Saturday, September 06, 2008

GAME DAY EXPERIENCE

EVEN THE CHEERLEADERS WERE GLAD TO SEE US


THE BOYS HAVE LANDED


DENNIS AND GEORGE READY TO ENTER GAME IF NEEDED


George takes breather in front of AC fan


Once again my friend, Dennis Parks, has given me another fantastic day.
It all started several months ago when Dennis played in a UGA golf tournament fundraiser. One of the packages that was auctioned off that day was a "Game Day Experience" for three. Dennis called our friend Joe Cole and me and asked if we'd like to join him. Obviously, we quickly answered yes.

We began in the player area of the Butts-Meher building and then boarded the team busses where we were taken to the Dog-Walk with the players. This was the highlight of the day ... it is quite an experience to walk between lines of fans, majorettes, cheer-leaders and band members to a deafening noise of constant cheers. We then entered the stadium and were free to roam around and watch the players warm up as we watched Sanford Stadium fill with 95,000 adoring fans (not adoring us but rather the Dawgs).

When the players returned to the locker room before bursting onto the field, we were taken into the tunnel to wait for the team. We were told to allow one or two players to break through the Big G and then we could quickly follow. I think I was about the third person out ... no wallflower am I. Running onto the field with the team is truly an amazing experience ... we'll be talking about this for quite a while.

Dennis Parks, Harry Dawg, Joe Cole, George Goddard



About to run onto field


After the game, we drove back to the Atlanta area where my wife and I loaded up the car and went on to our mountain home for the Labor Day weekend. As the sun set that evening, I was exhausted, but with the experience of the day fresh in my mind; I fell into an immediate and deep sleep.