11

 My spring break, my final spring break, has come and gone, and now I'm entering the final six weeks of the semester, the final six weeks of my teaching career. I still don't feel too sad or bittersweet about my impending retirement, although Chuck's gift of the Alan Page jersey yesterday was a reminder of how much I'll miss some of my friends and colleagues. There are several factors which seem to tamping down my sad feelings, some of which I've already discussed, but I also have to admit that if my students were better at this point in Champlain's history I'm sure I'd feel more remorse. 

Thanks to CFL Hall of Famer Ken Ploen for loaning me his number 11 for the countdown. Ploen was born in Lost Nation, Iowa, before starring at the University of Iowa, and leading them to a Rose Bowl win. After graduating, he was drafted in the 19th round (back when the NFL draft had many more round than it does now) by the Cleveland Browns. The Browns wanted him to play defensive back instead of quarterback (he played both at Iowa), so he took up on an offer from new Winnipeg Blue Bombers coach Bud Grant to head north of the border. Grant told him that Ploen was free to play QB for the Blue Bombers. It turned out to be a good decision, as Ploen led Winnipeg to six Grey Cups, winning four of them. A road near the stadium is named after him, which I'll check out this summer on July's trip.