I was so happy when game day finally came around. South Florida is beautiful. All the parties and events leading up to the day were perfectly conceived, well attended and great fun. But I was ready for football! I was ready to see this Cardinal team take the next step by winning a BCS bowl game.
When we arrived at the Liberty Mutual UofL Alumni Association Tailgate, we were greeted by a former Student Government Association president chugging a beer on the top of an SUV. It was more than four hours 'til game time and some folks had hit the ground running. The alumni tailgate was located in the parking lot of Calder Race Course, about a mile from Dolphin Stadium. Rain had found its way to South Florida, and the event got pretty soggy thanks to a steady shower. All I could think about was, "Wet field helps Wake. Wet field helps Wake."
The tailgate party was fun. Let's face it, even before UofL's ascent to the top tier of college football, UofL fans were professional tailgaters. Back in the day, some would often show up at the parking lot at the old Cardinal Stadium, tailgate and then leave without going into the game. The Alumni Association's Orange Bowl tailgate offered some great food--Bar-B-Que chicken, hamburgers, pasta, pizza and more. But President James Ramsey's wife, Jane, couldn't eat.
"I'm so nervous," said the passionate Cardinal football fan. "But I guess I don't have any control over the game, so there's no sense being nervous ... But I am."
When Dr. Ramsey addressed the tailgaters, he first dismissed the rainy weather by saying "It doesn't rain on Cardinal Country. Let's go down to Dolphin Stadium and turn into Papa John's South! We've got the best fans in the world."
Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher also said hello to the crowd: "This is not just a great day for Louisville, but a great day for the commonwealth," the governor said. He also asked for a moment of silence for former President Gerald Ford. Dr. Ramsey also asked Cardinal fans to remember UofL basketball great Charlie Tyra, who passed away a few days ago, and UofL professor Jeff Jack, who was killed tragically in a car accident on New Year's Eve.
Just before 6 p.m., Cards fans started heading over to the stadium.
Comments