Make mine a Heinicke: Ode on ODU's shining star

He came from the 'burbs of Atlanta, G.A.

With a name like a beer and mad skills to display

On green fields of football, fans clamor to see

The myth, man and legend of Taylor Heinicke

A QB, sought coaches at old ODU

They brought back a rook nearly too good to be true

Who runs and throws balls with prodigious aplomb

In the face of defenders, so casual and calm

Perhaps it's from rearing they speak of with awe

How he whipped 15 men in one after-school brawl

They say he slew lions and tigers and bears

In those tall Georgia pines in that warm southern air

That he talks in six tongues, eats twelve eggs for lunch

There's no fix he can't solve on a wing and a hunch

That he leaps o'er goal posts, eludes all trouble

Sleeps in an odd, hermetically sealed bubble

His saga was launched down at Collins Hill High

Where football is sovereign, no one dare to deny

Four thousand last season, his passing yards notched

Yet skeptical scouts narrowed their eyes as they watched

In that strong SEC Taylor wished to play

Among Gamecocks and Dawgs and striped Bengals you say?

But they branded his stature not up to snuff

So he turned his gaze north and dismissed all that stuff

A fortunate day at ODU you bet

When Heinicke endorsed his letter of intent

But who knew how lucky it really could be

To recruit this lean lad and for him to agree?

See, the CAA Taylor's taken by storm

A true freshman comporting with senior-like form

Twelve TD passes, just one interception

Sensing the pass rush with astounding perception

UMass and Rhody, 'Nova, now JMU

Spellbound to the power of the kid's ballyhoo

Through long bombs, short screens and the deft pocket dash

He's reduced valiant defensive game plans to ash

When DeMarco went down there 'rose the concern

That the ailment would cause Taylor's redshirt to burn

Coach Wilder weighed calls, said "The future is now."

And set Heinicke loose to play ball, oh man and how!

How well has he done in this time he has owned?

"Best player on the field," the Dukes' beaten coach moaned

He feared, he said, when no receivers were found

For the QB raced almost a full field of ground

So lend an ear and an eye to old Foreman Field

Where a freshman's true talents are being revealed

This year, his Monarchs have flowered like roses

With stretch left for Heinicke's tale 'fore it closes

Tom Robinson, (757) 446-2518, tom.robinson@pilotonline.com