Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Cotton Bowl

As Jim Morrison would say, this is the end my friend. I have to admit, this Husker football season meant more to me than any I can remember in recent memory. Sure, the years we won national titles were fun in their own obvious way, but this season was special in a different way. Being deployed to Iraq during an entire season of Nebraska football was very discouraging. I have attended over 6 seasons of Husker home games prior to this deployment, and after missing most of the 2005 home games due to our training at Camp Shelby I was pretty down about missing yet another slate of home games at Memorial Stadium. The football season, however, turned out to be a blessing in disguise. For the past 4 months I've been following the Huskers religiously, reading every news piece I can find online, tuning into every game that AFN broadcasts, even waking up at 3 a.m. to listen to a radio broadcast over the internet. The truth of the matter is that Husker football has given me something to be excited about and take my mind of our mission from time to time and deliver a little slice of home every football Saturday. Sure, I miss the excitement of watching the games live or with my friends, and you better believe I'm not going to miss a single home game next year. However, without Husker football over the past 4 months I'm convinced this deployment of mine would have been night and day different.


I'm disappointed that the season ended the way it did with two straight losses, but I'm thankful for the good times we had and I'm looking forward to next year. Can't ask for much more than that.



The mighty S-1 section, gathering in the Colonel's office for the Cotton Bowl match up with Auburn.
We filled up on Pizza Hut pie and German n/a beer during the game. Not sure why I'm standing here - I think Lucky just busted off a nice gainer.
The touchdown to Swifty - felt good at this point. Positive vibes all around.
SFC Kerchal bringing in some more beer. I think this picture is hilarious - Kerchal has a mischievous look on his face. The beers were pint size glass bottles. First time we'd had them. Pretty good stuff in an unusually large bottle.
I wasn't going to post this pic, because I'm fairly certain this is not my best look, but oh well. I was excited and looking forward to de-clawing the tigers. Unfortunately for us, the Huskers couldn't take care of business in the 2nd half. Time to look forward to the 2007 season.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, thank goodness there's always something to look forward to.

Looking back at 2006, may have seemed like an eternity in it's beginning, but here it is 2007 and only a couple more months to go. You guys have weathered it well. Who would have thought that it would take Nebraska football to help get you through it? For a lot of us back home, the blogs you gentlemen have posted throughout 2006 have helped pass this deployment for us.

Thanks for giving us something to look forward to. And keep it up, we've still got 3 months to go too!!!

Happy New Year!

Take Care & God Bless,

Ma Beans

Nicki said...

you look pretty

Anonymous said...

dude that game was painful. had to watch it in a sports bar. they didnt have the Huskers on the speakers so following the action was tough. next year. id love to be at the spring game.

JH said...

Yeah that sucks bro. I sure got lucky over here with my ability to watch the Big Red on tv so often. I definatley hope to attend the spring game this year. Hopefully my schedule allows it.

Rachelle Jones said...

We are originally from Nebraska. DH is alumni from UNL...loves the Huskers. And while he was in Iraq, Texas beat Nebraska, he happened to be deployed with First Cav, and folks from Texas and Arkansas...they essentially wallpapered his room, his office, the restroom, and all other places he would be with copies of the front page of the sports section..

yes it can be discouraging!! The good news is, the girls volleyball time did not disappoint!!