We went to a bowl game!!!!

My family has faithfully attended UK football games for some time. For us, football games involve agony and stress. We see our team get ahead in the first quarter and wonder how we'll lose, even when we hope we won't. Classic KY football is seeing a glimmer of a chance of winning, and knowing that, somehow, we're going to be robbed. A penalty, a fumble, an interception, a hail mary from the opposition...somehow we always lose. My family knows what it's like to watch the same play, run it up the middle, executed over and over with the same result: no gain. We yell "Throw the ball! It's 3rd and 23!" My brother and I stood amazed when students tore the goal post down when we actually beat Alabama. We've seen KY lose in 7 overtimes to Arkansas. We've seen KY's goal post dropping hopes dashed by LSU...and Daniel and I were standing in the endzone. We've cheered when the football was stolen after Florida's successful extra points. And I listened through a cell phone to the final plays against Georgia when we clinched the win.


This year, our faithfulness has been rewarded. Watching games in snow, in rain, covered in blankets, or covered in sunscreen, we have weathered the weather and weathered a losing team that we can't help but love. I am, my family is, True Blue, through and through.

So, believe it. Yes, believe it. Not only did the 2006 University of Kentucky football team become bowl eligable this year, but the team actually was selected to play a bowl game...the Music City Bowl in Nashville, TN.

Mom, of course, had rooms reserved for us at the Opryland hotel the evening of the win that made us bowl eligable. We needed the reservations "just in case" and we always had that 72 hour cancelation policy.

Fortunately, we did not have to cancel our room reservations. Rather, we were able to enjoy them after a long, hard day of cheering, clapping, waving pom-poms, and jumping up and down. Who would believe it?!?! KY WON!!!!

Nashville was a sea of blue, good natured blue at that. As we said on the way to the game: "We are going to have fun. Winning would make it extra fun, but it'll be fun even if we don't. We're just so glad to be here!" Thankfully, Mom also secured us each an offical UK bowl tshirt, so we were properly dressed for the occasion. I don't know if you've ever noticed, but there are thousands of different UK tshirts...Our family together probably only has oh...30 or so???

What made the game even more fun, was sharing it with family. We seriously missed Daniel being there with us. (He would have loved it, especailly when I called the fake punt which lead to a long touchdown pass. "Go for it!") As it was, seated on our row, 16 rows above the Wildcat cheerleaders and the goal line, were Dad, Mom, Ben (who had a great time and was decked out in blue...thanks to Santa), me, Chris, Chuck, Carla, and Owen. Chris and Carla are quite the cheerleaders!! Especailly Chris- she and I were high-fiving all day! Our family commentary made the game! Maybe we'll get hired on to help Tom Leach call it next season, or perhaps we could get on Rich's coaching staff! "Throw it, ANDRE!!" "Woo Hoo!!""

We couldn't have asked for a better game. It was incredible. You'd think we had been to the Super Bowl.... And as Dad said it so well: "Rich is the best coach in the whole world!"

I love Kentucky. I love Kentucky Football. And I can't wait til next year's bowl game.