I had to take a couple of showers after that game!
I was in row (Row?) ok, Section 25... in the upper seats, right behind the student section (folks in the first row of the upper section left in the 3rd quarter and left their seats to us! So we watched the entire second half with great seats!
There were maybe 5 or so scattered Broncos in Second 25 with me, a couple rows back... and we acknowledged each other with some Bronco love after each score!
I had a 3 year old in tow, and we had to walk around the entire stadium before we could find our entrance (we had special passes, because my daughter's mother has a nephew who's being heavily recruited by a number of schools -- including Michigan -- but after today, I'm hoping he'll give serious consideration to come to K-Zoo to play with Coach Lester! I'm sure we could use a speedy DB!!)
But I digress...
Back to the experience!
Like all of us, I've seen The Colosseum countless times on TV, but it's so much different being there!
It is a historic stadium and you could tell after walking through the tunnel to the stands that special things have happened there. You could just feel the history. Reminded me of walking into Tiger Stadium for the first time.
USC fans were great! Great Marching Band too! But I couldn't help but think that The BMB would have seriously matched them note-for-note! Seriously!! The only thing our band doesn't have is a dude walking around in a skirt with a sword.
Back to the fans... sat in front of a long time USC fan and graduate... like me he was also in Marching Band... Big fella, and he played flute. We had a great conversation about bands, life, football, women, all that! Great guy.
Oh, did I say it was hot?
It was really oppressive!
The big thermometer on the far side of the stands (to the right of the big Olympic flame) was pointing PAST 100 degrees!
My new USC buddy gave me a bag of ice to put on the back of my neck... it helped.
It was great talking to USC fans about Western, last year's historic season, Kalamazoo, Detroit, Michigan... life... all that! Really sat around a great group of people who genuinely had respect for me, our team and our institution!
In fact every time we scored (and as you know we scored a lot) I would turn around at the sea of red and ask ("Any one? Any love for the guy wearing Brown?) A little bit of hissing and ribbing, but it was all in good fun!
In the third quarter is was apparent to me, and the fans around me that we could really win this thing!
You could hear a pin drop when Darius ran back that kickoff for a 100 yard touchdown!
In our new seats closer to the field, there was a dude in a Bronco hat two seats away from me! That was the moment I lost my voice screaming and that was the moment I literally jumped in to that fellow Bronco's arms!
I mean WOW!!
The headline in the LA Times says it best:
"USC has to work hard to put away Western Michigan"
There were a number of special memories at that game (that even the LA Times suggests we would have run if it wasn't for USC's freshman running back... he was good) we were good too! But the moment of the game was watching USC's blind long snapper take a ceremonial (but real) snap for an extra point. That was breathtaking for every fan in attendance
It took me until the 4th quarter to realize that Bronco nation was seated (several hundred strong) in the stands right across from me! For those of you at the game, we could DEFINITELY hear you shouting LET'S GO BRONCOS throughout the entire stadium!!! That gave me goose bumps!!
The entire world knows USC was on upset alert until the very end of the game!
The entire world knows Sparty best be prepared next week!
The entire world knows the culture has changed at WMU!!
If post game hugs and hi-fives are any indication, our Broncos have gained some SERIOUS points on the respect-o-meter!
Hats off to ANYONE who attended yesterday's game! It was truly too hot to be outside for two hours!
Hats off to Coach Lester and the ENTIRE team for a damn good showing! I don't like moral victories either, but in my opinion, this is the definition of one! I don't think we're 0-1 on the season, more like 0-.5) We should get at least 1/2 a win for this one! Number 4 team in the nation was ABSOLUTELY on the ropes! There's no denying it!
Hats off to ALL OF US!!
It truly is A Great (and sweaty) Day To Be A Bronco!
GO BRONCOS! BEAT SPARTY!!
(best Trojan band moment, the UCLA Sucks cheer!!)
(best moment for me, hearing LET'S GO BRONCOS echo throughout the stadium)
Seats were old and dingy, but comfortable... that's quite a place! And it could get loud!!!!
So glad I was there!
I know many of you were there with Bronco Nation in spirit!
Let's show the world that yesterday wasn't a fluke... we held serve with the #4 ranked team and their Heisman candidate QB!
Let's Beat Sparty!!