Labor Day

This is usually one of my favorite holidays and there were some definites high points to the long weekend. The weather up at the farm in New Ulm was perfect especially on Saturday morning when it was 65 when I awakened. Of course it heated up during the course of the day but it was a great start to feel that first hint of fall, which sometimes doesnt come for many weeks later. I loaded up all of my tailgating gear and headed up to the first Aggie football game with my cousin and compadre Rene', and we have become pros at setting up the whole ensemble in about ten or fifteen minutes. This is the third or fourth year that I have set up in the lot just east of the stadium right along Houston street, and now a lot of folks know to look for us there. We got there around three or so, and soon were visited by Norman and Madelyn, who have become dear friends and frequent tailgaters with us. Norman said it was his birthday, because he counts his years at the step off at the first corps march in at the first game each year. Norman played the drums in the Aggie band in the fifties, and I guess when he hears that familiar cadence [of course it is still the same!], he knows another year has passed and he has been blessed with getting to expereince another fall in Aggieland. I like the way Norman thinks.

We were also visited by my nephew John and his friend Jameson, as well as Mike and his girlfriend and another Aggie bud of Mike's. Also Andy Watkins came by with his friend Kathy, and we had a nice visit. I hadnt seen Andy in probably twenty five years and he was coming to his first Aggie game. Kathy is an Aggie mom, and working on converting Andy to a major Aggie fan. I cooked chicken fajitas and jalepeno sausages and the group was well fed and well watered! For those of you who plan on coming up for any of the games I am always right along Houston street just south of G Rollie White east of the stadium. Have a maroon canopy [but of course], and chairs and a red grill. Cant miss me and am always have extra food and drink.

Now that gets me to the game. I really dont think I knew what to expect. Of course you are always hopeful at the first game of the year, but after last year, and really the last ten or so, its hard to get too terribly hyped up for fear of the disappointment. Anyway, enough about my psyche. The game was absolutely fantastic, from the first drive till the last tick of the clock. We were entertained, surprised and impressed with the balance, the depth, the variety and the enthusiasm of the players and yes even the coaches. Of course there were some blips, namely the numerous penalties, especially holding, but overall it was a complete game that gives us some hope that there are better days to come. Jerrod Johnson, the QB, was spectacular. If the game had been televised then he would have been on every highlight reel. Unfortunately with the state of our program we arent on TV, and in fact only had about 74,000 people in the stands. Those of us that were there were lucky, and even though the opponent really wasnt that strong, it was a heckuva better way to start the season than last year when we lost a pitiful game to Arkansas State. I hope the team stays humble and hungry, because we have a long way to go to really be seen as a real contender, but if they dont get cocky, stay focused and keep their feet on the ground, things might be better than many, including me, have predicted. We shall see.