Ground Control

 Best laid plans don’t always come to fruition. As such, my planned outing to the Montana at UC Davis game did not happen due to unforeseen circumstances.  Devastated as I was, I took solace on my couch with the remote and a days worth of games to watch.

Around the country: This year's Red River Shootout was perhaps one of the best ever out of the 119 meetings in this storied rivalry. Both teams came in undefeated and ranked. The Sooners were embarrassed last year in this rivalry game by losing 49-0. With revenge on their minds and a much improved team, the Sooners punched hard early and often. Texas was equal to the task and punched back throughout the game as momentum seemed to shift constantly. In the end, the Sooners led by QB Dillon Gabriel mounted a game-winning drive to seal a 34-30 victory. Elsewhere, Miami dropped from the ranks of the undefeated at the hands of Georgia Tech on a last-second touchdown. (More on this outcome later.) If anyone was doubting whether UGA should still be top dog, those doubts were laid to rest as the Dawgs destroyed the previously undefeated Cats from Kentucky with a final tally of 51-13. Out west in the LA Coliseum, Caleb Superman Williams led USC to a triple OT victory over the University of Arizona. In the Big Ten, Michigan improved to 6-0, sinking PJ Fleck and his Gopher boat. In “Group of Five” action, last week’s darling Fresno State went down in defeat at the hands of the Cowboys from Laramie, Wyoming, 24-19. 

Clockwise from Top Left - The Bolt Boyz at Red River, Colonel Holter and his crew at Iowa, Captain Dan Lusk winning the tailgate at Minnesota and a Yeti sighting in Boise

Bieber: As promised, here’s more on that Georgia Tech victory. Miami had possession of the ball and was leading the game 20-17 with just over 30 seconds left on the clock. All they had to do was take a knee, run the clock out and go celebrate like 99.999% of teams typically do. But Miami head ball coach Mario “Two Hands” Cristobal misplaced his thinking cap and decided to run the ball instead of taking a knee and running the clock out. Mr. Murphy reared his ugly head and created a fumble, which Georgia Tech recovered. They would throw the ball twice down field and score on the second one on a blown coverage by the Miami defensive backfield, securing the upset victory. Coach Cristobal, next time look into your crystal ball so you can better predict your future before you do something so Bieberish! For now, your shiny Bieber hardware will have to do.

Ginger: The Hawkeye Wave. I have mentioned this one before, but it is always worth drawing attention to this tradition. I was reminded of it again yesterday when my buddy attended the Purdue at Iowa game and sent me a picture of the fans waving to the children in the hospital windows next to the stadium. I had the honor of being at the first Hawkeye Wave ever that was performed on Labor Day weekend, 2017. I remember getting a chill up my spine at how touching this gesture was and what it must mean to the kids. Many of these kids are fighting battles against very severe illnesses, and something like this goes a long way in improving their spirits. The children’s hospital rises from the east like a phoenix above Kinnick Stadium on the campus of the University of Iowa. At the end of the first quarter, all the kids and their families gather at the windows of the hospital. The 70,000 fans in the stadium all stand and wave in unison to the kids. This truly is one of the most moving experiences you will ever have at a college football game. It goes without saying that this is beyond badass and worthy of multiple Ginger awards!

The Hawkeye Wave!

Next up: Heading back to Boulder for Family Weekend and a Friday night matchup in the now winter temps of the Rocky Mountains. This is only two weeks after I was playing drinking games outside in my dad shorts. There is a possibility I will also head up to Fort Collins for Colorado State’s Saturday night game against the Boise State Broncos.

Happy Tailgating!