Home » The Archives » Chapter 11 » Regaining Momentum
| Re: Regaining Momentum [message #397 is a reply to message #396] |
Mon, 23 July 2012 20:33   |
artisticrainey
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Registered: July 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
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Sunday, October 7, 2068; Tracy Island Game Room; 12:10 p.m. local time (6:10 p.m. the previous evening in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA)
While everyone gathered around the pool to have lunch, John grabbed a sandwich and walked into the home theater. He took a chair in front of the large TV and turned it on. He recalled Callie saying earlier in the week that Alabama was to play one of their rivals, the University of Tennessee. "I think I'll take a look at that game to see just how rabid they really are."
Changing the channel to the sports network, he saw the stadium filled to capacity. "Wow...how many people are in that place?"
Virgil walked into the home theater with his own sandwich and pulled up a chair next to his brother. "Mind if I join you?"
"Not at all, Virg. I'm watching the Alabama-Tennessee football game. I've learned how big a sports fan Callie really is, but look at all that sea of red in the crowd."
Virgil's eyes widened. "Those fans are all decked out in crims...even crimson face make-up?"
"And the game hasn't even started yet." John shook his head. "I can recall times when Harvard and Yale fans were crazy, but they're nothing compared to the madness at that place."
Just before kickoff, one of the commentators said, "Coming up on Monday, it's the 80th anniversary of the famous 'Earthquake Game'." He explained about a football game at Louisiana State University, where the crowd reaction to their team scoring created enough noise to register on the seismograph at a nearby science complex.
"Now that's what I call fan dedication," John said. "When it's enough to cause a Richter Scale measurement, that definitely proves how football fans down in the South are--devoted and raucous."
After the coin toss, as Alabama's kicker launched the football into the air, both brothers heard the crowd yelling, "Roll Tide!"
"They sure know how to shout their battle cry," Virgil said excitedly.
After watching a Tennessee player get tackled, John said, "I wouldn't be surprised if Callie's enjoying the game from her apartment...and screaming at the top of her lungs."
"You think it might be enough to register around here?"
"No way, Virge," said John with a chuckle. "I think the only people who would notice are anyone living in the Cliff House. Right now, the rest of the family and the crew are outside, and the windows are shatterproof. She can scream to her heart's content."
When Virgil saw a elephant on two feet, he said, "Ah, their mascot. Isn't he named 'Big Al'?"
"Yeah, that's him all right. What's really strange is Alabama's biggest rival, Auburn University. They're called the Tigers, and their mascot, Aubie, is a tiger. The battle cry, though, is 'War Eagle'."
"'War Eagle'? I would've assumed that to be more like 'Go Tigers', or something close to it."
John chuckled again. "I looked it up on the Net. The story about the battle cry is a bit of a mystery. A golden eagle appeared at the first meeting between Auburn and Georgia back in the 1890s. Auburn fans were yelling 'War Eagle' before the eagle died some time later that day. It's stuck ever since. There's been a total of nine golden eagles in Auburn's history, and all of them have had the name...Tiger. Now that's enough confusion to drive anyone who doesn't understand that completely crazy." After both brothers laughed, he added, "Oh, well, she's already given this warning for next month: do not disturb her while Alabama and Auburn are playing each other."
"When exactly is that game played?"
"She said the third Saturday in November--the exact same day as the Harvard-Yale game."
"You're kidding," said Virgil. "Your rivalry game is the same day as hers?"
"Yeah, which reminds me. Before I get to the station for next month, I want to make a wager with Scott concerning that game. It's still early in the month, though, so I'll have to make a note on my calendar as soon as the game's over." He smiled. "I think Harvard's going to do a number on Yale this year."
Virgil sighed. "There's only one thing worrying me about Callie's love of sports. What if she's needed on a rescue when the big game's on?"
John's mood turned serious when he faced Virgil. "She knows the rescue goes first. If push comes to shove, she can always get the highlights when she comes back. It's happened at least once during her time on the station."
Moving back in his seat, Virgil said, "Take it easy, John. I believe you."
John's tone was much calmer. "It's a good thing her apartment's too far away from the Villa. Otherwise, she'd be screaming down the halls when Alabama won."
"Oh, well, let's just watch this game and relax. I need a break from painting today, anyway."
Both brothers enjoyed watching the game while eating their sandwiches and taking in the incredible amount of crimson-clad people in the stands.
Posted by TracyFan4Ever on October 20, 2007
  
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