Gil Thorp by Henry Barajas and Rod Whigham for July 12, 2022

Anyone else think that Gil’s jacket is pretty light for an “unforgiving” snowfall? “It wasn’t supposed to be this close.” I’ve been reading this strip for 50 years and can’t remember any game with snowfall — are they “upstate”?

In all reality , Gil is having a flashback from some bad acid the dropped at Woodstock .

Playing with no right guard or tackle against the purple people eater defense? Wondering why the game is close? How do you spell disrespect for your opponent, Gil?

P1: In my time zone winter starts on Dec. 21st, long after the final HS football game and well into the hoops season. P2: Those Milford guys still can’t get that Vulcan sign down.

P3: This might be the first documented case of ENS (Exploding Nostril Syndrome). Wonder if it has anything to do with that long exhale from the hit Gil just took.

Unforgiving winter night? Gil has on a windbreaker, there is no snow on the ground, and it’s only flurrying. Come on, Whigham!

So this guy is telling a story from years ago, not this past season. How is that relevant to being named “Coach” of the Year? (With Gil, you always have to put “coach” in quotes.)

I bet this tale gets better with age, like wine. WEET!!!! The new HRRAACK!!!

“One of them nights?”

P1: One of them nights when the sun was out. I hope this was a year Gilpa was running the veer, that QB won’t be able to throw or see over his center. P2: Yes, the red and purple color schemes certainly do clash. P3: Coaches usually signal with a “T”, Gil, not an “L”

I wonder if it was one of them seasons too where Gil had QB dumb and QB dumber rotating snaps

Gilpa looks a lot younger in panel #3 than he did yesterday

Looks like Milford has a midget QB

P-1: As the QB lines up under Tackle…

P-2: A shameless plug for the new writer’s favorite Grunge band.

P-3: Coach of the Year Thorp calls time when he notices the Referee is wearing the same color jersey as the opposition. It’s attention to small details like that, that make him such an outstanding coach. (Please note: t’s so brutally cold, the Ref’s whistle froze it’s T off.)

This story can’t be that old, nobody is wearing cleats.

“It was one of them unforgiving Milford winter nights. Of course, we were all home by then, since the game was in the afternoon.”

They may be playing International rules. Not Hut 1, Hut 2, but 1-2 Hike? Wait till Gil tells the boys to “Win one for the Kipper”!

Either that quarterback is in fourth grade or that center is eight feet tall. The size difference is hilarious.

Does “it wasn’t supposed to be this close” mean Milford was favored or Milford was a valiant underdog?

Why does the QB, and not the center, have a towel on the back of his pants?

What QB says Hike?

“Gil pulled us together and said, ‘Boys, there’s no shame in taking second place in the Valley. Anyway, I’m done coaching for the season, so we’re clearing the bench.’”

Do you think this award ceremony will just drag on until football starts?

Good to see the new writer recycles. Or doesn’t have an original idea.

Don’t want to set the bar too high right out of the box

It was a dark and stormy night…it was the best of times, it was the worst of times…

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!?!

Whoa!….Gil is actually paying enough attention to the game to call a time out

So the presenter, in justifying Gil winning Coach of the Year, tells a story about some great thing he apparently did late in the season, many, many years ago. That does not justify him being Coach of the Year! Especially if you can’t think of anything good he did during the two games he attended this year. And speaking of good things, it’s always a good thing when Mopped Up Thorp is posted online. Like now.

https://moppedupthorp.wordpress.com/

Come on, Mr. Coach of the Year. Don’t you want to keep the defense guessing as to when the ball is snapped? Yelling “HIKE!” pretty much gives them the signal to come and get the quarterback.

I just listened to the new writer’s interview on the “Word Balloon” podcast. There was one thing I found very disturbing. He mentioned he is bringing back an old (the original?) janitor named Wiggins. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! STEVE LUHM IS THE JANITOR AND HE IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE!!!! I’LL SUE, I’LL TAKE THIS ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT!

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