Wow, Here I was, once again, Jacksonville, Alabama, Burgess-Snow field watching a great JSU football team play their hearts out in front of a near capacity crowd (22K+). Tonight was one of those nights that when I arrived I at first thought "Why am I here, sitting with people I don't know, hotter than Starbucks coffee, on 4.5 hrs. of sleep"?
Like most games, I thought I could arrive, pay $10 and park close enough to be in the stadium in 5 minutes. I was wrong. Each lot I passed was full. After circling campus we decided to park about ½ mile away. By the time my son and I made it into the stadium it was 14-0 with 3 minutes left in the 1st quarter. Like all 14 year olds, hanging out with Dad was not an option, we made arrangements to meet after the 3rd quarter and he was off to meet his friends. I decided on a “tunnel gate” near the goal line sure there would be plenty of seats available. Strike Two, packed, no seats, and no familiar faces. Finally, I climbed over a rail (not easy if you know me) and viola, a seat next to a nice couple with a 1 year old on one side and some really polite band parents on the other. That’s when it hit me; I am THAT guy. The fan alone, the individual that others look at and think “I wonder if he works here?” or think “How sad, he has no friends”. However, immediately I began to focus on the game. Old rival North Alabama is in town and the memories are flooding in like a broken levee. Warren Lee shouting “Go back to Florence” or “Throw the ball to Kevin Blue”. I think of Garon Ginn, wearing the patented Ray Bans like only he could do or Matt Coley upset with this or that play call. I miss all three of these departed brothers, sometimes I wonder how I could have impacted their short lives more but rest assured they impacted mine. Back to the story: A great performance by the UNA band entertained us but also left us concerned, would the Marching Southerners, the best band in the country, have time to perform? They did not disappoint. The tribute to Dr. David Waters was amazing as was the finale, a tribute to heroes.
After two lack-luster quarters (2nd and 3rd), the Gamecocks reignited in the 4th and defeated the Lions. As I walked back to the car (with a detour for Struts wings) , it hit me, no Alabama shirts to be seen, no Auburn apparel either.
Life is good
and it’s a good day to be a Gamecock!!
