Finally telling my National Championship Game story

Oct 3, 2016, 12:04 PM

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I figure the occasion of the Tigers passing their toughest test of the season so far is as good an excuse as I'll have to finally relate the story of my trip to the National Championship Game in Glendale - And to wax sentimental about how Clemson always seems to bring things full circle in my life.

Almost ten years ago, I was a fairly recent graduate from our beloved University, living in Atlanta and working at my first job out of school. A friend that was still living in Tiger Town suggested that I make the drive up 85 for the football game versus the Maryland Terrapins, and I accepted his invitation. The usual pre-game festivities ensued, and our tailgate ended up being a good chance to catch up with old friends. One of those friends brought with her a co-worker from her new job, a lovely girl from Jersey who was a graduate of Maryland who had heard all about the Clemson gameday atmosphere from her co-worker and decided to check out the magic for herself.

I will gloss over what transpired on the football field on this particular day, to spare everyone's rage levels on Monday morning.

Afterward, we eventually found ourselves at Overtime, as one might on a Saturday night after midnight when sorrows must be drowned. I was my usual charming self, apparently, and left with plans to meet up again the next day for brunch with my friend and the girl from Jersey -- and the weekend ended with phone numbers exchanged and plans for me to come visit her in DC.

Well, visits turned into a legitimate long-distance relationship, and I eventually got a job opportunity to leave Atlanta and move to DC, and I jumped at it. A couple of years later and she and I are walking down the aisle, with some of my best friends from Clemson at my side at the altar.

Now, what does any of this have to do with the National Championship Game, you're asking at this point. Well, here it is:

Last December, we went ahead and booked a Vegas trip for my wife and I, and my best friend and his wife, while airfare was cheap - Just on the off chance that we make it to the NTG, we figured we could rent a car and bop down there. If the Orange Bowl didn't work out for the Tigers, we'd still get a trip to Vegas out of it. We threw together a last-minute trip to Miami for the Orange, saw the Tigers take down the Sooners, and started making plans to get to Glendale.

This is where TigerNet comes in. I saw a post from @Fever about his group putting together a bus to get down and back, and the price was right. We all hopped on that deal and were looking forward to the trip.

I should back up a bit and say that leading up to this, my wife and I had been trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant, and the Vegas/NTG trip was sort of a "last hurrah" before we started down the road of more intensive treatments to make that happen.

Well wouldn't you know that the morning that we woke up to catch our flight to Vegas, she walks out of the bathroom with a little stick with a plus sign on it...
We were both excited, disbelieving, with a wry grin knowing that this seriously changes the complexion of a trip to Las Vegas! She scheduled a visit with her doc for the following Wednesday, and off we went. We told our friends about the preliminary result and we had a good time Friday and Saturday night, won a little money, ate well.

And then I caught the most heinous case of Norovirus known to man. I spent all of Sunday from the wee hours until that night being violently ill, horizontal, and drinking nothing but Pedialyte, while everyone else enjoyed Vegas. The spirit of Thomas Green Clemson himself must have propelled me out of bed the next day to catch the bus, because I was still feeling like hot garbage.

At this point, we're on the bus with @Fever and his excellent group of family and friends, and my wife and I both can't even enjoy a frosty beverage, each for separate reasons. Her, with child - Me, barely holding down Saltines. So, this is my way of telling you, Fever, that if you thought we were the biggest squares on the face of the earth, we had excuses! LOL

I was still back and forth to the restroom during the game, but stayed to root on the Tigers and unfortunately see Alabama play their guts out to come away with a hard-fought win after one of the best games I'd ever witnessed.

I tell the story now, because two weeks ago, our daughter was born happy and healthy. She doesn't know it yet, but she was born a Tiger. She's already been to a National Title Game (And according to the doctors, probably an Orange Bowl as well...). My wife and I couldn't be happier or more proud. I hope we're able to take her to Tampa this year!

Anyway, that's my long-winded way of trying to bring my Clemson story full-circle. If it seems disjointed or poorly edited, please keep in mind that I'm a first-time father of a two-week-old girl, and sleep isn't something with which I'm currently well-acquainted.

Thanks Tigernet and the Clemson Family. And @Fever, thank you and your family for having us, and next time I'll bring enough beverages for both of us.

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Finally telling my National Championship Game story

Congrats Paint!!

Re: Finally telling my National Championship Game story

Congrats! Nothing beats fatherhood.***

Congrats...+1.***

Awesome story and even better pic. Your girl is holding

LOL***

I hope your family lives long and happy.

Read this book...

Congrats to you! Nothing is better than being a dad.

Great story and congrats on being a Dad, but I'm very

Dude was i sitting beside you? I freaked out about

Re: Dude was i sitting beside you? I freaked out about

On the bus with the Asian driver that was all over the road?***

The dude giving being a tour guide. He got so close to that

Congratulations!!

Re: Congratulations!!

Awesome story Paintballer!

Re: Finally telling my National Championship Game story

Re: Finally telling my National Championship Game story

congrats brother. I was on that same

Great story, tu!! But, that girl knows she's a Tiger, its just

Great story, thanks for sharing it.

Oh man, I was at that game, as a student...

Re: Finally telling my National Championship Game story

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