So Much More Than a Game...

It began a long time ago…. At least 40 years ago.  It is not a secret that girls are often “Daddy’s girls” and the bond between a dad and his daughter is often quite strong.  Of course since I was my dad’s birthday present in 1964 – it goes without saying that our bond would be forever strong.

There are many directions that this entry could take – some would make us all cry – some would make me cry but today is about something so much more….. Today is Saturday – and I am doing one of my most favorite things – watching ESPN’s College Game Day!

My dad would walk the sidelines of the Perrin Pirate football games.  In fact when we go watch my nephew three play – I still want to walk the sidelines and watch.  There are others that continue to do the same.  I went to every Pirate football game from 1966 – 1983 and during that time we also went to Baylor Bear football games in Waco.  And of course we watched the Dallas Cowboys on Sundays.  When I was a freshman in high school – a friend of Danny White’s got us tickets to see the Cowboys play at the old stadium – football is just a part of who I am.

That love of football has never left me.  It was a bit difficult when I married a wonderful man who went to a school without a football team – he did not understand my withdrawal on Friday nights when we were first married.  That quickly changed – and we watched Gilmer Buckeye football in East Texas.  Then when I started teaching in Graham we became avid Graham Steer fans.  In 1998 when Nephew one was a freshman that love of football went to a completely different level when I started watching our boys play and our boys of four increased to our boys of seven when the McCoy family came to Graham.

David Rupkalvis, editor of the Graham Leader, perhaps said it best…..

Quote from the editor's column in the Graham Leader

I do love football.  It has been a joy to watch #12 play in the Longhorn uniform and now leading the Cleveland Browns, we had so much fun watching the receiver at Hardin Simmons – he was a receiver that is steady and strong (Son two took after him – they both have the best hands….) but the bond between a QB and his O line is much like that dad and his daughter bond.  Forever.

So it was that the forever bond took us to California last weekend.  One dream I have is to visit football stadiums and watch college teams play all over the nation.  Of course the Rose Bowl in Pasadena would be a place to visit.  I will never forget Vince waltzing into the end zone nor the one standing on the sidelines a few years later.  But this year it was about a QB – and for me it was about his O lineman.

The friendship of those two has done more for my family than most will ever know.  In many ways the QB's love for Jesus brought our family back to that in a time when we did not even know we were away.  He was our Graham Steer quarterback and for three of those years – Son one was his O lineman.

When Texas announced that our QB would be the starting QB on Saturday against UCLA in the Rose Bowl – we started looking for tickets.  God blesses people in many different ways and for us it was with reasonable plane tickets, a time frame that worked, and being able to find game day tickets.  The QB’s dad – Brad was flying into LAX on the same flight and Colt’s financial agent was flying out of LAX that evening at the same time.  All the details worked and that O lineman got to watch his QB start in his first college game.

For me football is about the game – I do love the Xs and Os (I understand the game – I could probably coach a team ….) but it is also about the people and the excitement it produces.  Just this morning on ESPN College Game Day – they interviewed Dabo Swinney – coach at Clemson – I loved that interview and now will want to watch teams he coaches.  He talked about showing enthusiasm, loving what you do and being excited.  He also has a sign on his desk - There is nothing less important than the score at half time.

David was right – I do love football.  Thanks Dad – following you around is where it all began…

Notes: There is so much more I could write about football!  Last year when Son one was in Montgomery – getting to be in the stadium where the historical Blue/Gray games were held and seeing the Roll Tide/Auburn rivalry.  Son one’s senior year we took the QB to an A&M game and I have even been on the field at DKR when Colt was a QB at Texas.  My football experiences are just some of my favorite memories!  And of course watching our boys play high school football was the VERY best and ones I will treasure for a lifetime. 

Before the game!  Hook 'em!

His first TD pass!

Our group after the game

Always, May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14.