Get your game face on!

January 5th, 2010. Game Day!

The game is not until 8pm. We have all day to lounge around. However the warm florida sun is only a mere 60 some degrees. It feels nice out of the wind, but pants and a jacket are required. We manage to find some fresh squeezed orange juice, nothing like Florida Orange juice, that crap in the stores, is crap!

Lunch rolls around and we eat oceanside at the hotel restuarant. We then get this crazy idea to jump in the ocean, we are here right. So we go get our suits on and come back down to the beach. We make a flying run to the water, SPLASH!! BRRRRRRR!!!! Josh lasts in the water for about 20 seconds. I am fine it is warmer in the water. I finally get out and we go hit the hot tub.

After our dip in the hot tub we go back to the room to get ready for the game. The only thing we are missing is our warm clothes. I threw in my gloves and josh threw in his stocking hat and gloves. At the last minute I threw in a fleece blanket, you never know if you would need something like that, better to have them.

We are ready for the game! WE go sit in the hotel bar and wait on the people we are riding to the game with. In the bar some lady asks us " Why are you staying at this hotel?" I am thinking, is there only one hotel for Tech fans, and we can't stay here? Hawkeye fans wont all fit in one hotel. Also we can't afford the Hawkeye team hotel. We respond with the fact we didn't know this was the Tech team hotel. Oh well, hawkeye fans were all around S. Florida.

Of the Tech players we did see, they didn't look too big or intimidating.

Anyway we meet with our peeps and need to take 2 cabs of 5 people to the game. It is a short 5 miles away or so, but the traffic has picked up, so it is about a half hour ride, not bad.

We get to the stadium, hopeing to meet up with some other fans, but they are all on the move we only get to meet up with one. We had to also get our tickets. We also ran across the marching band (i have video, sometime I will load) Then it is time to go in the stadium.


I like to go early and watch all the people and pre-game hoopla. We also got our supper. Chicken strip baskets and Landshark Lager, on tap! Dinner of Champions!


We go to our seats, front row of the upper deck on the corner, near the endzone. Not bad seats, but they could be better. There is a slight breeze and it is cool!

The stadium fills up, it appears as if it is 3/4 hawk fans. This game is not a sell-out but close. A Tuesday evening game, when school is in session cuts down attendance. Then the bands had there turns at performing. It is time for the national anthem. First though america the beautiful is played by the saxophone player from the E street band. Then it is time for the National Anthem. I don't recall the singers name, but she was AWESOME!! Best I have heard in person.






It was time for the teams to take the field. the Hawks were first. They played the Back in Black video montage, kind of like back at Kinnick, the hawk fans lit up! This was going to be awesome. The hawks ran out behind the flags, entered the stadium as a team, hand in hand. Then Tech took the field, with their car and party type jumping around. BLeck!


It was time for the coin toss, we lost, but Tech deferred and we will get the ball first. Then the rest is history...or something like that. The hawks took an early lead, and never trailed. At half time they had 14 points, the basketball team at half had 15 points that evening. Anyway the hawks go on to make great plays, stop Techs triple option offense and win the game 24-14.




Oh how can I forget, there was halftime too. Kool and the gang performed, they were good. There were also dancers from high schools. Fireworks also went off. I think I might have shaken my booty!

The gatorade was dumped! Then stage was rolled out for the trophy presentation. However before the team took the stage they came over to the fans and gave high fives to the front row. I love the hawks!



It was time for the trophy presentation. At some point the video people thought it would be wise to show the Tech press conference on the big video screens, boo! Back to the ceremony. Adrian Clayborn was named MVP, Ricky Stanzi made a witty quote about America #1. Then the hawks come back to the fans, throw them oranges and sing the fight song (at turbo speed) IT's great to be a hawkeye. Suddenly it was not as cold.




As we departed, the band played in heaven there is no beer down the spiral exit ramp.

We met up with the people we came with in the club section, and found a bar. Had a cold one, and needed to go back to the hotel.