And where are you now In life? Thought this would be an interesting way to view Manning’s career through the lens of our own lives.
I was 23 years old. I was at a wet T-shirt contest at Radford University for Quad-fest. During the height of the event I told my buddies I’m going into the house, I saw they had a tv and I want to see who the Giants take with the first pick I’m not missing this for the world. I sat in there and watched the whole thing play out while all my friends were taking in the craziness of the party. There were about 150 people there blitzed out of their minds. I was the guy the drunks would come in and ask “Hey, who did team X take?!?!” Everyone knew I was all about the draft because they saw me standing there biting my nails watching intently as it all played out and they chased tail. Once the trade was made I watched for a little longer and then went out and enjoyed the festivities. Mrs “purple shirt” was the focus of the rest of that day. But that’s another story;). I didn’t have a care in the world and my only responsibilities were to pass classes and party. The world was in front of me and Eli would be there with my favorite team for all of it, until this very day.
Fast forward to the day Eli Manning passed the torch to Daniel Jones. I was 39 years old, sitting in my office working while waiting for a life insurance medical examiner to come by my office and give me a physical for my life insurance policy. I have a 13 month old son, a wife of 3 years (together 5 years), a house, two dogs and a great work life. I’m ten months from being 40 and the front 9 of my life is just about the whole way in the rear view mirror. A stark contrast of the way I was when Eli took over the reigns. I mean it’s astonishing how much my life has changed during the duration of his career. He’s been one of the very few constants in my life outside of family. I’ve had multiple career changes, women, weight changes from fat to thin, 3 different homes, and 3 presidents. Crazy.
I have nothing but respect for Eli. He’s been with our Giants through the heart of my adult life. The best years to really enjoy, understand, and soak in what it really means to have a GREAT franchise QB that can win it all. Especially while watching most other teams go through double digits of QBs in the same time frame. Kids that were born the day he was drafted will be able to drive next April, for perspective. I can equate so many moments in my life with big games he provided for our Giants. The ‘05 game against Denver when me and total stranger Giants fans at the bar hugged as if we knew each other when he hit Toomer for the win, ‘11 regular season Patriots game when he led us down the field for the win while I had a bad case of bronchitis and still went to the bar to watch because the game wasn’t on locally, the ‘08 game against the Panthers with the 1 seed on the line and I sat in my family room alone watching and yelling as if I was in the stadium, both INSANELY amazing playoff runs to get us 42 and 46 rings, and so many more that I can’t type them all.
OK, thats my life through the lens of Eli’s career. Thought it would be cool to here how many others view his career through the spectrum of their own personal lives. And if no one cares to share, well, I hope mine was at least interesting to read ha ha.
Now I’m 36 and I’m a dad. But I still feel like a kid when I gush about the great memories Eli has given me.
He’ll always be a legend
When manning was drafted, I was a sophomore in HS and I was so excited to have a "manning" I remember Chris Berman saying...."and the Giants have a Manning" wow, that was exciting. I was a strong defender of Eli from day one.
I too, have gone through a lot of change. Still fat, but I have met and married my best friend (June 2018, met in October 2013), I continue to coach youth sports year round (my first year coaching football in the fall was the year Eli got drafted! I was 16, and coaching my brother who was 12 and is now almost 30, I still coach in the same league today, in fact this season I have become the commissioner of said league! I recently bought a house and got a new job, but when he was draft I was living home and working in my father's pizza joint. Things are good but alot has changed since the day Eli was drafted for me. I have enjoyed the ride of life, much like I have enjoyed watching Eli play for Big Blue.
Fast forward to today, I still love Eli immensely, but it was time..this team isn't going anywhere and we need to see what we have in Jones. I will forever be grateful for Eli and I am so proud he was a giant as he represented them so we'll on and off the field.
Love you 10, you will forever be known as a great Giant!
Glad my mom was alive to see him win both Super Bowls. Miss her a lot.
2 Super Bowls. 2X Super Bowl MVP. Iron man. What a ride.
When manning was drafted, I was a sophomore in HS and I was so excited to have a "manning" I remember Chris Berman saying...."and the Giants have a Manning" wow, that was exciting. I was a strong defender of Eli from day one.
I too, have gone through a lot of change. Still fat, but I have met and married my best friend (June 2018, met in October 2013), I continue to coach youth sports year round (my first year coaching football in the fall was the year Eli got drafted! I was 16, and coaching my brother who was 12 and is now almost 30, I still coach in the same league today, in fact this season I have become the commissioner of said league! I recently bought a house and got a new job, but when he was draft I was living home and working in my father's pizza joint. Things are good but alot has changed since the day Eli was drafted for me. I have enjoyed the ride of life, much like I have enjoyed watching Eli play for Big Blue.
Fast forward to today, I still love Eli immensely, but it was time..this team isn't going anywhere and we need to see what we have in Jones. I will forever be grateful for Eli and I am so proud he was a giant as he represented them so we'll on and off the field.
Love you 10, you will forever be known as a great Giant!
Spent many crazy nights on the JMU campus also! Ha ha.
Your last two paragraphs sum up exactly the way I feel today about where we are with Eli. Thank you, Eli, all good things come and end. And the ride you provided was a hell of a time. The good and the bad. Thank you!
We were so happy.
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JMU here. I can relate to the college thing altho, I am younger than you. I have also spent time during a party watching the draft unfold lol.
When manning was drafted, I was a sophomore in HS and I was so excited to have a "manning" I remember Chris Berman saying...."and the Giants have a Manning" wow, that was exciting. I was a strong defender of Eli from day one.
I too, have gone through a lot of change. Still fat, but I have met and married my best friend (June 2018, met in October 2013), I continue to coach youth sports year round (my first year coaching football in the fall was the year Eli got drafted! I was 16, and coaching my brother who was 12 and is now almost 30, I still coach in the same league today, in fact this season I have become the commissioner of said league! I recently bought a house and got a new job, but when he was draft I was living home and working in my father's pizza joint. Things are good but alot has changed since the day Eli was drafted for me. I have enjoyed the ride of life, much like I have enjoyed watching Eli play for Big Blue.
Fast forward to today, I still love Eli immensely, but it was time..this team isn't going anywhere and we need to see what we have in Jones. I will forever be grateful for Eli and I am so proud he was a giant as he represented them so we'll on and off the field.
Love you 10, you will forever be known as a great Giant!
Spent many crazy nights on the JMU campus also! Ha ha.
Your last two paragraphs sum up exactly the way I feel today about where we are with Eli. Thank you, Eli, all good things come and end. And the ride you provided was a hell of a time. The good and the bad. Thank you!
JMU=best four years of my life(my wife doesn't read BBI) LOL.
Jokes aside, it was a special place that provided me with enough laughs and memories to last a lifetime. I really went crazy down there in VA lol.
That being said....this is somewhat of a somber day and I like your thread idea. Pretty neat, altho it looks like only you and I went in depth with it haha
Glad my mom was alive to see him win both Super Bowls. Miss her a lot.
Great story Mook. Very happy your mother got to see both adventures. That’s fantastic. Thanks for sharing.
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In comment 14585040 BleedBlue said:
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JMU here. I can relate to the college thing altho, I am younger than you. I have also spent time during a party watching the draft unfold lol.
When manning was drafted, I was a sophomore in HS and I was so excited to have a "manning" I remember Chris Berman saying...."and the Giants have a Manning" wow, that was exciting. I was a strong defender of Eli from day one.
I too, have gone through a lot of change. Still fat, but I have met and married my best friend (June 2018, met in October 2013), I continue to coach youth sports year round (my first year coaching football in the fall was the year Eli got drafted! I was 16, and coaching my brother who was 12 and is now almost 30, I still coach in the same league today, in fact this season I have become the commissioner of said league! I recently bought a house and got a new job, but when he was draft I was living home and working in my father's pizza joint. Things are good but alot has changed since the day Eli was drafted for me. I have enjoyed the ride of life, much like I have enjoyed watching Eli play for Big Blue.
Fast forward to today, I still love Eli immensely, but it was time..this team isn't going anywhere and we need to see what we have in Jones. I will forever be grateful for Eli and I am so proud he was a giant as he represented them so we'll on and off the field.
Love you 10, you will forever be known as a great Giant!
Spent many crazy nights on the JMU campus also! Ha ha.
Your last two paragraphs sum up exactly the way I feel today about where we are with Eli. Thank you, Eli, all good things come and end. And the ride you provided was a hell of a time. The good and the bad. Thank you!
JMU=best four years of my life(my wife doesn't read BBI) LOL.
Jokes aside, it was a special place that provided me with enough laughs and memories to last a lifetime. I really went crazy down there in VA lol.
That being said....this is somewhat of a somber day and I like your thread idea. Pretty neat, altho it looks like only you and I went in depth with it haha
Yes, the trio of JMU, VT and Radford down the I81 corridor have provided many great years for may people haha. Did damage at all three. And I Went to Marymount in Arlington, never any of those schools:-)
All stories are cool with me, just glad you and others found the topic interesting. I was worried I was being too nostalgic haha. Thanks for sharing BB!
I didn’t really know anything about college players at all then, so my initial reaction was that I didn’t want ‘San Diego’s trash.’ But once the trade happened and I started to read up on Manning and the sudden realisation that the Giants got a Manning at QB..I suddenly got excited. The tough game against te Steelers an last second win against the Cowboys had me very hopeful for the future of the team. The comeback win against the Broncos the next year I was convinced he was going to win a Super Bowl one day. I miss those days when you could count on him to bring the team back no matter what.
2 Super Bowls. 2X Super Bowl MVP. Iron man. What a ride.
I’ll be honest, him being Peyton’s brother really was a major point of intrigue for me since I didn’t follow CFB.
Back then, we didn’t have instant alerts for everything. Naturally, when I walked in and he told me the Giants “got Manning”. I replied that I saw the draft and he is “FOS”.
Kind of like Chuck from the Goonies, this time he wasn’t FOS!
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In comment 14585064 bradshaw44 said:
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In comment 14585040 BleedBlue said:
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JMU here. I can relate to the college thing altho, I am younger than you. I have also spent time during a party watching the draft unfold lol.
When manning was drafted, I was a sophomore in HS and I was so excited to have a "manning" I remember Chris Berman saying...."and the Giants have a Manning" wow, that was exciting. I was a strong defender of Eli from day one.
I too, have gone through a lot of change. Still fat, but I have met and married my best friend (June 2018, met in October 2013), I continue to coach youth sports year round (my first year coaching football in the fall was the year Eli got drafted! I was 16, and coaching my brother who was 12 and is now almost 30, I still coach in the same league today, in fact this season I have become the commissioner of said league! I recently bought a house and got a new job, but when he was draft I was living home and working in my father's pizza joint. Things are good but alot has changed since the day Eli was drafted for me. I have enjoyed the ride of life, much like I have enjoyed watching Eli play for Big Blue.
Fast forward to today, I still love Eli immensely, but it was time..this team isn't going anywhere and we need to see what we have in Jones. I will forever be grateful for Eli and I am so proud he was a giant as he represented them so we'll on and off the field.
Love you 10, you will forever be known as a great Giant!
Spent many crazy nights on the JMU campus also! Ha ha.
Your last two paragraphs sum up exactly the way I feel today about where we are with Eli. Thank you, Eli, all good things come and end. And the ride you provided was a hell of a time. The good and the bad. Thank you!
JMU=best four years of my life(my wife doesn't read BBI) LOL.
Jokes aside, it was a special place that provided me with enough laughs and memories to last a lifetime. I really went crazy down there in VA lol.
That being said....this is somewhat of a somber day and I like your thread idea. Pretty neat, altho it looks like only you and I went in depth with it haha
Yes, the trio of JMU, VT and Radford down the I81 corridor have provided many great years for may people haha. Did damage at all three. And I Went to Marymount in Arlington, never any of those schools:-)
All stories are cool with me, just glad you and others found the topic interesting. I was worried I was being too nostalgic haha. Thanks for sharing BB!
Nah, great thread!
Anyway i had been through the bad 18 years after CC and YAT etc. And while Phil Simms wa an excellent qb I pined for the ones of my youth. Eli was the guy, at least according to EA. And now we had him.
As a professor who after Vietnam service in air evacuation/Scott AFB, i remained a loyal Giant fan and had traveled to see them play, from Houston, New Orleans, Milwaukee, etc. Finally. made it to Giant Stadium , met “the Professor” who as a literature prof3ssor began “Inside Football” my link to the Giants before Eric made the internet relevant to Giants fans. this game the giants beat KC and was filled with fans singing “Bye Bye Ray”. interestingly many were in Santa Claus costumes.m
Met so many at Albany in first visit when no one knew any one except by BBI “handle”, and made some interesting and long friends and stories.
But I can’t type too long so I will say good bye, God bless Eli and his family for so many great memories, and to Eric who made so much possible for Giant fans world wide.
Please support Eric’s Brain child BBI, i am indebted to him as we all are for a real Giant site that is frequently, if not always, warm and welcoming, but always has giant information and dedication.
Anyway i had been through the bad 18 years after CC and YAT etc. And while Phil Simms wa an excellent qb I pined for the ones of my youth. Eli was the guy, at least according to EA. And now we had him.
As a professor who after Vietnam service in air evacuation/Scott AFB, i remained a loyal Giant fan and had traveled to see them play, from Houston, New Orleans, Milwaukee, etc. Finally. made it to Giant Stadium , met “the Professor” who as a literature prof3ssor began “Inside Football” my link to the Giants before Eric made the internet relevant to Giants fans. this game the giants beat KC and was filled with fans singing “Bye Bye Ray”. interestingly many were in Santa Claus costumes.m
Met so many at Albany in first visit when no one knew any one except by BBI “handle”, and made some interesting and long friends and stories.
But I can’t type too long so I will say good bye, God bless Eli and his family for so many great memories, and to Eric who made so much possible for Giant fans world wide.
Please support Eric’s Brain child BBI, i am indebted to him as we all are for a real Giant site that is frequently, if not always, warm and welcoming, but always has giant information and dedication.
Thanks for sharing Plato! I always find the dynamic of so many different posters from so many different walks of life, to be fascinating.
And I share your sentiment about this site. Eric has done the Giants fan universe an amazing service. Before I found BBI in March ‘07, just before the run to 42, I used to depend on ESPN (ugh). Once I found BBI I never looked back. Thank you, Eric and the BBI Staff. I hope plenty of people donate. BBI is my local sports bar I hang out in during the day at work, and at night before bed. Keep on keepin on.
i have been “obsessed” with giants for so many decades I try not to be honest about the years. but it’s another qb, and thus another era, i’m excited to see some of it.
Still have the video from that day. That same kid is a sophomore in HS now. Time flies damnit.
i have been “obsessed” with giants for so many decades I try not to be honest about the years. but it’s another qb, and thus another era, i’m excited to see some of it.
That’s a good way to look at it. A new QB means get ready for a whole new era and ride. May you get to see another run!
Some customer told me about them "getting Manning" at work but I told him I already knew and went back to work, pushing carts.
Hard to believe that was all over 15 years ago.
first time I saw Eli live was 2005 in SF and we had a blast
Best part of this game was before... YA Tittle, yes that YA.. came to the game, strolling through the parking lot so in his words.. "Have a look at Eli"
that and Lono's booze suitcase made my day.. and to party with the west coast BBI crew with my then 13 year old son was awesome and that my first "Field pass " game too
Thank you Eli especially for that NFC Championship game in 2011.. you were NAILS baby.. Nails !!!
I somehow saw what was going on on my phone, even though i cant believe back then phones could do that but in hindsight i guess i got some ESPN alert that they traded Rivers for Manning after the picks
Fast forward to yesterday, i'm sitting in my office and my daughter (who is now the assistant womens lacrosse coach at Albright College) sends me a text and says that people on twitter are acting like Eli died or something
Other things to remember - I couldn't check the draft on my phone. I couldn't watch an app. It was RADIO or TV. Look at the MY WAY video...those early clips are in 4:3 aspect ratio and no HD. How did we survive?
Other things to remember - I couldn't check the draft on my phone. I couldn't watch an app. It was RADIO or TV. Look at the MY WAY video...those early clips are in 4:3 aspect ratio and no HD. How did we survive?
LOL, I most certainly was watching in that college house on a 19 inch tube television from the 90's. Crazy how we survived!
Today, I'm a much older reservist field grade working a 9-5 job (well more like 7-5) as a federal contractor for a government agency in Maryland. Married, three kids, mortgage, etc...living the suburbanite life.
Pretty much...that's how I describe that deployment to my family and friends. Thankfully, no need for a "code red" for us.
The Giants actually seemed to be on AFN all the time. It was the most Giants games I had ever gotten until I got Sunday Ticket years later.