Where Were You When You Learned That Colt McCoy's Real Name Is Dan?
Apologies for using a gif from a rival team with a dead team name, but this tweet stopped me dead in my tracks when I saw it and I needed to use a picture that summed up my feelings in 1000 words. I have been hyping up Colt McCoy both inside and outside of my Colt McCoy Hype Group, which was super easy to do considering his name is Colt McCoy, the most Football Guy name in the history of Football Guys.
Then I saw that tweet, pulled up Wikipedia since we know it's never told a lie, and was taken aback.
Not only is Colt McCoy's real name Dan but he was born in New Mexico?!? Colt McCoy's entire existence is a lie! Not because I have a problem with the name Dan. Far from it. My favorite player in the NFL is named Daniel as is the internet's favorite human Big Cat. I even have no beef with New Mexico based on nothing more than Breaking Bad being set there.
But there was something special about someone named Colt McCoy being coached by his dad in Texas (where I guess he moved to after he was born), became a Top 5 all-time passer in Texas High School history, and then becoming the QB1 of the Texas Longhorns. Even Colt playing catch with his dad while crying under the bleachers of the Fiesta Bowl after he left the National Championship Game with a shoulder injury was straight out of a Texas football movie.
Usually a name like Colt McCoy would seem outrageous. But not for a football family in Texas. In fact, I was convinced Colt McCoy wasn't conceived the old fashioned way. I believed the Football Gods just immaculately placed Colt in his mom's womb one fall Friday night in Texas as tumbleweeds barreled through his town because everyone was watching a bunch of teenagers play pigskin. Yes, I thought Colt McCoy was to Texas Football as Anakin Skywalker was to The Force and Jesus Christ was to God.
Instead, it turns out he is just Dan with a sweet ass nickname. I love Dan. I am rooting for Dan. I will hype Dan up as long as he is wearing blue. But damn does it hurt that
I thought the day couldn't get any worse until I saw this tweet.
Phew, I wasn't ready to bury another legendary Texas name today.
P.S. I wrote this blog yesterday during the Giants game and almost didn't publish it because I was worried about any bad football juju to come from it. However the Giants were down 5-0 at halftime, so I hit Publish and hoped for the best. What happened next? Colt McCoy ended up leading the Giants to 17 2nd half points and winning his NFL game since 2014. So maybe the truth shall set you free, no matter how much it hurts.