No Place Like Home

“Bunker in and pay attention – with a little imagination,
you can have it all!”

Trip Captain rose early, put on his running gear, and stepped out into a warm, mid-September, Saturday morning.  He raised the flag of his alma mater on the pole out front, pulled on his headphones, and took to the streets - around the neighborhood, through the park, puffing and sweating.

As he ran, he thought of the wheels that were already in motion this morning, across the country:  players, coaches and athletic staff with last- minute preparations; band members putting on their uniforms and polishing their instruments; twirlers with their first twirl of the day; referees pulling on the stripes; vendors, security and support staff; ushers; medical personnel; costumed mascots; handlers of live mascots - getting ‘em ready; cheerleaders, pom squads; administrators; broadcast radio and TV crews, news media, students, alums, and die-hard fans of all ages, donning their school colors – all winding their way toward the stadium.  As he labored through the fresh morning air, it was beginning - this nationwide, weekly festival - known as the autumn spectacle.

Cap sprinted the final block, ending with his legs and lungs burning. The flag was waving proudly under a clear, sunshine sky. It was going to be a hot one. But he would be cool and comfortable, this autumn Saturday.  He loves to be outside - moving with the throng, across a campus, wearing the colors, near the noise, the intensity, the beauty of gameday. And once in a great while, he also loves to bunker in - take a "Home Game" - and follow the action nationwide, losing himself in the battles, as they unfold.

Cap took out his fight song CDs and filled the CD player with five discs, containing a variety of his favorites. The room filled with football marches, as the ESPN GameDay show came on - live from Columbus. He'd had a long week at work, and the criticism, negativism and downright whining on the TV shows,"Pardon the Interruption" and "Around the Horn" and from the radio talkin' heads, had made him weary. He was ready to relax and have some fun. He wanted to see some live mascots, marching bands, spirit squads, gameday rituals and tailgaters He wanted to hear about the 119 teams, conference races and rivalries, some Xs and Os - football, from Chris and the boys. "Come on guys, we didn't tune in to hear human interest stories, criticism and marvel at your debating prowess,” he muttered, "you've got cameras everywhere - bring us gameday!"

The show was not near what it could have been – considering all they had to work with – but it was okay, focusing on the games for the most part, and when Corso pulled on the Buckeye head, it was time to giggle, then tee it up. As GameDay went off, showdowns were beamed across the country, immediately - and Cap was ready.

He had six televisions throughout the house, all tuned to carefully selected games. The living room had three of the TVs, each with its own remote control. Cap had GamePlan, which allowed him access to games in addition to the ones on the regular channels. But that wasn't enough. He also had to know what games were on - when and where. He had gone to autumnspectacle.com, and printed off the "50 Yard Line Ticket,” which listed game times and networks for televised contests. Guiding him through the day, it was his "ticket in hand.”

Armed with the 50-Yard Line Ticket, the remotes, a huge cup of Dr. Pepper and some chips, Cap kicked back in his recliner and settled in for the ride.

As he watched the games, he operated the remotes on the “keep it moving” theory. This meant: (1) no commercials, and (2) if there’s a pause in the action - find more action. So, whenever there was a commercial or when play was delayed, he changed to another game. Before long it was automatic, and he could easily follow several games at once. He set an “anchor game” on each screen, and he would come back to that game, as he went.

At peak times during the day, he could have as many as ten games to choose from.

Every once in a while, all day long, he took phone calls from friends and family – passing along scores, talking about plays – “Did you see…” or “do you have a ‘Bama score?”   And so it went, and as halftime approached for the first round of games, he had a decision to make: to grill or not to grill.  He could tailgate right at home, and the thought of a brat made him absolutely salivate. But grilling took time and cleaning – he opted for barbecue, from the Rib Crib.

Cap grabbed his cell phone, jumped into his ‘ol jalopy, and ordered on the way. He scoured the radio dial as he drove, looking for updates, then picked up his order, and was back in his recliner with a full plate, as the morning games kicked off their second halves. Ribs, brisket, baked beans, slaw, chips, bread and a tall libation – surfing channels, savoring and swallowing – he gorged through those second halves, in football heaven.  As the morning games ended and the early scoreboard show came on, he became drowsy, and dropped off for a great, three-minute nap.

Then the afternoon games kicked off, and he was back – stronger than ever. Refreshed and nourished, he plunged into a fresh round of showdowns. As halftime neared, he put in a peach pie. Behind the magnets on the oven door, it baked to a perfect golden brown.  Topping it with a big scoop of ice cream, he had no doubt that peach was the right choice – “Georgia peach,” to be exact. Georgia and Georgia Tech were both winners today, after all.

Lost in the whirling action on the screens, stuffed to his ears and with streaks of fresh barbecue sauce down the front of his shirt - he floated through the afternoon, as the sun fell, and the evening games took off.

The showdown which had drawn the most attention was Texas at Ohio State, kicking off as darkness descended on Columbus. It lived up to the hype, the outcome in doubt to the final minutes. The action carried him up and down the roller coaster to the end. Then LSU at Arizona State capped off the day with a come-from-behind Bengal Tiger win.

GameDay Final came on at midnight, eastern - reviewing the day, delivering scores, highlights, helmet stickers and final reflections from the GameDay crew. Then the screen went dark, and it was over.  Fourteen and a half hours of college football on television. Starting on the shores of the Atlantic and in the Heartland, moving west across the country with the sun – ending long after nightfall on the west coast. What a day – a day of  travel and adventure – and he had never left his comfy recliner.

Under a full moon, blinking stars and a clear, dark sky, Cap lowered his alma mater’s flag.  He folded it carefully, and returned it to the shelf, where it would rest until the next Home Game. 

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