Best. Football. Experience. Ever

I had told Doug and Cameron recently that as much as I loved this IU football season, my favorite was actually 2019 as it was when we could all tailgate together at every football game.  The team wasn't as good, but still decent enough to make the games enjoyable, and being with family was always the best part.  After today, however, I may have to change my opinion as this was by far the best IU football game that I have ever attended.

The day started out the same as most of our other gameday experiences in the past.  We were all up early to get a good spot for our tailgate.  We picked up Cal and Maggie along the way and met Parce before we headed to the lots so that we could all drive in together.  Once we entered the stadium area, however, that was when the changes started.  First, we were able to park in lot 12 behind Assembly Hall instead of the grass lots.  We loved the difference as soon as we arrived.  The lot was paved with plenty of room to set up the tent, table and chairs as most tailgaters had not arrived in that area yet.  There were even portable bathrooms next to our lot which were extremely convenient especially later in the day.

The next notable difference was that Parce had brought a Great Dane with him.  He and Gena were fostering her, and she hung out with us for the morning.  She was very well behaved and everyone in my family loved having her there.  Our food choices had not changed as Doug made his famous beer brats for the tailgate and Maggie brought muffins.  Although the weather was chilly and gray, we all had a great time hanging out, catching up, watching the band and football team walk in, and eating some wonderful dishes.  One big improvement this year was that all of us got to go into Assembly Hall once Cameron arrived as he had a key to the building.  It was awesome to be able to warm up and use actual bathrooms before the game started.

The biggest difference to our normal gameday experience happened when we went to the stadium for the game.  Cameron and the rest of the SAB directors were to be recognized at the end of the first quarter of the game.  He had gotten three tickets for Cal, Doug and I to be on the field with him.  It was by far one of the best IU experiences that I had ever been a part of besides watching my own children graduate from college and Meg getting married on campus.  We not only got to help wave the Indiana State flag on the field before the game started, but we also got to watch the entire first quarter on the field behind IU's endzone just a few feet away from the Hoosier's pick-six to start the game.  It was absolutely amazing made only better when we heard Cameron's name called during the director recognition ceremony.  I felt incredibly blessed when we walked to our seats in the second quarter and extremely thankful that Maggie, Brett and Karen were able to catch the excitement on video for us.

Although the rest of the day was a lot of fun, the apex was definitely hit during the first quarter.  By the time we got to our seats, the Hoosiers had a three-touchdown lead over UCLA and never looked back winning 56-6.  Cal and Maggie took a walk downtown at halftime to enjoy the rest of the game from The Tap.  I left at the third quarter to check on those still at the tailgate.  Parce, Gena and her family packed up shortly afterward to head home.  Doug arrived next making it through most of the game while Brett and Karen stayed until two minutes left.  Once Cal, Maggie and Cameron arrived, we packed up the car for the return trip to Columbus but didn't leave right away as we wanted to visit with a friend of ours from college first.  Doug and I enjoyed seeing Nellie in person as we had only corresponded through text over the past twenty years. 

Cameron was the first to head out as he wanted to catch the rest of Cora's tailgate and see a few of his friends as well.  Cal and Maggie had decided that they would make the drive back to Chicago tonight as they had plans tomorrow in the city.  Although I was sad that everyone was leaving, I was still very happy from our wonderful day together.  Plus, Doug and I still got to hang with Brett and Karen tonight, and we had one more day of our vacation left before heading back to the sunshine state tomorrow.