Utah St. 10/22/11

This is a memory that I always want to have! A road win! Our players did an awesome job against Idaho and deserve to fly First Class on the way home. Coaches to the rear of the plane please! This is a players victory! I think I will celebrate with potatoes all week long. However you want to make it. Baked , Stuffed with Brisket or Twice Baked, it is going to be served. Take that you spud heads! This is going to be a strange week for me. I am going to be working the SGIA show with my company Drytac in New Orleans all week and will be flying home during the game. This will be my very first game not to hear or see live. I am not a happy camper but work is work and play is for later. Did I really just say that?

I guess I can say that I will feel very naked for not knowing what is going on during most of the game. Naked? That will not be a pretty sight! I did not get to talk to Matt very much this week. My days were long and hard. Maybe I should of used different wording on that. When I did talk to Matt he said he was kicking the ball well during practice. His back had been a little stiff during the week, but thought it was something that stretching before the game would loosen up. He said they are working on some weird kicks because of the Utah St kick returner. If they saw something in the alignment of Utah St then they were going to kick to certain spots on the field that they worked on during practice.

I sure hate it when that happens. Oh well, I am only a coach on the couch! He was not sure but he thought JC might be back snapping of FG's & PAT's. He was not sure about on punts. That takes a lot of guts and determination from JC to do that. My hat is off to him! He said he loves his old school black cleats. They feel like a glove and feel good on the ball. I guess being the kicker you must have a  great relationship with your cleat's! HaHa! It's game day and here I sit in New Orleans waiting on a 2:50PM flight back to North Dallas. I have no visual of the game, no tailgate food and no adult beverage. This is not good and my extra drawers are packed in my suitcase.

I am following the game on ESPN Game Tracker until the stewardess tells me to put it up. This is going to be very interesting! It looks like Matt is going to kick off and he puts it at the goal line. Let's go defense! The defense hold and forces a punt. Let's go offense! Tech runs 10 plays and scores. The PAT is good and Tech is up 7 -0. Matt kicks off and it is a touch back. I am not liking this ESPN Game Tracker. It's like waiting for honey to drip for the next play. Utah St runs 13 plays and scores making the score 7 - 7. I am not liking this. Well crap! All electronic devices must be turned off. This is going to get the best of me not knowing what is going on. Oh Lord please be with this team!

After playing the game in my head we finally land and the phone is on. Oh no! Tech is down 14 - 17. Why did I have to look? The phone is in the pocket as I gather my luggage and catch the shuttle to the car. I look again and Tech scored and is now up 21 to 17. Happy Dance! I hope I can keep my concentration while I drive. For those who are familiar with Love Field and driving down Mockingbird Lane know that following the game on your phone and driving are not a very good mix. We hold Utah St on their next 2 possessions. Their last possession they had a weird illegal kicking penalty against them.

I not sure I understand it on my phone, but I like it. La Tech takes over at the 4:54 mark and runs 3 plays and sets Matt up for a short FG. Really? They are going to give our kicker a chance? CF must of been in the restroom? HaHa! Game Tracker said it was good and Tech is now up 24 - 17. Woo Ho! I need to stay in my lane before I have an accident. Utah St takes possession at the 2:46 mark and on 4 straight plays our defense holds and we take possession. This is crazy keeping up with this as I drive. Tech takes over at the 1:36 mark and we run the clock out after Utah St uses their last 2 time outs and we get the very critical first down. Wow we won another road game.

These people next to me think I am crazy honking my horn. Oh well, I am celebrating and that is my right as a Bulldog fan! Hoo Ya! Now it is time to concentrate on staying in my lane and get to the house. I am in a great need of an adult beverage. I made it to the house and walk in the door and the phone is handed to me. Matt is on the phone and my timing is perfect. Matt was very excited. He said RA had one heck of a punting game and his kickoffs were some of his best of the season. He said his back was a little stiff and he was dreading the flight home but the victory would be his painkiller.

His throat was sore and had been a little nauseated during the game. He said they did not kick a FG within his range and went for it on 4th down and did not make it again. Oh don't get me started on this coaching staff and their dislike of the kicking game. Do they not know the kicking history at this school? Oh well, Matt is always going to be ready when they call on him and while no kicker is 100% he will give it his all. I just don't understand and I guess I never will. Sorry for my soapbox in between my conversation with Matt. He said he understands most of the time but can only be ready when the coaches call his number. He was really excited with the win and his emotions on the phone were awesome and made me proud.

We said our goodbyes and I re-introduced myself to my wife and the dogs. Home at last with an adult beverage in my hand and a La Tech victory. Nothing could be better! I will watch the replay of the game tomorrow. No more comments on this game as I need to move on and enjoy this victory as we come closer to achieving our goals. San Jose State is up next and they are a little scary. Playing them around Halloween is not a good thing. They beat Colorado State at Ft. Collins and are just coming off of a victory over Hawaii. They should go ahead and leave there head dress and spear at home. We don't want to see any of that crap! The Spartans are going to come into a hostile environment and the Dawgs are going to be flying high after their last 2 road wins. I will leave my excitement and frustrations here. It is time to get my tailgate face on.

Go Dawgs! It is such a blast to follow Matt Nelson through his eyes and the Bulldog team! I might not say the right things, but I write from the bottom of my heart and what my feelings are during the week and during the game. I don't intend to hurt anyone's feelings, but I am very passionate about La Tech Football. My opinions on the coaches and their coaching abilities are only mine and no one else's. Many thanks to Mr. Tom Morris with La Tech Sports Pix for allowing me to use some of his photos for this blog. Don't forget to listen to J Ford and Chris Keagle with Bleed Tech Blue on ESPN 97.7 FM every Tuesday night at 6:00 PM. May your Football Season be filled with many Football Victories, Sunny Smiles, Sandy Dreams and Travel Your Way! Until our paths cross again, have a blessed week! College Football Dad!