Documenting my travels and thoughts from around the country
2020 Week 19 (Texas)
I left Arkansas on Saturday afternoon. And got home Sunday afternoon. It was Tuesday when I realized I’d be in Texas the weekend after Christmas. Midland, to be precise. So, getting to DFW seemed like an easy proposition. And there were several games going on at Globe Life Park. Continue reading “2020 Week 19 (Texas)”
2020 Week 18 (Texas & Arkansas)
After Mississippi, I wasn’t quite sure that I was going to see any games the rest of the 2020 calendar year. I had considered maybe seeing the title games in Georgia. A week after Christmas. I still had wanted to see the Texas finals. But, with only 8 games scheduled of the 12, I was not quite sure I wanted to make the drive for that. Continue reading “2020 Week 18 (Texas & Arkansas)”
2020 Week 16 (Missisippi)
So, Week 16 wasn’t really planned. Honestly, with the way things were going, I was thinking the Pennsylvania finals were going to be the end of the season for me. Initially, earlier this year as things were being scheduled, I had considered Tennessee.
Tennessee had pushed back the start of their season, but were planning to finish on time. However, playing at a small stadium in Cookeville, meant that instead of an ‘all-day ticket’, they were switching to individual tickets for each game. At $12 each, plus fee, the 9 games, if you could get all nine, would be $108 plus fees. Of course, the drive there and hotels weren’t bad the last time I was there.
But, that’s when I started to consider my other options. Alabama and Mississippi both had finals this weekend. Alabama had 7 games over three days (1 Wednesday, 3 Thursday, and 3 Friday) at Tuscaloosa. But, the earlier week, with no Saturday games, made that trip a little more difficult. Continue reading “2020 Week 16 (Mississippi)”
2020 Week 15 (Pennsylvania)
Week 15 was my annual trip to the Pennsylvania State Championships in Hershey. Even in this Covid-crazy world, at least some things stay the same. But, the more they stay the same, the more they change. Instead of three days, all six games were squeezed into two days. Which made for two really long days minding the sidelines. Continue reading “2020 Week 15 (Pennsylvania)”
2020 Week 14 (Pennsylvania)
This was not the week I had planned. Though with Covid, there wasn’t a lot of certainty with those plans. The Ohio State Championships were scheduled to be held at Fortress Obetz just south of Columbus. At least that was the idea.
However, Ohio, like Pennsylvania, was going through some things heading toward their title games. Namely, Franklin County had increased restrictions. This severely restricted media covering the games. And then, the next day, bumped the games from Franklin County and moved them to Massillon.
Meanwhile, while waiting on word from Ohio, I did consider some Pennsylvania options. Continue reading “2020 Week 14 (Pennsylvania)”
2020 Week 13 (South Dakota)
As the playoffs progress, COVID is definitely becoming more problematic. My original plan, after spending the previous weekend in Colorado and Kansas, was to go with a friend to Iowa for their state semifinals.
Iowa hosts all semifinal and final round games at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. It’s a fun weekend of 12 games for the semifinal round. Cedar Falls is a nice college town, and in the past it was always worth the trip. Continue reading “2020 Week 13 (South Dakota)”
2020 Week 12 (Colorado & Kansas)
Earlier this season, I had seen games around the western states of Utah, Montana, North Dakota, and Texas. And, at the time, I had assumed that once I returned to Ohio, that I would stick to Ohio and Pennsylvania through the remainder of the season until any later trips. Continue reading “2020 Week 12 (Colorado & Kansas)”
2020 Week 11 (Pennsylvania)
My plans were all over the place this weekend. But, luckily they solidifed into a workable schedule. This was also the first weekend in a while where all my games were in Pennsylvania.
It started with Thursday. A consolation game was scheduled between the one-win Carlynton Cougars and the winless Riverview Raiders. On a Thursday. I had planned to see Carlynton’s home game against Brentwood earlier this season, but due to Covid, was unable. So, it was a nice change of pace for something to work out. Continue reading “2020 Week 11 (Pennsylvania)”
2020 Week 10 (Ohio & Pennsylvania)
As the regular season winds to a close in a mish-mash of regular season, playoff, and consolation games, things are getting a little easier for scheduling. But, that doesn’t mean there isn’t weird things that crop up.
Then, there’s things unrelated to scheduling and travel. Such, as a brand new camera failing right before a game. But, I’ll get to that.
So, the week started easily enough. For Thursday, the only real option was to head to Ohio. Columbus had three Thursday night ‘playoff’ games in the Columbus City League. Continue reading “2020 Week 10 (Ohio & Pennsylvania)”
2020 Week 9 (Pennsylvania)
Things are finally starting to become a bit more reasonable. My schedule went off without a hitch. Even though there was one change. My Saturday afternoon switched from Linsly in Wheeling, West Virginia to a recently rescheduled game at Seneca Valley. Continue reading “2020 Week 9 (Pennsylvania)”