Through my office window, I see the back of a college football stadium that seats more than 100,000 people. Think perennial top 10 with a coach who is paid … a lot.
The stadium towers in great slabs of concrete like a hydroelectric dam. It dwarfs even the trucks that deliver pallets of beer through service doors.
I park under the stadium’s overhang and can walk to my office in 30 seconds even if I dillydally.
Ah, so close to heaven.
And so headed for hell.
Because, as the new season’s first games kick off this weekend and next, I have a confession.
Bring out the sackcloth.
Slather on a purple “L.”
“L” for “Loser.”
That’s me, a loser who avoids college football. Who has attended one college game in his life – for work. Who declined a gift ticket to a game in the stadium by his office.
You probably like college football, and that’s OK. Follow your passion.
Meanwhile, for our sins, I and the nation’s 27 other blaspheming football losers will suffer through our well-deserved penance.
Quiet Saturday afternoons.
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Let me know when someone drags you out of your office and hangs you from the concrete rampart outside. They might even brand you with the L — followed by two other letters you might see attached often. Prayers for your soul.
Steve, I have moved into a safe house.
Steve,
My office spot is just a few feet down the hall from Jeff and I face the same view and park on the other side of Tiger Stadium.
But have no fear, I’m a Tiger Band alum from the early ‘70s and this is the time of year I whistle the fight song in 3rd Trumpet mode, whip out Tiger Band recordings on my iPhone and drive everyone in the basement of Hodges crazy.
I have been known to enter my classroom with the four notes of Pre-game blaring away.
Hmmm, I think I’ll do that tomorrow.
But on the flip side, Jeff is one of the best teachers at LSU and maybe I’ll just whistle softly as I pass his door tomorrow.
Ahh. Thank you, Freda.
Freda:
What a wonderful little note, and yes, please allow Jeff to live in his personal darkness. Or maybe you could open his office window when the band is practicing on the field.
You have every right to your revelry, although, as a Southern Miss grad, I never held The Bayou Bengals in great regard. I did appreciate how Bert Jones got off two plays in 4 seconds to thwart Ole Miss. Those Rebels really howled. He he.
My son played alto sax in the band for four years at UNC Chapel Hill (where he graduated in 2024), so I got used to Sweet Caroline being a theme song.
Steve
BTW, you have a wonderful name.
Steve,
Thanks. And I believe my name typo was a needed chuckle for today.
Freda Dunne