Oh how I missed football over the summer. I was never a football player, but I have always enjoyed watching the game.I ventured out to the Forest Lake High School football game where the Rangers were unable to stop a strong Menomonie, WI, offense. It was great to be roaming the sidelines again, watching the plays unfold, the players emotions after each big play and the enthusiasm of the fans.
High school football is a great thing. I still remember venturing up to Johnston Field at my Alma Mater Brother Rice in Chicago with my dad every Saturday afternoon for games. It was a great time as I would join my friends in the student section as we would heckle opposing teams, sing the fight song with every touchdown and enjoy ěHosty Dogî hot dogs at the games. I remember the stands being packed, both on the home and visitors side. There were games where fans had to line the sidelines because there was not enough room in the stands to hold everybody.
It was a great weekend tradition, since altered to Friday nights since lights were installed at the field allowing for night games and Mr. Hosty passed away meaning the end of ěHosty Dogs.î
I missed the weekend games when I went to college because my school didnít have a team, but when I started going to Rangers games last year it felt like I hadnít missed a weekend game in years.
Last year I was lucky enough to go to University of Minnesota Gopher football games. I saw some great games, most notably, the Gophers collapse against Michigan.
Growing up I attended one college game. I was in the fifth grade and my dad and I ventured down to Memorial Stadium in Champaign-Urbana to watch the University of Illinois defeat The Ohio State University on a last second field goal. I remember the atmosphere around the game and the noise of the crowd, something I almost forgot about until that first Gopher game I went to last year against Louisiana Lafayette.
There was the band, Goldy the mascot, the boisterous fans and the alumni. The stands were fairly empty for that first game but as the season went on and the Gophers rose in the national standings there were less and less empty seats and the noise level kept getting louder and louder.
Nothing against the Rangers football games, but I was excited to go to the Gopher game Saturday night and watch some college football. The Gophers have some exciting players returning and I wanted to see how Bryan Cupito would do in replacement of Asad Abdul-Khaliq at quarterback. I was also interested in seeing what kind of crowd the Gophers would draw for their home opener since they were ranked 25th in the nation.
The first weekend of football this season for me was an enjoyable one. Now I am looking forward to the Rangers game at Roseville Friday night and the Gophers matinee game against Illinois State Saturday. Iím not sure how either team will do, but I know Iíll sure enjoy watching the events of the games unfold play by play.
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