Once in a lifetime experience!

Upon learning the Seminoles would be playing for the ACC Championship, hotel, ticket and travel plans were made.  However, a 'once in a lifetime' invitation came a few weeks later.  An invitation to travel with the football team (on the team plane, stay in the team hotel and return with the team after the game)!

It would be a quick trip to Charlotte (fly up on Friday morning and return to Tallahassee in the wee hours of the morning).  But, you only live once!

Here are some pictures from the trip.

"The Voice" of the Seminoles and Bucs - Gene Deckerhoff

Holy moly!  Were they feeding football players on this trip?  (Oh wait, yes they were.)  :)

Off the plane and one the buses.

A police escort through the traffic!

Scenes from around Charlotte

Friday evening...the team hanging out in the hotel lobby

Met up with friends at one of the FSU events that evening.

Saturday - Team is dressed for success!

FSU vs Georgia Tech

Only at a stadium in NC will they have Krispy Kreme donuts!

The Marching Chiefs!

Congratulations to the Seminoles!

ACC Champions!

Jimbo receiving the invitation to The Orange Bowl

Since we were traveling on the team plane, we had to wait for the players to get changed and on the buses.  (It is really difficult to recognize the players in street clothes!  We've gotten spoiled by seeing their name and numbers!)

Coach Trickett

Nick O'Leary (on the right)

Josh Gehres

Bjorn Werner

Coach Vic

Golden Shoes Dustin Hopkins

It was a neat experience, a long 48 hours and thankfully a Championship WIN for the Seminoles!  Next football trip - down south for the Orange Bowl!

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.