Micah went to the game yesterday

Well, at the little league I umpire at, the president of the league is the mother of one of the football players at Oregon State. He's quite a good player too. But anyways, she invited me to go to the UCLA/Oregon State game earlier in the summer and I was able to go yesterday with Micah.
We wrote letters yesterday at the church and then came home, dropped Becca off, and we were on our way. Micah seemed excited to go to the football game which is always good. We end up getting to the Rose Bowl around noon. I'm getting pictures up for where we parked and where we joined up with everyone for the tailgate party...

Ok, an explanation of the numbers:

#1 -- This is where I parked my car. Yes, it's in the middle of a golf course. I'd say that is in the middle of the 18th fairway since the club house is right next to the green there.

#2 -- This is where the tailgate party was. It took Micah and I about a half hour to get from our car to their party. We walked it 4 times - once to start the day, once before the game so we could get back to the car, put stuff away and put suntan lotion on so I wouldn't get a lobster boy, once back to the part after putting suntan lotion on and once after the game when we went back to the party, had some more to eat in the dark, and then left about 7:15 pm.

#3 -- This is where we were sitting with a group of board members from the little league I ump at. Very nice people. It was fun to watch the game but you know, after watching football on tv all the time when you are constantly on the line of scrimmage following the ball, it is kinda weird to be stationary so far away from the play. We never knew if they made 10 yards for a first down until they moved the chains pretty much. But you know, being part of the crowd is always fun.

#4 -- This is where Micah and I passed Coach Rick Neuheisel as he was going home for the day. Since we were with the party for the Oregon State player, we were in orange. He was a gracious guy though. He said, "Have a good night." Yeah, I know, amazing. Well, at the time I was on the phone with Trina, walking with my son holding my hand. I said, "Thanks." He seems like a nice guy though. My run-in with near celebrity :D

Overall, the day was good. The game was tied 3-3 at the end of the half so everyone stayed around through the half. Then Oregon State put two quick touchdowns in the 3rd and the waves of defectors began. By the end of the third, the stadium (at one time holding 86,000 people) is now half empty. By the end of the fourt, there's more orange than blue in the stadium. Micah enjoyed himself, but boy, that boy can wolf down some cotton candy.

It was interesting though. At the end of the game, Coach Neuheisel gets on the stadium PA system and thanks those who stuck around to the end and appologized that they have not been performing better. He was embarrassed, disappointed but said that he is working at restoring the glory for UCLA. That, to me, is quite the coach. He didn't say my players failed. He didn't say we didn't have it today. He took responsibility in front of the loyal fans and said something. I like the guy. I hope UCLA gets back to some dominance so that the UCLA/USC games are competitive and looked-forward to.

I'd love to go back for some college football though. It's a blast being part of something so communial. I mentioned to someone though that this would be a great sociology project talking about the propaganda involved in college football to create that community and loyalty. I like being part of that.

2 Timoth 2:5
"Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules."