Manic Football

All that relaxing I did on the cruise was wasted about 7 hours after I disembarked from the ship. We docked in New Orleans, and my mother picked us up and drove us to her house in Baton Rouge where we all stayed through til Sunday. Lucky for me, Saturday night was the big LSU vs. Florida game right there at Tiger Stadium. Game of the year, CBS Prime Time Live game, defending national champions (them) against current #1 (us)…it was gonna be big!

We started off slow and got in a hole, but we stuck within 10 points of them at all times, so we never lost hope of coming back. I was glad to be in BR, amongst family and friends who truly love LSU (as opposed to my DH who harasses me about my cultish obsession and merely tolerates my enthusiasm). We screamed, jumped up, flopped down with groans, yelled non-nice things at the TV…all in a spirit of unity. It was beautiful. But our hearts were strained to the breaking point because the team just. couldn’t . catch. up. Coach Les Miles kept going for it on fourth down and one, fourth down and two, fourth down and inches…and the Tigers kept converting! The drama. Then comes the announcement that USC had lost to Stanford. We screamed, the fans in the stadium roared. More incentive to win and be crowned #1 unanimously…no sharing that spot anymore. Or we could both lose it…

We were down to the last five minutes, still 3 points behind. Aaagh!

But then, and you all know the end result, LSU runs up the middle from the two to score the winning touchdown with about 1 minute to spare. We survived FL’s ensuing Hail Mary attempt, and the stadium went crazy. My fellow fans at Mom’s house slumped down in joyful exhaustion. No more! Please. Please let the next game against Kentucky not be as exciting as this one. I can’t take it anymore.

So home we go with baby girl in tow, to reunite our little family and get back to a normal routine. I thought I might have missed the Cowboy game that Sunday, but they were slated for Monday Night Football on ESPN.

What a bizarre game from beginning to end. Interceptions in the end zone, tips, sacks, penalties, kick returns for touchdowns…all for the Buffalo Bills! (who?). It was a classic trap game, when a heavy favorite with no real motivation visits an opponent with nothing to lose. If the Bills’ offense had been able to muster anything more than a field goal, they would have won it. Even Romo’s 5 interceptions–while fruitful for the Bills’ defense–wasn’t enough. The two last second field goals that clinched it for Dallas (I hate that rule–the Bills’ coach took notes from FL’s Urban Meyer, who pulled that last second time out stunt on the Auburn kicker last weekend)…those were beautiful. And I’ve never witnessed a weirder game. Even my DH stayed up late to watch the end–and that’s significant!

It’s a great weekend to be an LSU and Cowboy fan…both still undefeated after harrowing games neither wants to repeat. Pleeeeease, let next week be more normal.