Red Wolves A-Howlin'

Fall always signals football season. Some get more excited about the sport than others. As long as our children were in high school, we went to all home games for two different reasons. First, because I teach school at Jonesboro, I was always interested in the activities and in watching the kids perform that I teach. Perhaps more importantly, both my children played in the band and I didn't want to miss any half time shows.

Now that Bryan has moved on to ASU and marches in the band, college football has taken on new meaning for our family and has altered our Saturday social calendar greatly. We now take in about five home games a year on crisp, cool Saturdays. This would not be complete without the added festivities of tailgating and (you guessed it), watching the band.

This has been a big year of change. ASU has been the "Indians" for more than 50 years, but this year, debuted a new mascot, the Red Wolves. From the young to the old, you can't help but catch the spirit. Everywhere you turn, you will see red and black. Everyone has on a Wolves t-shirt or sweatshirt. Colorful tents dot the hillside protecting the food tables and flags are flying signaling to passers-by that the pack is on the prowl.

We load our truck with grills, chairs, food, and drinks and head out early on game days to enjoy fellowship with our friends from church at Walnut Street. Collin has done quite a bit of the grilling this year which he really enjoys. Although we arrive early, families begin to drift in throughout the afternoon bringing in potluck dishes and sitting up their lawnchairs to get in in on the conversation and good times. About 4:00 or so, everyone falls into line and then finds a place to savor the goodies on the menu.

Then, it's on to the stadium for the main event. Excitement generates as thousands of people are making their way to their seats, stopping off at the sports memorbilia vendors to purchase shirts and caps, securing game foods from concessions, visiting with friends, and off in the distance, hearing the band warm up and the beat of the drums. Before you know it, Howl, zooms in on his motorcycle, leading the way for the wolf pack through the tunnel as they gear up for kickoff.




I've actually learned a great deal about football in the last two years even though I've been watching for 28 years at high school. I've discovered that a passing game is so much more exciting and I can actually keep up with the location of the ball. But my favorite thing that I wait for in anticipation is still the band. What mother doesn't enjoy watching her child do the thing he loves most. Bryan plays snare drum and I never take my eyes off of him. If you check out my pictures, he will be the second snare drum from the left.

After the game, we go back to our tailgate area to meet up with our friends once again and have a snack on whatever is left over before we break down the tents, load up, and head home. It's been a fun-filled day, but everyone is tired now and ready to go home. And guess what happens; by the next day, we start planning for the next game.

If this sounds like fun, come and join us. It's a standing invitation and everybody is welcome. You'll get hooked, no doubt. Come on now--let me hear you HOWL!

Marcia