Archive for August, 2024
Racing to Football
Happy New Year, Tiger fans, and welcome back the happiest time of the year. On Thursday, our beloved Tigers begin the first season of the college football playoff era, hosting the Racers from Murray State University. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. with the tailgate lots opening at 3:00, which is when I’ll arrive. Lot D, lives on.
The first year of the playoff era has made it difficult to predict the Tigers’ final record, but I’ll go with 15-0. I saw some statistical model that had Mizzou winning this first game 58-1, so I feel pretty good about the first one. Coach Drinkwitz said “It’s going to be a difficult challenge, probably the most difficult opening game that we faced since I’ve been here.” We’ll see how long it takes the players to reach midseason form, but it’s clear the coach speak has already reached elite levels.
On tailgate stuff, bring what you will this game. I have no idea what kind of tailgating crowd to expect, when people will arrive, and so on. I’ll have coolers and I’m also toying with the idea of bringing a beverage of the game each week. Time will tell on that idea. Conveniently, google maps has updated their satellite view of the area to sometime midday from last year’s homecoming game; it’s fun to check out the entire area as tailgating was starting to unfold for the day.
Finally, I can’t mention playing Murray State without bringing up Don Clayton, my high school football coach and fellow Malden Green Wave. He went in the Murray State Hall of Fame in 1981, was an AFCA 1st Team All American in 1973, and is still Murray State’s all time leading rusher. Go Green Wave. On a side note, screw ku.