A Family Tradition

"When did you start doing this?" Sarah asked as we sat on the sofa side by side. It started on November 2, 1968 though I didn't tell her that. The University of Georgia was playing Houston and my Dad and his friend James Tucker took my brother David, Kenny Tucker and me to Athens to see our first game. Mr Tucker was enthralled by the Coeds and stood up to take a photograph of Sanford Stadium but instead took pictures of girls in mini-skirts. I think my Mom still has the picture. And that was that! Though the game ended in a 10-10 tie, my red blood mixed with black and I've never looked back. Dad would regularly take David and I to games as we grew up. Upon graduating from High School, David tried to walk on the UGA football team and though he didn't make it ... nobody has more passion for the team. He would have "willed" the wins. My Uncle Buddy was the first person I knew to graduate from Georgia. He was a God to David and me and we went to many games with him. Before he died of cancer, Buddy wanted to go to Athens one more time so Dad, David and I took him. We didn't have tickets but David found some and two were in the shade which Buddy desperately needed. Georgia won that day and our beloved Uncle died shortly afterwards. David and I took his sons Bryon and Kevin to their first games trying to repay the debts we still owe their Dad. They are now as die-hard as we are. When I lived in Louisville, family visitations sometimes occurred in Athens. We'd hook up there, attend the game after eating fried chicken washed down with beer. By this time my son Jeremy was born and this is when he got started. When I returned to Savannah we became season ticket holders and would drive to Athens every Saturday morning ... with David and Mark Berry, my illegitimate brother ... for every game. When my daughters Kristen and Chelsea were born we all went together to the games. It's family, friends, food ... tradition as my dear friend Bill Shearouse says. It's hard to describe to someone who doesn't know ... it becomes something that you can't not do (which is a southern description that most of the world will never understand!). Jeremy and Chelsea are now UGA graduates. My son is back living full time in Athens. My sister Angi has lived there for years now with her sons Chandler and Gage and has passed it on to them. David takes his grandchildren. Mark takes his son Nolan and one day they'll all take their own kids. I missed yesterday's game. Sarah and I were flying in from Memphis and couldn't figure out a way to make it work so Jeremy had lots of extra tickets. Most would merely sell them but Jeremy gave them away to a Mom and Dad and their kids who were at their first game. He sat in the student section though our seats are much better. When he told me that, it warmed my heart and I hope those kids gain as much as I have when my Dad took his sons to Athens on November 2, 1968. And my Dad died a few years ago. I picture him and Uncle Buddy sitting in Heaven's shade yesterday, watching the game as they smile and drink beer, High-Fiving and yelling ... "Go Dawgs!"