It’s fall and college football season – one of my family’s favorite times of year! For 18 years of her life, our youngest daughter was a Georgia Bulldogs fan just like her mom and me! She was looking forward to attending UGA after she graduated high school but didn’t get the opportunity. Because of COVID, the University of Georgia wanted to expand its in-state student population and did not accept as many out-of-state students. So, our youngest is now embarking on her senior year at the University of Alabama! And we couldn’t be happier for her!
She has made life-long friends, served on the executive committee of her sorority, found her passion in marine science, and more than made up for being quarantined during her high school senior year due to COVID by going to concerts, Walt Disney World, and enjoying just being a college student! She is living her best life and as parents, we have had the honor of watching her grow and mature into an amazing young woman while having lots of fun along the way!
As I write this, it’s the Friday before the big game between the Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide. And, depending on what happens tomorrow, I may or may not be as enthusiastic next week! But I am excited about going down to Tuscaloosa, strolling around the campus, seeing Game Day broadcast live from the Quad, and watching the game in the stadium. I will be wearing red and black; my wife will be wearing a combined t-shirt she had made that says “Alabama Mom/Georgia Fan”. The shirt also pays tribute to her dad who played college football with his number, 11, on the sleeve. And of course, our youngest will be wearing crimson and white along with her official “hate” pin/button of the week that says, “strongly dislikes adults who bark”!
There were other buttons available that were not as nice and downright crude, but she didn’t want to go there because she knows how much of a Georgia fan she had been and how much her moms still love the dawgs! I love that about her – she can still root for her team without being so hateful to the opposing team’s fans. That’s because she remembers her past experiences going to Georgia games and rooting for the dawgs with us. Those are fond memories that she will always cherish. And that’s why this week, she posted a picture of us with our Georgia sweatshirts and her bulldog named Georgia on her social media story with the caption “Roll Dawgs!”
I know that most of you reading this at home are Tennessee fans and how big the rivalry is between you and Alabama, but I also know that you won’t hold it against me and my family for being fans of opposing teams. And while we may root for different college football teams, we are on the same team here at work.
We serve together for a singular purpose – to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic; that we will bear true faith and allegiance to the same… We defend, assist, guide, advise, and serve our country to the very best of our abilities. Every one of our jobs are crucial to the safety of our country and to its citizens. We may not think that while we are cutting vegetables for the salad bar, printing AF Form 2096’s to send to ARPC or approving DTS authorizations for school travel; we are making a difference but each and every one of those acts supports someone else in their job so that together, we can be the best fighting Air Force we can be!
We all come from different backgrounds, cultures, and communities. But we also all come together for a greater purpose, to serve our country and those who live in it. And that’s what makes us the very best fighting team! We can use our various talents, skills, and knowledge to ensure that we are all successful. No one can do it alone and nor do we expect that! We can use our previous experiences to make our futures amazing.
And just like our youngest hasn’t forgotten her roots and who she has cheered on in the past, we can take what we have learned and cheer on each other. And may we all take our past experiences and lessons and use them to fuel our success in the future.
Roll Dawgs!
Update: Alabama led most of the game and Georgia came back, but wasn’t able to beat the Crimson Tide. It was a great game and we had the very best weekend with our daughter! I wouldn’t trade those memories for anything in the world, win or lose!
