Goin' Back to Tally

Yesterday we made the long drive to Tallahassee to attend the Florida State vs. Duke game. I had been looking forward to this trip for so long and was so excited that it was finally here. You see, even though I lived in Tallahassee and went to school at Florida State I have never attended a football game in Doak Campbell stadium. I've been to a couple of games but they were always on neutral ground in Jacksonville. So to finally be in Doak was a huge thrill for me.

My sister-in-law made the trek down to Tally from Alabama and we all stayed at my girlfriend's brand new (beautiful) house. We tailgated before the game at a friend's office right down the street from the stadium. It was so great being around all Florida State fans. The camaraderie was amazing and the excitement in the air had the whole area buzzing. There were little Seminole fans running around playing football and tailgaters' grills fired up cooking all kinds of good stuff. We cooked up our own goodies and sat around drinking beer until it was time to walk to the stadium. I was practically skipping my way there I was so excited, and maybe a little drunk too.

Once inside the stadium I was positively giddy. It was the "blackout" game so all the fans and players were wearing black. Almost all the stands were black. It was really neat. The "Marching Chiefs" were playing and we were singing the fight song and doing the war chant and having a ball. The game started out slow but we didn't care because we were having a great time. The only complaint I have is that college stadiums don't sell beer. That was a real downer. I knew ahead of time that was the case but I didn't really think it would affect me all that much. I drank quite a few beers before the game and thought my buzz would last at least through the third quarter. Nope! Half time came and my buzz was practically gone. We left the game a little early to keep the party going. Besides, the Duke Blue Devils were no match for my Noles who easily defeated them 25-6.

It was strange going back to Tallahassee though. We drove by our old apartment and felt a little nostalgia set in. It's weird how everything is so different yet everything is still the same. There are roads that are STILL under construction and new business next to the old ones. The hills and the trees look the same and even the students look the same as they used to. It's like college students in Florida wear a uniform. The guys are in sloppy, baggy jeans, flip flops and polo shirts with their spiky-just-rolled-out-of-bed hair. The girls wear their jean skirts and flip flops and tank tops.... even though it was 50 degrees out. It was great though. We had a blast.

I can't wait to go back to another game. I really want to make it a tradition to get up to Tallahassee at least once a year. I can't wait to have my own little Seminole running around in his/her finest Florida State gear while we tailgate. It's definitely a family affair up there. One big, happy, tomahawk chopping family. GO NOLES!!!

P.S. Becky and Lindsey---- GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!