I was fortunate enough to get to see a U of L football game last Friday night, thanks to Gregg. Our seats were in the new section of the stadium, on Flight Deck 5, row C. We were on the 40 yard line. We hung out before the game, with Andrea, Travis and the boys, until time to go to our seats. Their seats were not on the same level as ours. It was a long trek up to the seats, by steps or ramps, you had a choice. They went up the ramps, I went up on the elevator! The weather was perfect, it was a crisp fall evening; a slight breese coming in from the west put a bit of a chill in the air.
I'll digress here to tell of the football games we first attended when we moved to Louisville fifty years ago. We were used to Ohio weather which called for sweaters or jackets early on in the season and heavy coats, scarves, hats, gloves, and blankets by mid October. At the first football game I attended here, I was overwhelmed by the fact that I got mosquito bites! The first years, our football outings were mostly to see Mike play. I do recall some games that were played in heavy downpouring rain but none played in snow flurries or below zero temps.
We did attend a few U of L games and later got season tickets to their games. We got to the games early so we could see the marching band and hear them play. The cheer leaders were there to get the crown reved up before the game started. Soon after the coin flip the game began and we were all focused on the field and the teams, yelling and cheering them on until half time. There was always lots to see at half time. The visiting team, if their band traveled with them, performed first, any tributes or introductions of VIP's were made and then the home team band performed. When the half time show, as it was called, was over the teams re-appeared on the field and the rest of the game was played, with the crowd cheering them on. If U of L made a touch down, a cannon was fired. Very impressive! The whole thing was over in about two and a half hours. It was sort of like the no-frills Mass I go to, you go, you pray, you go home. You went to the football game, you watched the game, you went home!
Oh, my gosh! It's a whole new world out there now. We got to our seats about a half hour before the game began and there was 'the greatest show on earth' right before our eyes. The music was cranked up and playing to the rocking crowd, large screens at both ends of the fields showing the cheerleaders, the crowds, other sites of interest, the players of both teams en masse,of course, on the field warming up, hurling the football through the air, looking clean and ready to take each other on, (Astro turf has eliminated dirty uniforms, they stay clean looking). The P A system was in tip top form, directing our attention to events that were going on on the periphery. At one time they showed pictures of former coaches at U of L. I loved the picture of Corso, and Howard was young and kinda cute, Cragthorp and Cooper were no shows. That was good! Charlie Strong appears on the large screens saying, "Stand Strong!" I loved it! The game started promptly at 8PM. The music rocked on at maximum volume until 'play' actually started. We were not too pleased with the first play of the game but we got beyond it. With the end of that series of plays, there was a TV time out and advantage was taken of that time lapse. We were introduced to Pres. Ramsey and accolades were bestowed. The next TV 'break' we watched as a few guys tried to kick the football up the field to a certain yardline and perhaps win a prize. Kicker, not so good, missed by about ...aaaa most of the yards. Next time out, we were introduced to the women's LaCross team and their coach. Hurrah ! There were a few spectators in our section that volunteered to be water boy for that team. As breaks went on we saw large banners pulled onto the field that volunteers tried to 'pass' the ball to hit one or the other of the two large banners, one white and one yellow, with the goal of winning a large prize. Not so good again! I think the fans are short on talent! The crowd was given a choice of a music selection that would be played. They named the performer and the song and the crowd was supposed to cheer for the one they liked best. It had to be done twice because the people that booed the choice they did not want, skewed the results. Finally they got it right and the song of the evening was TNT.
Half time was very good, we had intros to a few more VIP's and then the band performed, and the Lady Cardinals (I'm not sure of the groups' name) did a routine that was so good, I was dazzeled! We were ahead of BearCats and hoping for the best in the second half. Our team has gotten so far this season compared to the last few seasons. Bilol Powell 's 209 rushing yards was a spectacular performance and there were many others but they still have some kinks to iron out. I had the best time and am so thankful that I got to be a part of it all! I loved all of it! (Except for the fact that we lost, score: Cincinnati 35, Louisville 27. As Satchel Paige used to opine though, "We stang 'em"
I left out some of my other favorite things, when the Star- Spangled Banner was played before the game, the lighted strip on the other side of the stadium, rolls across the stadium with the colors of the flag flashing, during the game other things roll along on that strip. The stadium is, in fact, beautiful! What a place to watch a game, it is truly an awesome scene to behold. The whole evening was memorable. It puts a whole new light on ' going to the game'.
This is just an aside: Someone asked me today when 'tail-gating' came into being. I told them that back in the 1950's Mickey and Warner and Doc and I tail-gated at the Ohio State games. It was not participated in by as many people but quite a few of us did it. Tail-gating is an ancient custom!!! Ciao,caio
GO CARDS!
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