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Saturday, September 04, 2010

Florida State 59 Samford 6 - A Few Notes About the First Game AB

Florida State played their first game AB "After Bobby" today. The irony is they beat Samford University - Bobby's alma mater and also new coach Jimbo Fisher's old school. It didn't prevent the Noles from thumping them - but it did have Fisher pulling his starting quarterback at halftime - against the Division I-AA school where he was once national player of the year.

This video shows the view from our spot. Note - plenty of empty seats.

Our game day started leaving the house at 11 AM on our Vespa scooter. Parking and traffic are normally difficult - even without the new construction on Gaines Street. We parked in the Super Chiefs parking lot along with the big motor homes. It is funny because if I pulled in there with a car I would leave in handcuffs - but two oldsters on a Vespa are invisible. Free parking right next to the stadium.

By the time we reached the gate area - the pre-game fly-by was going on. It is perfectly legal to sell you extra tickets in Florida - that keeps the prices down. The tickets have a face value of $50 each - but I landed and excellent pair for $12.50 each - 40 yard line - row 23. Lulu no longer makes an attempt to deal tickets - being the AASL president makes her a little too proud :-)

When going through the turnstile - security likes to check your bags for booze and bombs. Lulu had a big backpack overflowing with friend chicken - rain suits - drinks - etc. Again - they pick on kids - but let grayheads go by. I even had on my "camelback" - a undergarment that holds two quarts of liquid you drink from a tube - and they treated me like I had a collostomy bag - right through.

It was hot at the game - and the place maybe was 70% full. At halftime - with the Noles winning by 40 - half of that crowd even went home to watch the game where they could get drunk. There are no legal drinks in the stadium.

It felt a lot longer - but the noon game was over by 3:30 - we got to the scooter and were in our pool before 3:45.

FSU fans are fickle. There was not much mention of Bobby Bowden. They think it is their birthright to line up a bunch of patsies - and run up the score. Bobby Bowden has this town and these fans spoiled - and without one losing season they turned on him - it is hard to get excited about todays's game.