Happy FIrst Day!

Hey Dad!

Happy First Day of College Football Season!

You know what I mean ... GO DAWGS!

Technically the season started on Thursday and Sam drug Chelsea to Bobby Dodd Stadium and forced her to watch Georgia Tech slaughter some Junior High Team from some place called Alcorn.

But the first day of the season starts today at noon when the Beloved DAWGS of Georgia take on a High School team from Louisiana.

For as long as I can remember this is one of life's most special days.

You instilled in us.

Saturdays in the fall meant we went to Athens as a family or gathered in the living room and nothing else in the known Universe mattered for four hours.

We were together and ... win or lose ... God we love the Beloved DAWGS of Georgia ... and each other.

I was lucky enough to have a Dad like you who hung around long enough to pass it on to Jeremy, Kristen and Chelsea and ... oh the stories we can tell!

You'd be proud to know Maddie's become quite the fan too ... so even though you're no longer here physically ... you sure as Hell are in other ways.

I miss our phone calls the day before Kickoff when we'd analyze everything!

And I miss our Sunday talks when we analyzed everything again.

I love the fact that Angie still opens a beer and sets it beside your ashes in the chair you always sat in to watch the game.

Well ... I'm crying ... and it's one of our family's highest Holy days ... but I can't let it pass without thanking you for it.

And God Dammit I miss you.

So work some magic today from where you are and tip the ball our way once or twice.

Pour a little something in your coke that you snuck into Heaven just like you used to in Sanford Stadium.

I will too.

GO DAWGS!

Thanks Dad.