Sports Education (Part ll)

    My charming wife, Carolyn, and I have been working on her sports education. 

   We began with baseball with the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park a few weeks back. A great game to watch from the stands in person as the Braves were on their way to an Eastern Division win in the National League.

   But this is Fall and that means College Football. 

   What better place to experience Part ll of this curriculum. Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, VA is the perfect spot to learn. The Pitt Panthers were coming to town to face the Hokies in an ACC showdown.

   The day was a little raw, with cloudy skies and a blustery wind. We decided to experience college football from outside the stadium with the crowd noise, at no cost.

   We mixed with the crowd as they moved toward the stadium. After pausing at the Frank Beamer sculpture for a photo shoot, we moved toward a spot where we could see into the crowded stands.

   As the last of the crowd filed onto the concourse below the east stands, we moved up into the gate area with the ticket takers. I explained to the nice gentleman at the turnstile that my wife had never seen the inside of a college stadium during a game and just wanted to get a feel. He moved off to speak to another official, and soon returned with an invitation to come inside the gate. (nice gatekeeper facing us on the left).

      We turned right through the gate and moved north to the end of the stands. Turning to our left, we looked out on the field of play. I have been to several games in Lane, but I'm sure this was the closest I had been to the action. 

   We watched from our "Standing Room Only" spots as the Hokies kicked off to the Panthers

   The early action was right in front of us at our end of the field. The Pitt Panthers drove down the field and scored. It was the beginning of a long afternoon for the Hokies, but a good memory for us to take home.   

   The crowd was big and loud, it was neat to watch the fans and hear the cheers when the Hokies did something good. We were situated right next to these folks in the east end zone stands.

   We didn't stay long. Thinking that we had received a gift from the gatekeeper, we did not want to overstay our welcome. We exited the way we had entered thinking we would at least thank our benefactor, but when we got there he had already left.

   Leaving word with another man at the turnstile, we moved on toward our meeting spot with Doug where we would catch our ride home.

   Looking back on our experience, much more than we anticipated when we hatched the idea with Doug, we knew we had been blessed. It was a free gift, and my wife was more than just pleased. Phase ll of her sports education had been extra special for both of us.

   Coach Beamer, a true legend in college football, had been one of Mayre's and my "wave to" neighbors when we lived in Blacksburg back when. 

Carolyn Meets Willies

   In the middle of Brunswick, GA, across the marsh to the west of St. Simons Island, lies a legend in dining experiences.

   Willie's Wee-nee Wagon is an institution in the area; serving up a menu of burgers, fries, dogs and, a particular favorite, the pork chop sandwich. Sweet tea is the drink of choice.

   The history of this eatery, as proclaimed by the sign on the outside wall.

   There is a small eating area inside the building, but most folks eat outside at picnic tables. Orders are taken at windows both inside and out. Ready orders are announced at the window and customers pick up their food and return to their seats. 

   I was introduced to Willie's by some friends when we first moved to the Golden Isles. Tom and Larry were both locals, born and raised in the area, who remained here after college to begin their careers and start their families. 

   Mayre and I had dined there, and also taken our kids when they visited one Christmas. Everyone knew about Willie's.

   So Carolyn and I pulled up at the diner last Tuesday a little after 1PM. I had told her about the place the first time the came down, but this was to be the day she experienced it for herself.

   I stood in the ordering line outside while my wife sat with some trepidation at one of the outdoor tables. 

   Soon she had her food and shortly it was consumed. She pronounced it great, and another willie's rookie became an adherent of the food on the menu. 

   A Slaw Dog and Sweet Tea

   Some few minutes later, the food was gone, the tea also, and we were ready to proclaim..

   "We'll be back"

   And as we got in the car and prepared to drive back to the Island, I counted and there were still 14 people waiting in line to order. None appeared to be tourists, but locals who knew where to go for lunch.

   As did we...