27/12/12 – An American Football Feast

Woke to the delicious smell of fresh coffee (thanks Becky!) and soon found ourselves out of the house and off on a trolley bus tour of San Diego. Unfortunately today was game day (Holiday Bowl between UCLA Bruins and Baylor University Waco Texas) and that meant a huge parade through the main streets of downtown San Diego. As a result the trolley buses were all running late and they had to detour around the harbour area of downtown (so we did not get to see the USS Midway Naval Museum) but still it meant that the whole place was really buzzing and we were soon caught up in the frenzy of colour and noise.

Our excitement rose even further when we got home at the end of the tour and Barrow surprised us by announcing that he had somehow managed to get hold of five tickets to the big game!    

And so our preparation began in earnest. First the ‘kit’ – scarves and beanies in the ‘right colours’ since Barrow is a graduate of UCLA. Then the rituals – ‘tail gate party’ – where people hang out in the car park before the game and drink beer. (This is similar to the ‘boot parties’ held at Twickenham before the Varsity Match except that ‘boot parties’ have food.)  Then there is the ‘meet up’ – find people you know and have more drinks. These drinks by the way, may be purchased but only after one has shown ID which is hugely amusing to those over 50.

One’s choice of beverage was limited to light of full strength Budweisser beer or a massive plastic cup containing so much Margarita or Bloody Mary that two hands are required for the transfer of the contents of the cup to one’s mouth. This made it very difficult to hold on to the slices of pizza, the packets of corn jacks (caramel corn) and peanuts (in the shell) one was also supposed to be consuming along with ones drink, particularly when the guys in front of us kept jumping up and shouting their support every time UCLA got the ball. 

Still by the start of the game we had mastered the process and were well into the swing of things. Which was just as well as the national anthem was something to behold. While a girl in a naval uniform (with a really big voice) sang the ‘Star Spangled Banner’, what must have been nearly two hundred marines unfurled a flag that covered the entire field which is 110yrds x 55yrds – we knew that Americans love their flags but this was amazing. Then the football began and two hours later we paused for half time…..

Now if the anthem was impressive the half time entertainment was something else again. Each College is given time on the field to ‘play’ their tunes - which for the team from Texas meant the ‘1812 Overture’ complete with fireworks for the cannons! This was then followed by 'A Tribute to First Responders – the Military, Law Enforcement Officers and Emergency Response Teams' (sponsored by the Dr Peppers soft drink company). We were awestruck to witness what must have been nearly one thousand dancers, baton twirlers and acrobats gaily dressed in black, red and silver sparkles going through their routines but the crowd took it in their stride and applauded politely at the end of the show. 

 

 With the marching bands now back into their respective places in opposing corners of the field ready to respond to the action, the game began once again. Unfortunately ‘our team’ didn’t play so well and the nineteen year old freshman quarterback seemed to be under pressure all night. The final score at 11pm was 49 – 26 in favour of Baylor. We were exhausted by the barrage on our senses but the players, many of whom, with squads of eighty plus, seem to spend most or all of their time just warming up on the sideline, appeared ready to play on for another 3-4 hours.  But not us … we had had enough. We caught the light rail train back from the stadium to where we had parked our car in Little Italy and then drove home to Coronado Island. What a great day!!