Documenting my travels and thoughts from around the country
2019 Year In Review
I say this almost every year, but things didn’t go quite as I planned. Of the original plans I made in the preseason, I only saw 61 of games I planned. Trips out west of course changed things, but other things such as giving up on Cowanesque Valley, and switching things with a trip to Norwalk, Ohio due to things changing. Continue reading “2019 Year In Review”
2019 Week 18 (Texas)
After the games in Georgia. There was only one destination remaining: Texas. This was the 9th straight year I’ve traveled to Texas for the state finals. Tenth overall. I was going to say it’s where I’ve ended my year for the 9th straight time… however in 2014 I did see the Geico State Champions Bowl Series games at Boca Raton one time. Continue reading “2019 Week 18 (Texas)”
2019 Week 17 (Georgia)
So, with Pennsylvania starting their season a week earlier than usual, meant another week off between the PA finals and the Texas finals. And once again, I went looking for something to fill the void.
Last year, I drove down to North Carolina for three games before heading to Texas. North Carolina had three venues hosting their eight total games. Georgia, this year, had eight state titles at one location. Continue reading “2019 Week 17 (Georgia)”
2019 Week 16 (Pennsylvania)
The Pennsylvania State Championships are a fun, albeit slightly subdued affair. Unlike other states still playing this late, lack of warm weather hinders the crowds, and some of Pennsylvania’s crowds are paltry. Only 950 attended the Thursday afternoon game between 1A powers Farrell (one of the smallest public schools in the state) and Bishop Guilfoyle, a private school also from the west side of the state. Continue reading “2019 Week 16 (Pennsylvania)”
2019 Week 15 (Indiana)
I never intended to get this far behind doing my little weekly updates. I’m skipping over Week 14, because I only saw one game. With very limited options, I could have seen five games in Cicero, New York on Friday and Saturday. Or, see just one game on Saturday in Ohio, or the doubleheader in PA at Norwin for the WPIAL 2A and 5A finals. I had the Browns game on Sunday, and decided to just go with something close. One of the three PIAA District 10 teams. Farrell, Wilmington or Sharon. Looking at the projections, Sharon-Bald Eagle looked like the closest game, and Bald Eagle was a new team for me. Continue reading “2019 Week 15 (Indiana)”
2019 Week 13 (Iowa)
This week was my fourth trip to Iowa for either the state finals or semifinals. All semifinal and final round games are played at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls at the University of Northern Iowa. It’s a great venue for a game. And hosting all twelve semifinals is a great weekend of football. Continue reading “2019 Week 13 (Iowa)”
2019 Week 12 (New York)
My week was fairly tame by comparison. Just a trip up to Orchard Park for the five NYSPHSAA Section 6 Finals at New Era Field. I drove up with a friend. I’ll keep this mostly short, since not a lot of new travel happened. Continue reading “2019 Week 12 (New York)”
2019 Week 11 (Wisconsin & Illinois)
After my guantlet of 4 states in three days in Week 10, I wasn’t expecting to do much for Week 11. Just head home. But, that’s when I realized, on Tuesday, that there was 8 Minnesota State Playoffs at the Fargodome on Thursday and Friday. Continue reading “2019 Week 11 (Wisconsin & Illinois)”
2019 Week 10 (Upper Plains)
This week was something else. I started with a plan to see four games. A doubleheader in Denver on Thursday, a game in Lusk, Wyoming on Friday, and a Saturday afternoon playoff game in North Dakota. Continue reading “2019 Week 10 (Upper Plains)”
2019 Week 9 (Colorado)
So, back in Colorado again. Eastern Colorado. Not the noteworthy mountainous parts that most people association with the Centennial State. Instead, it’s the expansive plains of grassland for as far as the eye can see. Mostly. Continue reading “2019 Week 9 (Colorado)”