Have you ever thought about signing your name 4000 times in one day?

I was at the book-signing event at the campus bookstore Wednesday night and I figure that's what Coach might have done during his marathon day for the Campus Library. I haven't seen any official numbers, but my mental math says the figure might approach that. The line I was in had wristband numbers up to at least 500 and was still going when I left. Most people had the 3-book maximum and some went around twice. Reports I heard from several sources indicated the two earlier signings were similarly swamped. Don't know if it is true, but I was told several times that all of the first day sales, not just Coach T's percentage, went to the library. If so, you do the rough math..... 500 x 3 x 3 x $25 each. What a wonderful gesture.

I was struck by several things...including the potpourri of fans. Young old, near, far, modest means and swankly dressed. Some were robust, others need help in walking through the line. I talked to people in their 70's and 80's whose spouse or children had sent them down at 6 AM to pick up wristbands. It was orderly, festive, and fun. Through it all Coach never stopped signing, and yet found a way personally chat with each fan; often it was a humorous comment or funny joke. As I stood in the shadows and marveled at his quick wit and the ease that he connected with people, I thought of the picture the national media often paints of him as the bland guy in the sweater vest. How little they know. Maybe this book will change that. We already know it is going to build a whole lot of library.