FSU vs. Western Carolina

The Florida State University Seminoles kicked off their 2008 season Saturday night at Doak Campbell stadium and the Knight Boys were in the house to root them on. This was Brycen and Tillman's third FSU game and the Noles are now 3-0 when they are in attendance. We got to Tallahassee around 2:00 as we left after Brycen's soccer game. The first stop as usual on Gameday was at "Garnet and Gold" to pickup a few pieces of Seminoles paraphernalia and then to my official gameday hotel at the Quality Inn on Appalachee Pkwy. It's pretty funny at how much the boys love a "hotel". I have no doubt that it is passed down from me. I can still remember as a teenager going on cross country trips with my family and spending the night in a small rv and every now and then, dad would be trying to leg out an extra hundred miles which would get us to the destination late at night therefore, we would stop at a Motel 6 and it was like HEAVEN to me. I guess it went to show how spoiled I was. At any rate, the boys are hilarious running down those halls to the hotel room. It even seems like a tradition now with the amount of travel that we do.

Our stopover at the hotel was short since we wanted to let the boys experience a tailgate with the normal crew. I had low expectations for the tailgate however, I'm pretty sure both would have made it for a 3-4 hour tailgate although, this was only for about an hour. After getting filthy in the dirt and 8 or 9 of Rich's cookies, We set forth toward Doak. I always enjoy the walk however, it's definitely more special when I'm carrying my kids than a couple twelve oz cans trying to get that last sip in. Their simple expressions just seem to give me chills and we hadn't even see the kickoff or heard the Warchant yet. The Seminole Athletic Department has made tons of changes to the pregame this season to liven things up and outside the stadium now, we have about a 6 0r 7 foot drum that fans stop by and beat the Warchant on. Brycen was "too cool" to do it but, Tillman beat a few of his own notes before we walked in. As soon as we got in the stadium, the first of three weather delays got us. I was definitely nervous that we wouldn't see one snap since it was already 6:00 and a 2 year old's attention span isn't the greatest. However, armed with 2 buckets of popcorn (first one was spilled), nachos and a large cup of CO-CO, they were troopers. The game finally got started around 7:15 only long enough for a Western three and out and FSU punt return for td before there was yet another weather delay (lightning). This time we went back to the tailgate site and the kids played under the tent for a little bit until the lightning got worse and we made the decision to head back to the hotel around 8:30.

The game wasn't on tv so I was tuned in via radio in the hotel room and the result definitely exceeded my expectations. I know Western wasn't the best competition however, the new personnel due to the suspensions and new starters looked great so I think we got plenty of potential but, I'm still holding back judgement until we have all of our starters back and are up against a solid opponent September 27 vs. Colorado here in Jax.

Next up is Chattanooga at 3:45 in Doak and I have my parents coming in town for their first ever experience at Doak. Them along with Brycen and me will be heading to Tally after Brycen's 8:30 soccer game on Saturday morning.

GO NOLES!!!