Goat Post: Issue 12

Seven years ago this week, my Dad taught me one final lesson. How to ride off into the sunset.

Texas is the No. 1 team in the country as I write this. The Longhorns visit the third ranked team in the land, Ohio State, today.

College football is here, and we’re all better when that is the case.

My Dad, Scott Mann, was a prize of the legendary Darrell Royal’s first recruiting class as head coach of the Longhorns.

Naturally, the hype around today’s game had me reaching for the phone more than once to call my Dad.

Instead, I just reflected on his story. In traveling to Dallas, where I had the privilege of interviewing an original 1962 member of the New York Mets, I got to see firsthand the love of a father for his son and vice versa.

Goatnet was there for Rick Herrscher, 88, to gather memories for a project his son, Tad, has taken on for the love of Rick and his greatness as an SMU Mustang (basketball and baseball), as a utility player for Casey Stengel and in his pivot to a career in orthodontics.

Rick’s stories have awesome relevance for every player who’ll need to figure out what to take seriously off the field. For one, there’s the role he wouldn’t wish on anyone: Seeing Tad have to battle pancreatic cancer.

The relationship these two have is more Amazin’ than the ‘69 Mets.

We’ll have much more about them as Goatnet amplifies their narratives.

As for my Dad, the flight back to Newark was when I decided to put some of the pictures and videos I have of him into the Goatnet blender.

And here that is. Dad had the determination to have a lung transplant. He was battling idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, the same disease that took the father of Yankees all-timer Bernie Williams.

@check_rare

Check oht our website for the full article and interview!! #checkrare #rarediseases #IPF #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #berniewilliams

The video I’m sharing here offers samples of Goatnet’s purpose. Dad worked like crazy at everything he tried. That’s why he was up and walking the hospital halls just a few hours after receiving a lung in Philadelphia that was flown in from Detroit after an unfortunate, kind-hearted soul was struck by a bus and killed.

@goatbash

To and from the hospital with Dad, my favorite Longhorn. The Dome opened on April 9. I was born 14 days before. We had many of these types... See more

Because of that donor, Dad lived to see our hometown team, founded by his father in law, win their first World Series.

Like Tad for Rick, I’d be missing the entire point if I didn’t take the gold that lives in my phone — so glad to have gotten him on camera during select drives to and from the hospital — and organize them as treasure right here with Goatnet on the assist.

Anyway, remembering Dad flashing the Hook ‘Em Horns as he regained consciousness, I’ll be paying hopeful attention to today’s game in Columbus. More important, though, I’ll be spending time with my wife and our son as he begins his junior year at UMass. We are lucky Manns.

And you know who else is lucky today? Cooper Manning. Cooper — who had his QB career abruptly cut short as a freshman at Ole Miss because of a narrowing spinal column — saw his son Arch’s high-flying potential back when the big little guy was only 6 years old.

Take a look. I love this video. We’re very excited to celebrate the Mannings. Rumor has it, they like content production. 

@espn

Born to be an athlete 💪 (via Coopermanning/IG) @SportsCenter NEXT #archmanning #dunk #basketball

They’ll especially love how we’re modernizing the industry with AI tool development and innovations that prove quality and affordability absolutely can go hand in hand.

Even though we love to say Goat Big, it doesn’t at all mean go big for bigness’ sake.

Take horse racing. We already are on a roll in that vertical with a franchise around greatness from every angle but with signature fiscal discipline. The trainers, jockeys, breeders, investors, handicappers, tracks, caregivers and charities are essential participants with true value to realize.

It’s gorgeous stuff. The teaser alone lets you in on the paddock magic.

@itsgoatnet

From fear to glory, from sacrifice to stride — this is horse racing, where greatness is born. #horse #horses #horsesoftiktok #saratoga #horseracing

We all know this world is a rat race and that any category we embrace involves a percentage of sinister forces. 

We just choose to rise above them.

My Dad played football until concussions and knee injuries forced him out of uniform.

His life was great, but it wasn’t without complications, misgivings and heat.

But not in his defining final acts.

The last song he wanted to hear before “going home” as he put it: American Remains by The Highwaymen, whose first concerts happened, fittingly, in Austin and in the Astrodome.

I played the tune. Then, off he went.

And everywhere, he remains.

Like Rick Herrscher, Dad and I were about the smiles. Goatnet is, too.

Even when circumstances are unfair.

Grinning Is Everything.

Goat Big!