Idaho 10/16/10

I am not sure I am going to be able to contain myself this week. I am still on cloud 9, high or whatever you want to call it. I am not sure what being high feels like so I will stick with being on cloud 9. HaHa! Now that I have said this, what does the heck does being on cloud nine really mean? I have used the expression before, but I really do not know. Research tells me that this expression for a feeling of euphoric exultation (extreme happiness) comes from U.S. Weather Bureau terminology. Clouds are divided into classes, with each class further divided into nine types. No. 9 is the cumulonimbus, the towering kind often seen building up on hot summer afternoons. It may reach 40,000 feet (12,000 meters), so if you're on Cloud Nine, you're high indeed. Wow! I did learn something new today! You know, you have to start somewhere with a win to have a winning streak and ours started by kicking the Blue Aggies down the trail back to Utah! I don't know that much about Idaho except that they have a strong passing attack. Enderele has thrown for 1411 yards and 10 touchdowns so far this year. They are ranked the #5 passing offense in the nation. Didn't we just play the #1 team in passing offense a few weeks ago? I hope our defense is ready! We gave the game away last year in the Kibbles & Bits dome and I would like nothing better than to make a few potato pancakes this coming Saturday. Can I say 2 wins in a row? I really like our chances being at home and that the game is at 3:00 and it should be pretty warm for the spuds! I need to uncover some dirt on these potato people! What is a Vandal? They say don’t use your dictionary to find Idaho’s definition of a Vandal. No, Idaho’s student-athletes go by a name earned nearly a century ago by a basketball team coached by Hec Edmundson, whose teams played defense with such intensity and ferocity that sports writers said they “vandalized” their opponents. Now that's funny right there! We are the ones who are going to cause damage and destruction! You will feel vandalized when you leave Ruston. That nickname needs to go back in the ground and grow a little more! HaHa! I spoke to Matt everyday this week and he said practice was intense and everyone had a little more pep in their step. It is amazing what a win can do! You wake up a little earlier in the morning, you can't wait to get to class, and you practice with emotions knowing that you can smell that next win! What a great recipe! Matt said the special teams meetings have gone well and there could be some magic in the air. They are working on a few new wrinkles that need to be ironed out. HaHa! Matt said he is still making good contact with the ball and his leg feels good. After they broke down film on the blocked FG against Utah St, Matt said the placement of the ball could change from time to time depending on what the defense was showing. Matt said he talked to Josh Scobee early in the week and congratulated him on his perfect game with 5 FG's. Josh sure is mentally focused this year. Keep doing what you do Josh! I am still waiting for Matt to tell me what this word is that he, Ross and Vince are going to submit to Merriam Webster. He has been kind of secretive about it. I think they are still working on the definition! Since this was the last home game in October we decided to go with an Oktoberfest theme. Well sort of! We were going to have a baked potato bar, country style ribs, soft baked pretzels and several different craft beers before the game and then cook several types of sausage and let them bathe in beer after the game. Meggie (wife's mom) was bringing a funky pasta salad and a German Chocolate cake. We are set with the menu! My parents (John & Carol) are making the drive to Ruston from The Villages on Thursday. I think this is game # 4 for my dad. They hit Ruston around 7:00 PM after their 12 hour drive. They met Matt and Kasie (Matt's girlfriend) at Portico for dinner. It was good that Matt got to spend some time with them before the rest of the crew headed over on Friday. After Matt's morning class he took them out to Squire Creek to show them what a real golf course is! HaHa! They were both impressed with Squire Creek and they do have some good courses in The Villages as well! Our journey to Ruston started out very early on Friday. I still cannot figure out why I bring so much stuff. I am about to run out of room in the suburban. This is crazy! We hit Shreveport around 11:30 AM and made our way over to Maxwell's Market to pick up a few things for the tailgate. Ross was there so we got to visit with him for a little bit before making our way over to Ruston. Matt had a 12:30 class and had to be at the field house by 2:30. We had just a small window to grab a quick lunch with him and my mom. He was in good humor and was really excited about the game with Idaho. He said the team was jacked and Thursday's practice had gone well. He said the team dinner was at the Log Cabin again and then off to the pep rally at the stadium before heading to Monroe. He said the movie they were going to watch was JA 3D. That should be interesting! After we checked into the Fairfield Inn I had some work to attend to. It sure is nice when you have free Wi-Fi! My dad had gone to Shreveport to win some money and made it back to the hotel just in time to make a small adult beverage to head over to the pep rally. There were plenty of people at the pep rally, but I thought there would have been more with it being homecoming weekend. I thought Teresa Weatherspoon's message to the team and fans was awesome! She is a great speaker. I thought maybe CD would have spoke to the students, but he did not. The team’s buses were on the east side so we got to visit with Matt for a few seconds before they loaded up. Next it was off to tailgate spot 52 to setup. One of these days I am going to learn to pack the tents last so I don't have to take everything out to get to them. We set 3 tents up along with the grill and tables. There were several others setting up nearby as well. We opened a bottle of wine and sat under the stars at the stadium while we watched Idaho walk the field. They look pretty big! Popeye’s fried chicken and another glass of wine would finish my evening! My bed was calling and tomorrow was going to start early. The bodies are loaded, flags are flying, coolers are iced down and Mc Donald’s sausage Mc Muffins are in the sack! Joe Aillet here we come. We hit spot 52 at 8:30 and the rest of the setup began. After about 30 minutes, myself, Janet (wife) and my mom & dad had everything in place! It was time for bloody mary's and screwdrivers! It's not too early, we deserved them! Most of my tailgate neighbors had started rolling in. Andrew had setup the night before with his trailer. Bryan, Bradley, Matt, Dusty (showed up late - hunting) and their team were setting up, Bobby was unloading and Ross (MarketDawg) was waiting for his tents to show up. The next thing I know Mr. Harper pulls up and drops off an ice chest full of water and then hands me a package. What is this? Christmas is still down the road. I open it up and I was in shock! It was a chef’s jacket with the Tech logo, my name and the words Super Tailgate Chef on it! I was truly speechless. It was so awesome and Mr. Harper I will never forget it. Thanks so much! Can you believe it? You have to see it! I don't know if I can even cook today! Wow! I hung it up under the tent next to the grill so it would be ready when I cranked up the fire. I have got to talk about the Smoothie King Group. They are doing a breakfast tailgate with bloody mary's, mimosas, coffee cakes, sausage balls and 2 egg omelets in a zip lock baggie! What was that last part? 2 egg omelets in a zip lock baggie? Seriously, are you kidding? I kid you not, I witnessed this and it was true. They put 2 eggs, cheese, onions, bell peppers, mushrooms and bacon in a zip lock bag. They whisk it up with a fork and seal it. Then they drop it in boiling water for 13 minutes and out comes this amazing omelet. I about fell out! It was really, really good! I am going to have to try this at home and then try it at the tailgate. Thanks for introducing me to a new cooking technique. Mr. Harper joined us again and Mr. Hamm stopped by as well. Chef Bobby had his grill lit and these amazing pork tenderloins stuffed with crawfish boudin (minus the casing) were staring at me! They looked so good! They need to be on the cover of Food & Wine magazine. Someone has made that Butt Naked cocktail again! I really need to find out whose recipe that is so I can give them credit! Ha Ha! David's wife made this incredible shrimp dip as well! I need to go hide next to my baked potato bar. There is gourmet food everywhere. Ross (Marketdawg) has filet mignons on the grill and Andrew has giant chickens on the smoker. I am surrounded by so many great chefs! You need to come check these guys out. They are worth every penny of your game ticket just to pull up a chair and watch! The sirens were off in the distance and that meant the team was close by. Decked out in my new chef jacket I headed down tailgate alley so I could see Matt and get a few photos. He looked focused and the rest of the team did as well! My grilled/baked potatoes were done, pretzels were hot and the country style ribs had taken on just the right character. Keeping butter and sour cream chilled in the October heat wave was a chore. Pretzels and CS ribs were awesome as well! I sampled several craft beers during our Oktoberfest celebration. I had a Full Sails, Bear Republic Racer 5, Real Ale Devil's Backbone and a MOA Noir. All of these were incredible! Mr. Rust came by and was carrying a 32 oz Miller High Life in a brown paper bag. What is this? Then Dan the President of the 32 Crew comes by and asks if I would like to be a member of the 32 Crew. I said ok, what do I need to do? He said you have to drink a 32 oz Miller High Life in a brown paper bag and then you are a member. Dan left for a few minutes and then presented me with my very own 32oz can to drink. It had been a long time since I drank a beer out of a brown paper bag and it was worth every sip. Thanks for letting me part of the crew! Game time is here and my seat is waiting for me. This was the latest that I arrived into the stadium. I hit my seat at 2:30. I did not get to see Matt warm-up, but many family members did so I could get an update. Trace Adkins, Kix Brooks and sky divers oh my! The best start to a game ever! Wow, this sun is bright and it is hot! October, you are not doing us right! Just a little cooler please! Matt is kicking off to start the game! Matt strikes the ball well and Idaho knee's it in the end-zone for a touch back. What a great kick to start the game! Idaho rolls through 14 plays including a bogus roughing the punter penalty and a missed field goal. La Tech takes over and we pass, we run and we score. PAT is good! What a great combination! Matt kicks off again and puts the ball in the end-zone. Idaho runs it out and they are busted at the 17. Idaho drives down the field and the first quarter ends tied 7 - 7. Matt connects with a 31 yard field goal to start the 2nd quarter. After a Tech turnover, Idaho scores quick and now leads 14 - 10. Tech ran the 2 minute drill to perfection with a series of passes with the last one connecting with Paige for a 32 yard score. PAT is good and the half comes to an end with Tech up 17 - 14. Matt missed a 38 yard field goal attempt in the 2nd quarter. He will not be a happy camper after the game. I know there will be some steam under that helmet! I am feeling pretty good about our chances. I like what we are doing on offense. Tech would own the 3rd quarter with 3 TD's and would go into the 4th quarter with a 38 - 21 lead. Our defense held Idaho to only one touchdown. Where has this mixture of plays been? I love it! Can the 4th quarter hurry up and end? Idaho scored pretty quickly! I don't like the way this is starting out. Matt connects with a pretty 39 yard field goal. Our defense holds Idaho on their next possession and then it is the Creer run fest. Creer runs 4 straight plays and scores. The PAT is good and Tech goes on to win 48 - 35! Wow! Where has this team been? Ross you lead this team down the field like the field general you are! Great game! Lennon, keep running down the field! Great game! Great performance by everyone! I am on my knees with my hands on the floor bowing to the coaching staff. We might just have turned the corner! I have been pretty hard on CF for his play calling, but today I give praise to CF. The whole entire game plan was awesome by all of the coaches. I can't believe it! We are on a winning streak! I did not make it over to see Matt after the game. I had a grill to get lit and Oktoberfest needed to continue! Sausages were on the grill and the beers were flowing! Matt made his way over to the tailgate area. He was super pumped with the win. He said it was a blast out on the field. The team played with great emotion. I know it probably was not the right time to ask, but I asked Matt about his missed FG. He said it was his best kick of the night! It just went straight! The snap was good, the hold was good and the ball went straight. Normally I have a little hook on the ball. I knew he was disappointed and would correct whatever needed corrected. He had a good game and it was a great team win! I’m Happy! Dinner is served! What a long day it has been, but it has been a great day! Family, Friends and a Tech win! Just awesome! My shout out goes to the Entire Team! You played one heck of a game! Our defensive backfield got picked on a bit, but when you are playing the #5 passing team in the nation stuff is going to happen. You all should be proud of your efforts and take those positive emotions into Boise! I do want to give a special shout out to the entire coaching staff. You put together an awesome game plan and everything came together. My prior comments have been harsh and I have been told by some that as a player’s parent I should not say things like that about the coaches. I am sorry if I offend some, but I am a college football fan as well and it is not always a rosy picture. My hat goes off to the coaching staff for a job well done! I hope that you continue to bring mystery to the future games. It is always fun to see the opposing team and coaches scratching their heads! Our night comes to an end. I think there‘s bed and a glass of wine calling my name. I want to thank all of the family members who made their way to the game this week. Thanks for all of the miles you drive! We appreciate all of the support and the time we get to spend together! Sunday morning comes way too early again! We load the tents and grill. Matt stopped by and visited for a few minutes before he headed to church. He was still excited with the win and was anxious to breakdown film and put Idaho to bed! Off to Dallas we go! What a weekend! I think I need to sleep another night before I try to put a rope around Boise St. This is going to be a true test for this team. I hope the coaches have the right game plan and they keep the team's emotions running high. Boise St. is going to be tough. The weather could be brutal! They are ranked #3 in the BCS poll and have one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Kellen Moore is the top rated quarterback in the nation and they average 14.8 yards per pass play! They play on the smurf turf which is a joke in its self. They should be required to wear all white at their home games including their helmets and cleats. This camouflage crap is for the birds. I am not totally sure, but I read somewhere that Brokeback Mountain was filmed in Boise. I wonder if Boise St. supplied any of the extras. Bronco Bustin' at its finest! HaHa! I don't think Boise St. is going to get what they see on film from us! I bet there will be a few tricks up our sleeves! Halloween is right around the corner and my treat will be a La Tech victory! ESPN are you ready? The Dawgs are coming to Boise! Give us some love! I appreciate all of those who are following my journey. It is such a blast to follow Matt through his eyes and the Bulldog team! I write from the bottom of my heart and what my feelings are at that moment. I don’t intend to upset or hurt anyone, but I am very passionate about La Tech Football! I am just a College Football Fan! Don’t forget to listen to my friends at Tech Nation Radio every Tuesday night from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. It should be a great show as always! May your Football Season be filled with many Football Victories, Sunny Smiles, Sandy Dreams and Travel Your Way! If you need help with your travel plans just let me know! Until our paths cross again, have a blessed week! College Football Dad!