Since I live in Nashville, I don't get to go to too many games in Chapel Hill. So most of the games I see are when the team is on the road. Therefore, I was thrilled when I was able to score two tickets to the FSU game. I'll leave the intense analysis of the game to the experts and merely make some observations about the experience of driving to Florida for the game.
1. I'm surprised that there are any raccoons left in Alabama. I don't think I have ever seen more dead raccoons on the highway in my life!
2. Enterprise, Alabama touts itself as the City of Progress. I didn't see that they had progressed any further than any other town in Alabama. But maybe I just wasn't looking in the right places.
3. Did you know that Troy, Alabama has Christmas Trees on sale already? Or at least they had the sign up. But the good news is that they were bragging that they sell only "North Carolina" trees.
4. It's political season in Florida. I live in a snooty neighborhood in Franklin, Tennessee that won't allow us to have political signs in the front yard. But I was amazed that EVERY house in Florida had a candidate's sign in their yard. Ask me who's running for City Councilman in Echo, Florida. Go ahead. I dare you. I know them all.
5. There's a really good radio station in Southern Alabama/Northern Florida. That's if you like "oldies". It's 101.7. Tuned them in for miles and miles. Tune them in next time you are in Southern Alabama.
6. Speaking of radio, it seemed like every commercial was for getting out of credit card debt, IRS debt and college loan debt. What happened to commercials for Coke and Tide detergent and things like that? If all these people are racking up credit card debt, what are they buying? Surely not something they heard about on the radio.
7. Did you know that there are a lot of Alabama fans in Alabama? And they are crazy. Signs, posters, flags, billboards, and bumper stickers everywhere. And guess what. They don't know or care much about UNC football. Sigh. Maybe some day.
8. Did you know that the Bojangles in Southern Alabama don't give out free biscuits for North Carolina wins? I checked. Heck, bet that even if we had scored 100 points, they still wouldn't have given me a free biscuit.
9. Did you know you get better gas mileage out on the open road? I have a newer car so I hadn't tried it out on the road. It gets about 28 mpg in the city. But I was watching my mpg stats (Heck, I didn't have anything better to do!). After I got up to 35 mpg, it got to be a real challenge. Driving down on Friday, it was 90 degrees. But I had the windows up and the air conditioner turned off. I was sweating like a pig but I got that baby up to 37.6 mpg! I don't think I have ever been prouder of an accomplishment in my life!
10. OK. I lied. One analysis of the game. Did you know that Mitch guy is good. Really good! I believe he will be the best NFL quarterback UNC every produces. (Yeah, I know that isn't the boldest claim in the world). But to see his poise, accuracy and leadership in person is really impressive.
11. Do you know the real reason we won yesterday? Divine intervention. The sky in Tallahassee yesterday was the most Carolina Blue color you have ever seen. Not a cloud in the sky.
12. And finally the payoff. The story behind the Post teaser. I don't know what kind of experience the rest of you at the game (all 13 of you) had. But the FSU fans around me and leaving the game were some of the nicest people I have met. After having been "iced" and threatened with bodily harm while leaving the 2010 Music City Bowl by Tennessee fans who didn't like that they had lost after we made creative use of penalties, I was expecting the worst. These people were congratulating us, shaking our hands, saying how good our team had played, etc. It was a really class act. I have a whole new respect for FSU fans. I look forward to coming back in four years.
Maybe the raccoon population will be restored by then!
1. I'm surprised that there are any raccoons left in Alabama. I don't think I have ever seen more dead raccoons on the highway in my life!
2. Enterprise, Alabama touts itself as the City of Progress. I didn't see that they had progressed any further than any other town in Alabama. But maybe I just wasn't looking in the right places.
3. Did you know that Troy, Alabama has Christmas Trees on sale already? Or at least they had the sign up. But the good news is that they were bragging that they sell only "North Carolina" trees.
4. It's political season in Florida. I live in a snooty neighborhood in Franklin, Tennessee that won't allow us to have political signs in the front yard. But I was amazed that EVERY house in Florida had a candidate's sign in their yard. Ask me who's running for City Councilman in Echo, Florida. Go ahead. I dare you. I know them all.
5. There's a really good radio station in Southern Alabama/Northern Florida. That's if you like "oldies". It's 101.7. Tuned them in for miles and miles. Tune them in next time you are in Southern Alabama.
6. Speaking of radio, it seemed like every commercial was for getting out of credit card debt, IRS debt and college loan debt. What happened to commercials for Coke and Tide detergent and things like that? If all these people are racking up credit card debt, what are they buying? Surely not something they heard about on the radio.
7. Did you know that there are a lot of Alabama fans in Alabama? And they are crazy. Signs, posters, flags, billboards, and bumper stickers everywhere. And guess what. They don't know or care much about UNC football. Sigh. Maybe some day.
8. Did you know that the Bojangles in Southern Alabama don't give out free biscuits for North Carolina wins? I checked. Heck, bet that even if we had scored 100 points, they still wouldn't have given me a free biscuit.
9. Did you know you get better gas mileage out on the open road? I have a newer car so I hadn't tried it out on the road. It gets about 28 mpg in the city. But I was watching my mpg stats (Heck, I didn't have anything better to do!). After I got up to 35 mpg, it got to be a real challenge. Driving down on Friday, it was 90 degrees. But I had the windows up and the air conditioner turned off. I was sweating like a pig but I got that baby up to 37.6 mpg! I don't think I have ever been prouder of an accomplishment in my life!
10. OK. I lied. One analysis of the game. Did you know that Mitch guy is good. Really good! I believe he will be the best NFL quarterback UNC every produces. (Yeah, I know that isn't the boldest claim in the world). But to see his poise, accuracy and leadership in person is really impressive.
11. Do you know the real reason we won yesterday? Divine intervention. The sky in Tallahassee yesterday was the most Carolina Blue color you have ever seen. Not a cloud in the sky.
12. And finally the payoff. The story behind the Post teaser. I don't know what kind of experience the rest of you at the game (all 13 of you) had. But the FSU fans around me and leaving the game were some of the nicest people I have met. After having been "iced" and threatened with bodily harm while leaving the 2010 Music City Bowl by Tennessee fans who didn't like that they had lost after we made creative use of penalties, I was expecting the worst. These people were congratulating us, shaking our hands, saying how good our team had played, etc. It was a really class act. I have a whole new respect for FSU fans. I look forward to coming back in four years.
Maybe the raccoon population will be restored by then!
