Pig Bowl 2010 Layout

In 2010, I wrote this blog post about the Pig Bowl, where the Dogs defeated the Hogs.


In addition to the blog post, I decided to create this scrapbook layout, highlighting four of my favorite pictures from game day.


It was such an exciting game, and I wanted to celebrate the victory, the ensuing joy, and the supportive friendships.


And given that this will likely be the last time Brian plays in the Pig Bowl, I thought documenting it--both on my blog and in my scrapbook--was important.

J

Notre Dame Football Game

In celebration of Brian's 32nd birthday, we recently journeyed to Notre Dame to see the Fighting Irish take on the Utah Utes. But before I delve into the game itself, I want to mention a few of the football-related activities we experienced leading up to Saturday's game.


On Thursday evening, just after arriving on the Notre Dame campus for the first time, we attended the Brian Kelly Radio Show, taped in the Legends restaurant, which is located on campus in the stadium parking lot. (Brian Kelly, seated on the right, is in his first year--and hopefully not his last year--as head coach of the Notre Dame football team.)


On Friday, Brian and I walked down through the Notre Dame tunnel, the same tunnel that the players use during home games. You can't walk out onto the field (well, I guess you could, but you would be escorted out by police), but you can take pictures of the stadium.




On Saturday, prior to the game, we visited the impressive practice fields...


...and strolled through several parking lots where Irish (and Utah) fans were holding tailgate parties.


But we didn't fly 2,000 miles to see the Brian Kelly show (which "my Brian" regularly listens to on his iPhone), walk down the tunnel, take in the practice fields or check out the pre-game parties.


We flew 2,000 miles to see the Notre Dame football team play some ball. And they did just that! Although the Fighting Irish weren't favored to win, they beat the Utes, 28-3.


Experiencing a Notre Dame football game was so much fun, and I'm not even a football fan.

My favorite memories from the game include:

- Seeing Brian's face light up with excitement when the Irish scored

- The students donning "The Shirt," creating a sea of green in the student section

- Wearing lots of layers (For me: a long sleeve shirt, short-sleeve shirt, windbreaker, and sweatshirt)

- Donning ponchos when it started raining

- Drinking two mugs of hot chocolate (which kept me nice and warm)

- With each kick off, raising the index finger on our right hands to the sky and shouting, "G-o-o-o-o Irish!"

-The seniors engaging in a massive marshmallow fight at the end of the second quarter (Food and drink are not allowed in the stadium, so the seniors have to smuggle the bags of marshmallows in by duct taping the bags to their legs and arms and concealing them under their jackets and baggy pants.)

- Cheering on ND, chanting "We...are...N...D!"

- Laughing at the push ups in the student section after each touchdown

- High-fiving the ND fans around us each time the Fighting Irish scored

- Clapping along as the band played the fight song

- Listening to Brian talk football with nearby ND fans

- Watching the gleeful students storm the field after the game

And even though the football game was the highlight of our trip, we had many other enjoyable experiences while in Indiana and Illinois.

In the next week, I'll share pictures and thoughts from our campus tour, an ND basketball game, and our Segway tour of Chicago.

J

Guns & Hoses Game

Men in tight football pants: something I never grow tired of! {wink}



Today, the 7th annual Guns & Hoses football game was held at Sac State. (During this charity game, police officers and firefighters battle it out on the football field. The cops have won six of the seven games, but the firefighters were victorious last year!) Our family and friends gathered to cheer on Brian (#71) and his fellow firefighters.



Before the game, we paid tribute to this year's fallen firefighters and police officers, including Sac Metro Captain Jim Peterson and Engineer Bob Warner. Off to the right are the bagpipe players--hearing that instrument always gives me the chills.



Also, Metro Copter #1 (and a flock of law enforcement helicopters) flew low over Hornet Stadium several times.



Now, onto the game...hike!



Brian was an offensive lineman, so you'll see him blocking various defensive players in the next few pictures. In this photo, he is the "red" player in the middle roughing up #30.



You'll notice that the action is occurring on the right side of the photo. Now look to the far left. Yep, that's my hubby stirring it up with a cop, even as the ball lay dead on the field. The football uniform, pads, and helmet sure bring out his feistiness!



More blocking...

Ok, ok, even though my knowledge of football is miniscule, I think I can do better than more blocking. It appears at this instance that the offensive line is holding their ground and providing the quarterback with sufficient time to locate an open receiver. Nicely done!



Cheering on Brian and the firefighters were: Steve, Nicole, Tyler, Christa, Alysa, Steve, Grandma, Grandpa, Liz and Kathleen.



This little fire cheerleader was rooting for the dogs, too...isn't she adorable?!



Oh, and don't forget me...I'm a big fan, too!

Even though the cops won in the end (final score was 35-20), the firefighters sure gave it their best effort. Rumor has it that there may not be a game next year. But if there is, you can bet that Brian--mohawk and all--will be playing in it.