {there's a blue one I can use...} he said, 

"Man, this is hard!"

Yes. Marriage can be difficult--especially with a freak like me. 

We laughed really hard about this in the end and I really feel for the guy. 

When we first started dating I warned him that BRONCS! season is full throttle emotions for me and apparently 9 years in, this is still true. The toothbrush faux pas continues to show us that we have a lot to learn about each other and that we are both in this for the win. 

I'm sure glad I can do this life and this BRONCS! season with such a great sport--

toothbrush issues and all. 

Now, GO BRONCS!!!!!!!!!!

Passion, Pride and Camaraderie

So,

it's Super Bowl weekend. 

I get sick to my stomach when I even think about the teams that are playing.

I can't even type their names. 

The media has done a superb job of helping fuel my fire of hatred towards both teams.

Between the cheating,

and the pretentious a-holes,

it's confirmed that neither team is worth any of my energy. 

So, I will not be watching the Super Bowl this year--I just can't. 

But that isn't what this post is all about. 

This post is about navigating my grief process around the BRONCS! losing to the Colts and all the changes that are taking place with the organization. 

{I recognize that I'm being dramatic here, but guys. My BRONCS! let me down! 

I have to blog it out!}

My dad helped me put language to what I think we were missing this last season 
and what we need now.

Of course it's my dad; my rock, my BRONCS! companion, who helps me!

 It boils down to three ideas:

Passion

Pride

and

Camaraderie

My dad read an article in the Denver Post about a BBQ competition that was held in the parking lot at the stock show in Denver a few weeks ago.

 The article talks about how BBQ competitions are no joke. There is a lot to think about
 and do in order to win--and by winning, I mean they rack up as much as $25,000.

Anyway, deep within the story, my dad reads this:

"...but talk with competitors, and the words popping up are more about passion, pride and camaraderie than purses, prizes and costs."

And this got him thinking.

These are the elements that have been missing or inconsistent for the BRONCS! and he's right. Allow me to rant explain. 

Passion.

You gotta have passion for the game AND for winning in order to take it all the way. So, the way I analyze Peyton Manning's choice to not run 3 {freaking!} yards to get a first down during the Colts game--is lack of passion. It didn't seem like he was thinking about a      "do or die" situation like a passionate player might. 

...A passionate player, like, say, John Elway? 

Glory, this is a beautiful moment in football. 

I feel like Peyton, a handful of the coaching staff, and other players lacked passion this season. It felt like they were pulling teeth to amp up and be in the game. It feels like they were distant, not connected and it affected us. Passion for the game will make or break a team. History has shown us this over and again. 
If we don't have passion, we don't have anything. 

Pride. 

Unfortunately, football has become a money game. Contracts, sponsors and egos seem to be taking away from loyalty to a city and a team. I feel like the old school BRONCS! bled orange. They understood that the pride of their TEAM was on the line. They seemed to understand that the fans were wholly invested and they wanted the fans to be proud of them--on and off the field. 

I have to pick on Peyton Manning again. I have not really felt like he was ever a true Bronco.

 He shopped around for a new team and I kinda feel like we were the lesser of evils for him. 

I can't say that for sure, and I think he's a swell guy; I think he possess the character quality of loyalty, but does he or will he ever bleed orange?

I really don't think so...!

We need players and a coaching staff that believes in the Mile High Magic.
We need players and a coaching staff that truly understands what the Orange Crush is all about.
We need players and a coaching staff that, put simply, bleeds orange. 

Camaraderie.

I swear I respect Peyton Manning, but here's the deal. Does he truly have his teammate's backs? I mean, really, really have their backs? I listen to The Drive on 104.3 The Fan and Alfred Williams and DMac told a story about how it is extremely rare to see Peyton congratulate a teammate after they score a touchdown. He usually runs right to the sidelines and begins planning his next play. While his forethought and planning are a strength, he is missing the essential skill of taking in the moment and cheering on your fellow comrades. Alfred and DMac went on to say that it is well known that Peyton doesn't really have any friends on the team. 

No one asks him to go and get a beer or hang out.
This is a red flag to me.  Camaraderie means that mutual trust and friendship exists because of how much time is spent together. There is a sense of fraternal brotherhood where you would do anything for one of your own.

 The idea of there's 'no I in Team' is not just a bumper sticker--it's a way of life. 

Did the BRONCS! have true camaraderie this season? 

I don't think so!

I had to write about this today because not only does it help me grieve, it helps me see hope in all of the decisions being made right now for the BRONCS! and I feel like the decisions being made so far points directly to Passion, Pride and Camaraderie. 
I also write about it because I think these principles should guide my life in general. I should be asking myself if what I am a part of and what I am helping build in my profession or otherwise, has these elements. If not, why and what can I do to make it a part of what's happening? 

{And if Peyton Manning decides to stay, I can only cross my fingers and hope that 
he gets it sooner than later.}

I think that we will rise from the ashes of this season {and last year's Super Bowl debacle} with a vengeance. Watch out, world, cause here we come! 

This just in: Today,  Demaryius Thomas said essentially THE SAME thing I just said! In an interview for NBC Sports, he said: “I feel like some guys, you know, didn’t have the fight or whatever it was,” Thomas said Friday. “It was totally a different team than last year."
Well, DT, the "whatever" are Passion, Pride and Camaraderie--of this I'm sure. 
BRONCS!

SUPER BOWL, BABY!

HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!!

WE'RE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL, BABY!!!!!!!

BRONCS!!!!

As a life-long BRONCS! fan I am beside myself with pure an utter joy

 {and a few unadulterated tears} after Sunday's 

win against the Patriots in the AFC Championship game. 

To say that the overall experience of this game was different from any other game 

I have been to is an understatement. 

The stadium was electric. 

The fans, the players, the beer guy--ALL OF IT!!

 It was pure Orange Crush BRONCS! magic.

There was one turning point for me that really sealed my

 ridiculous over-the-top excitement confidence that 

the Super Bowl was a reality.

The Patriots had fourth-and-3 at the Broncos 29, with 2:30 remaining in the 3rd quarter when 

Terrance "Pot Roast" Knighton

SACKED TOM BRADY!!!!!!!!!!!!{For a 10 yard loss!}!!!!!!!!!!!!

The stadium went NUTS. 

NUTS!!!!

It was at that point that we knew... 

WE'RE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL, BABY!

The Super Bowl will be amazing. I am sure of it. 

But this game was truly special. This game captured the spirit of BRONCS! like none other.
Between the elated fans, being with my dad, my "brother" cousin, my best friend Chris, the sea of orange, the consistent energy, the big plays and PFM, it was ridiculously perfect. 

In the words of my dad, "This game was my Super Bowl"

 and it was magnificent.

Victory! 

Oh how sweet it is!

BRONCS!!!!!!!!

Bonus:  Some PUMP YOU UP music!
{Picture 77,000+ fans going NUTS to these songs...}

"All I Do is Win" DJ Khaled

"Jump Around"  House of Pain

"Can't Hold Us" Macklemore and Ryan Lewis