Getting our football fix

While the Florida State Seminoles played away Thursday night in Blacksburg, VA, we opted to stay in sunny, warm Florida.  But we were still able to get our football fix at the Bucs game on Sunday.

It was a perfectly beautiful day for football!

Frank, Chris, Bill and Dan rendezvous at our house before heading to the game.

Frank cracking yummy stonecrabs!

Greg, Dan, Frank and Chris.

Thanks Chris for hosting the tailgate!!

A small but mighty crew of Bucs fans.

Flyover by the Coast Guard

A pretty cool card stunt thanking our Veterans.

Young men and women being sworn in to the different branches of military service.

Whew!  The Bucs win out over the Chargers.

It was a great day for football (in spite of the surprise rainshower)!

One away, one home, both in Tampa!

It was a bonus weekend in Tampa - FSU was playing away at USF in what had become known as the rematch of the season in these parts.  Yes, USF beat FSU three years ago in Tallahassee and revenge was to be had.   Since home for us is Tampa, we offered to coordinate and host the tailgate.  What we thought would be 15-20 attendees blossomed exploded into 60 people!

Frank engineered the whole thing!  Food was ordered and procured.  A rendezvous spot and time was set and the departure time announced.  We thought for sure it would be like herding butterflies (what with 15 vehicles and all) but everyone was there - early!

Rendezvous

Frank leading the "Drivers Meeting"

The caravan begins!

We anticipated we would be able to park in the lot we usually park in for Bucs games.  But it was full!  Not to worry, the next lot had spots and the attendants accommodated all our cars.  Thankfully we got a great spot right under a tree!  Everyone helped - tents pitched, tables set up and dressed, chairs emptied from bags and within 20 minutes, food was on the table!

A Tampa-themed menu was in order - Cuban sandwiches, black beans, yellow rice, plantains and guava pastries.

Frank and Leann with token Bull, brother Richard

 Scenes from our tailgate area:

Yep, the only place in the entire state where it was raining - right over the stadium and our tailgate!

How many people can we fit under two tents?? 

Post-rain beer pong resumes.

The amazing group of almost 60 people gathered for the picture!

Cutest Nole girls!

Our motorhome mentors came to Tampa for the game:

Frank, Leann, Ron, Rob, Bonnie, Lynne and brother Richard

Here come the Seminoles!

Whew!  It certainly wasn't the prettiest of wins!

And now for the home game.  The Bucs were playing the Redskins on Sunday in Tampa.  It's been quite a while since we've done a two-football-game weekend.  Not sure how we used to do it - football game in Tallahassee on Saturday, get back to Tampa in time to tailgate 3 hours before kickoff.  

Flyover.  :o)

Less than 24 hours later, we were back in almost the same spot!

"Let Me Throw" Greg and Frank.

(You should see his throwback uniform!)  

Thanks to the Holley's for hosting today's tailgate!

Parachute jumpers enter the stadium.

Precision landing!

Bring on the Bucs!

And so in this weekend of football games - the Indians won both.

Bucs game - great weather, fun tailgate, not so good game

We had been looking forward to another tailgate in Tampa.  Organization duties had been passed to John and Jay.  We rendezvoused down the street from the stadium so we could get into the lot together and be able to park next too each other.  (That plan worked fabulously!)

The day promised perfect football weather!  Cooler temperatures, a bit breezy but sunny.  Turned out to be too windy for the tent, but that didn't stop us from having a great tailgate!

Jay, Tyler, Tyler's Dad, John, Leann & Frank

Girls rule!  Tyler and I had so much fun at the tailgate.  We both had our beads and had to get creative when finding toys.  (Note to self....a plate doesn't do so well as a frisbee when it's really windy.  But Koozies make great kid-sized footballs!)

The first tailgate in a LONG time where we actually sat down. 

The Tailgate Guys!

By the end of the tailgate, we had nearly another half dozen people that stopped by.

Snapped a picture of the flyover, from the parking lot.  (Another first....we weren't in our seats at kickoff!)

As mentioned, it was a great tailgate!  Ate well, met new friends and enjoyed the beautiful weather. 

Wish the stars had aligned for the Bucs.