Harvard vs Yale - "The Game"

         "The Game"

This blog is dedicated to Margaux, Jim, and Marilyn Black...three wonderful people that allowed for this unique experience to happen. They are the reason that I was able to attend, "The Game." Thank you Black's for your sponsorship and allowing me to experience this unique football opportunity. I will never forget it.

Welcome to Cambridge, Massachusetts and Harvard University! I can't believe that I am here to experience my first ever Ivy League football game! I get to witness the rivalry game between Harvard and Yale. "The Game" is the second oldest continuing rivalry in college football history. This is the 127th consecutive time that the Harvard Crimson and the Yale Bulldogs have played. This all got started way back in 1875. These two schools are located just a couple hours drive from each other, and because they are two of America's most prestigious universities, the rivalry is very intense! So buckle up once again as I take you through the Harvard journey.







My wife Caroline and I were hosted this weekend by former Westminster student Margaux Black. I had the fortunate opportunity to serve as Margaux's softball coach for four years at Westminster. She is the best softball pitcher that our school has ever produced. She was an amazing high school pitcher and was a dream to coach. After graduating from Westminster, Margaux continued her playing career at Harvard. She was one of their top pitchers throughout her collegiate career and was named captain of her team during her senior year. She is currently doing medical research at Massachusetts General Hospital and plans to enroll in med school next year. She is going to be a doctor one day! Thank you Margaux for being an outstanding host! Caroline and I loved being with you!!



An absolute beautiful and historical campus. If you ever get a chance to visit the campus...do it! It really is a special and impressive university.



Two of Harvard's elite student / athletes are Margaux Black and Tommy Gray. Tommy is from Houston, Texas and was the captain of the 2010 Harvard swim team. He led his team to numerous victories in the water throughout his career. Thank you Margaux and Tommy for taking us to the football game and making our weekend eventful...Go Crimson!





With Margaux before the big game. Behind us is the softball field where she captained her team to the Ivy League Softball Championship Game last year.




Tailgaiting before the Harvard - Yale football game was huge! There were tailgaiting activities going on all over campus. Keep in mind that this is the biggest game of the year, therefore tailgaiting along with other alumni activities were in full force all weekend. It was a very festive atmosphere as Caroline and I got to tailgate with the Harvard softball team prior to the game. I had the opportunity to see the softball team in action last spring. These girls can play some serious softball and it was a pleasure tailgaiting with them. Best of luck to the Lady Crimson softball team this year..."BELIEVE".





This is as good as it gets! Margaux and I are with former Westminster student Ellen Macadam. Ellen is currently a senior at Harvard and is now the captain of the 2010-2011 softball team. Just like Margaux, Ellen was also a star softball player at Westminster. These two legendary Westminster softball players have gone on to stardom at Harvard. I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of these two young ladies. Having the opportunity to coach both of these players in high school, and to be able to watch them perform in college is so rewarding. Margaux and Ellen, thank you for the memories...I am extremely proud of you.




It's game time at Harvard! There are more than 32,000 spectators packed into Soldiers Field. You can feel the excitement in the air as "The Game" begins.




This beautiful horseshoe shape stadium was built in 1903 and has hosted many Ivy League football games throughout the years.



Back in the day, Harvard was a national football powerhouse that won seven national championships. By today's standards, Harvard's national championship game or bowl game is always played against Yale. It's for bragging rights 365 days a year!





I was impressed by the way these players played. These are non scholarship athletes that play for the love of the game and for their school. The level of play was outstanding - just like you would see at any stadium across the country on a Saturday afternoon. Football is football...and when these two teams lined up toe to toe, they got after it. Hard hitting, solid fundamentals, teamwork, and desire were all evident during this heated contest. It was entertaining football from the two Ivy League teams.




Harvard's offense kept Yale's defense off balance with well designed misdirection plays throughout the game.



At halftime, we were entertained by the Harvard marching band...well sort of. Harvard's band really doesn't march like traditional bands...they just kind of walk out randomly on the field and play some songs. They only practice once a week so precision and accuracy are not real important. They have a good time out there and actually sounded pretty good!



The Harvard band entertains the crowd at halftime at Soldiers Field. I like the crooked lines!




Late game action in the 4th quarter as Harvard gets ready to score the winning touchdown. Harvard won the game by a score of 28-21 over Yale! It was a hard fought game from start to finish.  Harvard earns bragging rights this year! Go Harvard!!!!!





Harvard fans celebrate the victory!





My sabbatical football experience has taken me to some fabulous places across the country thus far. I cherish each journey that I have taken. This journey was unexpected. Actually, the Harvard experience was not one of the original, "Six Saturday's and a Sunday" until the Black's found out about my sabbatical plans. Last spring I was in Cambridge to see Margaux and Ellen play softball against Dartmouth. After watching the Crimson sweep the Green on the diamond, we celebrated the victories at an Italian restaurant in Boston. That evening, I shared my upcoming sabbatical plans with the Black's and Macadam's. It was then that Mr. Black extended the invitation for me to add and to experience the Harvard-Yale weekend. What a wonderful weekend and what a wonderful journey we took to Cambridge. It was a weekend with Caroline, Margaux, Ellen, and Tommy that I will cherish for a lifetime. Thank you Black's for the opportunity, and thank you Margaux for everything you did for Caroline and me. It was simply amazing!

Next stop, The Rose Bowl in sunny Pasadena, California to see UCLA vs USC.

Thank you Westminster PE students for viewing this week's blog.
Until next time....keep your eye on the ball....
- Coach McGuire



Roll Tide Roll

  Roll Tide Roll

Welcome back to my football journey across the country. This week takes me to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to see the defending national champions play the Georgia State University Panthers. So buckle up again Westminster PE students as I take you along for a ride with the Tide!

First stop was a visit to the Bear Bryant Museum. Inside this historic museum contains everything you want to know about Alabama football. In the eye's of many people around the country, Alabama is the most storied and recognized football programs in America. I completely agree with that statement. When you think of college football...you automatically think of the University of Alabama.





It's game time at Bryant-Denny Stadium! I love this stadium. It seats 101,000 and it can get real loud. It can be real intimidating to the visiting team when the crowd yells....Roll Tide Roll!!



I had a great seat for this game...well actually I did not have a seat. I was fortunate enough to have a "sideline pass" for this game! My "pass" allowed me to stand on the sideline with the team for the entire game! It was amazing seeing the action from just a few feet away. I could hear the players talking, the coaches calling out plays, the quarterback giving commands, and I could hear the "popping" of shoulder pads all night long! Thanks to Westminster Community Softball Coach Pete Wellborn for arranging a sideline pass for me. Coach Wellborn played football for Coach Bill Curry several years ago at Georgia Tech. Coach Curry is now the head coach at Georgia State. Thanks Coach Wellborn for getting a sideline pass for me!




This is my favorite moment of all. I was able to be at the right place at the right time to take this picture. Alabama head coach Nick Saban leads his team down the tunnel and onto the field. Here comes the defending national champions! The place went crazy when the Tide ran onto the field.




Tonight's game features Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram #22. Ingram won the Heisman last year. This award is given to the best college football player in America. You are looking at a special running back that certainly has a bright future in the NFL.




So you are probably wondering why I selected this game as part of my sabbatical. Georgia State is where I went to college many years ago. I played baseball for GSU and I wanted to support my school and athletic program. This is the first year of football at Georgia State!! So get the picture...upstart Georgia State playing the defending national champions! Many people across the country called it the "David vs Goliath game"...and it was. However, give Georgia State credit for rising to the challenge to play Alabama. They didn't back down and they played hard all night long. I admire their courage for going toe to toe against the champs. GSU lost the contest by a large margin, but they certainly gained a lot of national exposure and respect for playing the Crimson Tide this evening.




On the sideline with GSU




What an awesome coach. Coach Curry takes a moment to talk to his quarterback Drew Little during the game. Little had just thrown an interception and Coach Curry came over to offer strength and encouragement for Little. Coach Curry played football at Georgia Tech. Played professional football with the Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Colts, Houston Oilers, and the Los Angeles Rams. He won two Super Bowls as a player! He served as head coach for Georgia Tech, Kentucky, and Alabama. Tonight was a special evening for him as he returns to face his former school where he once was head coach.




The Tide is getting ready to score a TD.




This is Mark Hogan, the first EVER football player to be recruited and to sign with Georgia State. He is a tough football player that plays with high intensity and with his heart. He gives it his very best on every play.




Coach Curry watching his team make a play against the Tide.




Great view from the sideline!




Halftime with "The Million Dollar Band." The band got it's name in a funny way. A long, long, long time ago, the football team lost a game by a lot of points. Somebody said...."the football team played terrible, but the Alabama band looked and sounded like a million dollars...the name stuck! The Million Dollar Band can really "bring it."



Roll Tide Roll...and that's exactly what they did tonight. They took care of business and won the game rather easily. Keep in mind that this is the first ever football season at Georgia State. It was their moment in the sun! These players will alway remember the night they traveled to Tuscaloosa to take on the defending national champions. This team put GSU on the college football map. You have to build a program from the ground up, and tonight the Panther's certainly enhanced their foundation. The Panther's finished the season with a winning record of 6-5! The beginning of a new proud tradition at GSU! Congratulations Coach Curry and GSU for a wonderful first season!

Thanks again Westminster students for checking in to read this week's blog. Next stop, Cambridge, Massachusetts to see Harvard vs Yale. My first Ivy League experience!! Looking forward to this unique opportunity. Until next time....keep your eye on the ball....
- Coach McGuire

"The Swamp"



  Welcome to "The Swamp" home of the Florida Gators! This week the Gators played the South Carolina Gamecocks with the winner of the game advancing to the SEC championship! Big game this week...so buckle up once again and enjoy the journey to...... The Swamp.


Ben Hill Griffin Stadium seats 90,000 noisy fans. This is one of the toughest places to play in America. Not many teams that visit this stadium leave out of here with a victory. When you visit, "The Swamp" you normally lose the game....a very tough place to play.

 

The South Carolina Gamecocks are the surprise team of the SEC this year. Not too many people thought that they would contend for the SEC championship. They have beaten some strong teams this year, and they now find themselves playing in the biggest game of the season. The "ole ball coach," Steve Spurrier is the head coach for South Carolina. Spurrier actually played for the Gators and won the Heisman Trophy in 1965! He also served as the Gator's head coach for many seasons and won lots of bowl games, SEC championships, and a National Championship. Tonight he returns to "The Swamp" to coach against his former team.







Florida has a rich college football tradition. They have been one of the top teams in the country for many decades. One player in particular has become the "face" of  Florida football...Tim Tebow. He is the most decorated football player EVER in college football history. "Google" him and you will be impressed with everything he accomplished at the University of Florida. Two National Championships, Heisman Trophy winner, 3 time All-American and the list goes on and on.....He is admired and loved by all Florida fans. His famous jersey #15 is seen all around town worn by men, women, and children.




This is "The Promise" that Tebow made to The Gator Nation after an unexpected loss. He promised that he and his teammates would play harder, commit to excellence, and give everything they had for the rest of the season. Tebow and his teammates lived up to "The Promise"...they won the National Championship that season! That's about as good as it gets!





If you like Gatorade......then this is the place where it all began!




You will see gator statues everywhere on campus. It's a constant reminder that you are in The Swamp!




You are now officially inside "The Swamp." What an unbelievable college football setting. It was a "blue out" as head coach Urban Meyer wanted all Florida fans to wear blue...and they did.




Oh, by the way...I got to hold this real live alligator!!! Needless to say, I was a little nervous holding this gator.





OK...glad to get the gator out of my hands! Now back to the action. As you can see, the fans are right on top of the field. They can get very loud which makes it hard for the players to hear. On the opening kickoff, the Florida player ran the kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and the stadium went bonkers. That is the loudest that I have ever heard a football crowd. (For that one moment, it was louder than Death Valley - LSU). It sounded like a jet engine getting ready to take off. Unfortunately for Florida, that was the only bright moment of the game. South Carolina dominated the entire game and easily won the game. The Gamecocks will now play Auburn for the SEC title in what should be a great game.




The Gators get ready to take the field for second half action. However, not much action was produced by Florida this evening as South Carolina "ruled the roost tonight."




South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia surveys the field and is ready to make another big play for the Gamecocks. Marcus Lattimore #21 was the player of the game as he ran the ball 40 times accounting for 215 yards and 3 touchdowns. Amazing performance by Lattimore and he is only a Freshman! Can you say 'Heisman winner' in a couple of years!




The Gators tried everything on offense, but the Gamecock defense was just too tough!





Thanks Gators for the opportunity to visit your beautiful campus and to experience a Saturday night in The Swamp. I enjoyed everything about the trip except I left the stadium a little bit disappointed that the excitement was taken out of the air by the middle of the second quarter due to a dominant South Carolina team. Tip your cap to the Gamecocks for playing a near perfect game. As I mentioned earlier, it's very hard for visiting teams to win in Gainesville, but tonight Coach Spurrier had his team ready to play. Final score...South Carolina 36 - Florida 14. Ironically, after the game, the Carolina players gave Coach Spurrier a "Gatorade bath" by dumping the entire cooler of Gatorade on him. A perfect ending for the "ole ball coach."
The journey continues this week as I head to Tuscaloosa to see Alabama play Georgia State on Thursday, then on Friday I head to Cambridge, Massachusetts to see Harvard vs Yale. It will be my first ever Ivy League experience and I am excited about attending what is called, "The Game." It will be a unique football experience! Westminster students...until next time...keep your eye on the ball...
-Coach McGuire





LSU - LSU - LSU - LSU



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 Welcome to LSU. My fourth journey across the country takes me to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to see the Tigers play defending National Champions...The Alabama Crimson Tide. By far, this is my most anticipated trip of all. I have always wanted to go to "Death Valley" to see the Tigers play. So buckle up once again as I take you throught an exciting weekend in the Bayou!

As I head towards Baton Rouge, I can only imagine what lies ahead for the next 48 hours. I'm heading toward a place that is know for having, "the best college football atmosphere in the country." I can already feel the excitement as I approach the campus. This week, my oldest son Kelly, will be joining me on this trip. He is a huge college football fan and didn't want to miss the opportunity to see the Tigers play in Death Valley!



We arrived on campus Friday afternoon to tour the LSU campus and stadium only to find out that the stadium was in "lock down." We could not go inside the stadium as CBS was busy getting ready for the big game on TV. The sign above says it all...this team knows how to win championships.






LSU's mascot...Mike the Tiger was impressive. We spent time watching him roam around his habitat. He kept pacing all throughout his territory in anticipation for the big game tomorrow.
On game day, they put Mike in his cage and place him at the entrance of the visiting teams locker room. Can you imaging what the Alabama players thought once they turned the corner and waiting for them was Mike! 




 Tiger Stadium...commonly know as "Death Valley" is feared among opponents playing in this hostile environment. This place gets loud...I mean REAL loud. In 1988, LSU was playing Auburn in a game which Auburn was winning 6 - 0 late in the 4th quarter. With 1:47 seconds remaining in the game, LSU threw a touchdown pass on 4th down which will forever be know as the "Earthquake Game." The fans in the stadium got so loud after the score that a seismograph recorded 15 minutes of ground shaking in the Baton Rouge area. The earth in Baton Rouge actually shook!! You can look this up in Ripley's Believe It Or Not. Now that is some serious jubilation.


Once our day of touring the campus was completed, we decided to drive back to New Orleans for dinner and to pay a visit to down town New Orleans and Burbon Street. Lots of excitement in the street and we even spotted hundreds of Alabama fans in town for the game.




The Louisiana Superdome, home of Super Bowl champions New Orleans Saints. This city is crazy for the Saints! They are very proud of the Saints finally winning a Super Bowl. The Super Dome also housed thousands of people during hurricane Katrina. The Dome was remodeled and looks awesome...it reminds you of a space ship or some type of UFO.




Great weather, great food, great music, great people, great town!My first visit to "The Big Easy" was fantastic.




You don't see these trolly's in Atlanta, but you see them all over the streets in downtown New Orleans. People ride them as means of transportation around town.




It's game day at LSU. The Golden Band from Tigerland makes their way into the stadium. This band really rocks. They are amazing as they create lots of excitement with the music they play. When they strike the first four notes of, "tiger rag" it will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up! LSU fans enjoy the band as much as the football team.




Inside Tiger Stadium 90 minutes before kickoff. Historic stadium that seats 92,000 noisy fans.





LSU players receive final instructions and a pep talk from their coach. These players were real fired up to play the defending national champions.




Roll Tide Roll. The Crimson Tide makes their way onto the field.




Now the stadium is full, the fans are in their seats ready to cheer on the Tigers!




We had great seats for the game...6th row in the end zone allowed for a fantastic experience. We sat near the band and the student section, and I have never heard fans cheer so loud in all my life. Tiger stadium was at it's loudest Saturday evening. You can feel the stadium shake. LSU lived up to it's billing as being one of the loudest stadiums in the country. The place is electric and charged with excitement. LSU performed magic late in the game to upset Alabama. Tiger Stadium "roared" all throughout the game. It was a sight to see - unbelievable college football atmosphere.




Alabama featured Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram! Ingram ran for 100 yards during the game, but it wasn't enough to win the game for the Tide.




Kelly and I were all smiles after the big LSU win. This photo was taken a few minutes after the game was over. Nobody in the stadium wanted to leave. Everyone wanted to savor the big win. The celebration went on for 30 minutes, the players stayed on the field, the band played, and everyone was enjoying the "moment" in Tiger Stadium. What a thrill.



Final score...LSU - 24 Alabama - 21. We saw an "instant classic" football game today. Tiger Stadium was rockin' all game long as the Tigers came from behind to upset Alabama.



Thank you LSU, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans for making this a fantastic experience. This will be a weekend that I will never forget. The spirit, passion, and energy displayed in Tiger Stadium exceeded my expectations. Tiger Stadium DOES come alive on Saturday night. "It's Saturday Night in Death Valley" has a true meaning. Nothing else like it. If you ever get a chance to see a game in Death Valley - do it - you will have goose bumps all game long. It's what college football is all about. Kelly, thanks for sharing the experience with me. I loved every minute of the trip. I'm glad that you got to see in person the electric atmosphere of LSU and Tiger Stadium. You will never forget it. T-I-G-E-R-S...Go Tigers!

Next stop..."The Swamp" to see the Florida Gators take on the South Carolina Gamecocks. The winner of this game will go to the SEC Championship game! Thanks Westminster PE students for checking in. Until next time...keep your eye on the ball...
- Coach McGuire