BLUE DEVILS PLAY THE AGGIES IN AN UNBELIEVEABLY GOOD BOWL GAME

What a game in Atlanta!  I don’t think anyone expected the game to be so close.

Duke Vs Texas A&M

For those of you who know me and know my team allegiances, Duke is one of my teams.  Husband Dave is a Duke alum.

Congratulations to the Duke Blue Devils!  Their football program!  We know about their basketball program and Coach K.  How about Coach Cutcliffe?  (Remember I am a Tennessee Volunteer alum and fan and have followed Coach C for many years.)

Coach Cutcliffe during the Duke Football Radio Show live from Marriott Marquis the night before bowl game.

 I love the traditions of the Texas A&M Aggies.  I am happy they are in the SEC.

  I was in College Station for the Aggies’ first SEC game, Florida vs Texas A&M.

  We had a wonderful time.  

“Gig ’em Aggies”

See my “HOWDY!  WELCOME TO AGGIELAND, HOME OF THE 12TH MAN POST”.   

I saw Johnny Manziel’s first college football game in College Station and his  last game as an Aggie at the Chick-fil-A Bowl  in Atlanta.

Atlanta does a great job hosting championship and bowl games.  Dave and I stayed at the Duke team hotel and enjoyed catching up with many of Dave’s fraternity brothers.  We attended the Duke Football Radio Show and enjoyed hearing David Cutcliffe’s thoughts on coaching at Duke, being a part of the Duke family, and the importance of developing not only football athletic talent, but also developing a young man’s character.

I took lots of photos of fans and family members.

“Dean Sue” Wasiolek with our friend Bill Miller and Dave

We met Duke fans from North Carolina, Mike & Laura

And a Duke father and son from Washington DC, Dean and Steven Brenner.  Steven is currently a student at Duke.

Family and friends listening to Coach Cutcliffe.

Many fans enjoyed the evening with  their young children.

Young fans were everywhere.

And the youngest fan of all, Bob Carter.  He loves his Duke teams and likes to throw candy to the Cameron Crazies at Duke basketball games.

After the radio show we joined friends from Dave’s days at Duke.

Stan Brading and Dave, fraternity brothers and roommates

Stan, Dave, Mike McGee and Bill Miller.  Mike McGee was their Duke football coach during the 70’s.  Mike was a football All American at Duke and won the Outland Trophy for best interior lineman.  After coaching at Duke, Mike was  athletic director at the University of Southern California.  He also served as athletic director at that other USC, South Carolina and is responsible for hiring Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier.

Game Day, December 31, 2013

Game Day Drink Specials

Off to the Chick-fil-A Bowl Parade.

Atlanta’s Giant Ferris Wheel at Centennial Olympic Park along the Parade Route

A parade always has floats.

Texas A&M float

One of the best parts of the parade, Dogs Waiting To Be Adopted.

I am a dog lover!

One of my favorite game day tradition at each school is the marching band.  What is a parade without a band?

Duke’s Marching Band

The Duke Blue Devil cheering on the crowd

The Fightin’ Aggie Band

with Reveille, the first lady of Aggieland and the Texas A&M official mascot

Texas A&M doesn’t have cheerleaders.  They have Yell Leaders.

The Fightin’ Aggie Band is known for its precision military marching.

I love the tubas at all schools, but the tuba players in Aggieland do wonderfully intricate turns during their halftime routine.

My “Tailgating In Aggieland” painting features the Yell Leaders and Tuba players with the Fightin’ Aggie Band in the stands.

A Tailgating Painting for Duke is in the Works.  Please check out my website, kathymillertime.com  to fully understand my Tailgating Project.

A pregame Tailgate at The Capital City Club was our next stop.

Visited with lots of friends from DDD (Dave’s Duke days.)

Bill, Rick, Steve, Dave and Dusty.

Dan Nunn & Lou Graner

Nancy Johnston (small world- from my home town, Knoxville, Tennessee) and Susan Nunn

Molly, Alex and Kathy

Dave, Bill and our daughter Lizzy, a Florida Gator, lover of Tennessee Vols and Duke Blue Devils

Game Time

Duke PreGame Show

The Tubas and the Aggie Pre Game Show

Reveille awaiting her team

Duke takes the field

Texas A&M enters a moment later.

The score at half time

Half time happiness

The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band marches in military precision.

Then rush off the field at the end of their spectacular show.

Steven and Dean Brenner enjoying their first bowl game experience.

Ryne, Mike and Rachel Teem, avid Duke fans.  Mike started following Duke in 1966 and they have been fans ever since.

Wish this had been the final score.

The final score Texas A&M 52  Duke 48.  Such a close game.  I did not take a picture of the final score because we were so disappointed.  The game was so exciting with lots of offense.  We stood the entire game.

Congratulations to a great Texas A&M team.  Duke, you played so well and surprised so many people.  Maybe not your fans as much as the rest of the world.

This is what College Football is all about.

We managed to ring in the New Year right after the game.

Watch for upcoming stories from my tailgating travels.  I welcome your comments, recipes and any inside information on your favorite tailgating spots.

Come celebrate with me.  I’ll save you a seat at the table.