There is an Aggie proverb that reads "From the outside looking in you can't understand it. From the inside looking out you can’t explain it”.
That quote reads true about two things: Kyle Field and the things on my list. The memories on my list might not be the same memories you put on your list, and what’s on yours might not be on mine and that’s okay.
Today I wanna tell you about Saturday, August 31st 2024. One of the Biggest crossing off days on my list and how it all took place around Kyle Field, the stadium on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. In the spring of this year, I reached out to the 12th Man Foundation at Texas A&M with a question. I know you’ve helped me once by letting me walk out of the tunnel to an empty Kyle Field but would you be interested in helping me cross another item off the list and helping me see a game from an on field perspective. I asked about the spring game between the maroon team and the white team. I received an email from Erica at the 12th Man Foundation saying how would you like to attend the opening game of the year A&M vs. Notre Dame with us. I couldn’t say yes, fast enough. And it was set, August 31st I would be in College Station to celebrate my birthday and cross an item off the list.
In the weeks that followed ESPN announced the first College GameDay TV show of the year would also be on campus that day. I reached out to the PR department at ESPN to share my story with them and they offered me a VIP experience at College GameDay. Not sure what that meant, I said that would be great. Thinking to myself this could be the moment I meet Pat McAfee. To take you back more for the past year, I’ve tried to get ahold of Pat and his team to see if I could meet him or visit his show in Indianapolis. But was having no luck, though it turns out the person that offered me the VIP was his PR person, Julie, so in my head I knew there was a chance.
As the weeks got closer I did an interview about the A&M journey, I’d email back and forth with Erica from the 12th Man Foundation, and my anticipation grew and grew.
The day had finally arrived, it was the first full Saturday of the college football season. My friend David and I took off from my house at 4:45am for College Station. We would arrive with minutes to spare before the show began, as we walked up you could hear the crowd ready to go, it was 8am. We made our way to the side of the stage and met Julie who had our passes. As she showed us where to go I asked “hey can I ask you a favor, please feel free to say no… later on can we meet Pat? It’s also on my list.” She told me she can look into it but it wouldn’t be till the end. Totally understandable. As the show goes on we watch it from backstage and in the crowd, though as the final picks of the day are being made I make my way to an area where I can spot Julie or Pat once they walk off stage. Though it turns out I was on the opposite side. David finds me and I follow him to the other side. We see Julie and ask again, Pat walks off stage and takes some photos with people before Julie brings him over to me. He extends his hand and goes “Hi, I’m Pat” from there we shake hands I tell him my story and how meeting him was on my list. Over a year of trying for this moment and it was great, he was the nicest person. We joked, took a photo and went our separate ways. One item down and it’s only 11am.
Another thing that has been on my list is visit ESPN in Connecticut but with travel being expensive, I’ve decided to cross that off the list by being backstage at GameDay. So boom we are two for two in the day.
Around 5pm we make our way into Kyle Filed. Anytime I see this building it makes me happy. I grew up a football fan, and part of a proud military family…A&M is where I always wanted to go to school but didn’t. Though my wife, Karina, did and it’s one of the first places we ever hung out together. Karina and I go back every year for a game, though with my vision fading parts of me worry how long we’ll hold onto that tradition.
As soon as we get into the lobby of the stadium we are met by the 12th Man Foundation team and Brian in there communications department leads David and I down to the field. We take some photos and go explore the sidelines. We later run into Brian again and he is with Ivy from the communications department as well. Ivy gives us a full field level tour, and takes a bunch of photos as well before we talk about the bucket list.
With game time inching closer we find a spot in the end zone and watch the teams warmup. As that’s happening I notice a guy in a black shirt with a lot of people around him. It takes me a moment and I realize it is current host of the Bussin With The Boys and former Tennessee Titan Taylor Lewan. We snap a photo together. As he walks away there is his co host and former Titan as well Will Compton. Will and I have a quick laugh and get a photo. Minutes later it’s the start of introductions, the prayer, the fly over and the singing of The Spirit of Aggieland. Having sung that song in the stands, I couldn’t believe what it is like from the field level, so loud, so in unison, so real. The lights dim. The song “Power” begins and the Aggies run out onto the field.
It’s game time! We find a spot to stand with nobody in front of us on the 3 yard line and watch the game. Players running, coaches running, officials running, broadcasters running it’s all happening directly in front of me. As the game goes on the Aggies and the Irish play right in front of me, it’s incredible. I’m right there in the action so much so security has to push us back as we’re in the “tackle zone” if a play ends in front of us. 104,000 people in the building and so much of it I felt like it was just me and the people around me watching. I never thought I’d take in this memory.
Sadly, the game doesn’t end in our favor but we put up a fight all the way till the end. Another item crossed off the list. 3 for 3 on the day!
The next day I texted Brian and he said he hoped I had a great experience even though it wasn’t the outcome we wanted. I told him no matter the outcome, I was just thankful to be there.
A day full of memories made, 3 items crossed off in just over 12 hours. Thank you; Erica, Brian, and Ivy from the 12th Man Foundation, Julie from ESPN, Pat McAfee, Taylor Lewan, Will Compton, my friends David and Adam, and the helpful staff at Kyle Field.
August 31st will stay with me forever as it was what being an Aggie fan is all about. Never slow down, never quit, bleed maroon.
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