Normally, I don’t write about the game when writing about road trips, but I’m going to make an exception with this one. No particular reason.
We were at Landmark Aviation on Friday for the flight to Atlanta. Lunch was still from Olde Tyme, but this time something different. Everyone got barbecued chicken poboys. And, they were great. (After all, it was still Olde Tyme.)
The Sun Country flight left a few minutes late, but no big deal. The school has been using Sun Country for a few seasons now and I have to say, it’s the best charter company UL has ever had. The plane has always been on time, there have rarely been delays and the crew is always friendly and efficient.
After we deplaned we were walking toward the Landmark Terminal where Matt Sullivan, UL Sports Information Director, was picking up a van. There was a huge, and I mean HUGE Delta plane near the terminal and Assistant Jeff Schneider remarked Georgia Tech traveled well. Then he decided it had to be Georgia’s Bulldogs.
We entered the terminal and Matt Ryan was about to walk out to the plane. Wrong twice, Jeff. We saw several other Falcons as we headed to the van. I so wanted to yell WHO DAT.
The team and travel party headed right to the College Football Hall of Fame but the van went to the hotel, which was good as I was a little under the weather. My broadcast partners Richie Falgout and Travis Webb went with the team.

 

It wasn't a pina colada...but it was at Trader Vic's
It wasn't a pina colada...but it was at Trader Vic's
loading...

When everyone got back to the hotel it was, as always, up to Scott Farmer’s suite for a few cold ones. They had a supply of the new Ragin’ Cajuns Ale, which just recently came out in bottles. Richie, Sully, Jeff Mitchell and I decided to eat downstairs at Trader Vic’s.

State Trooper Jeff Mitchell didn't go hungry
State Trooper Jeff Mitchell didn't go hungry
loading...

They are known for their mai tais. Their mai tais are really good. And, really strong. Dinner was superb. One of the best meals I’ve had on the road. I was disappointed in that I did not see a werewolf drinking a pina colada. In fact, I didn’t even see a pina colada on the drink menu. I also didn’t see anyone with perfect hair. AH-OOOOOOOO.
I had celebrated a birthday the day before (well, actually, I didn’t. It was an incredibly busy day.) So Richie and Travis decided I needed to really celebrate. So we went out and had a few Yuenglings. It was around 1am when we got back to the hotel.

gastatepregame
loading...

After breakfast the next morning we headed to the Georgia Dome. We drove past where the new stadium is being built and it’s going to be downright huge. We parked in the loading dock area and it wasn’t far to the elevators to the press level. Setting up equipment was no issue but we needed an engineer to help get an Ethernet connection. And, of course, it's always good to hook up with old friends.  Had a good visit with GSU play by play man Dave Cohen and my Two Cents Radio buddy Doug Hazard (@BearlyDoug). We had a great vantage point at about the 30 yard line and certainly not as high up as we are in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
My thoughts on the game: Offensively the Cajuns were efficient and did a good job of controlling the clock and Brooks Haack did a good job of managing the game with no turnovers. But Elijah McGuire’s longest run from scrimmage was eight yards and the offense generated just one touchdown in the game. That was enough on Saturday, but it has to get better. Grade C+ Defensively the Cajuns, with exception of two runs, totally shut down the Panthers’ running game. They sacked Arbuckle four times and hurried him in several more throws. As has been the defense’s want, they were much better in the second half. Arbuckle had some success and caught the Cajuns out of position a few times. The Cajuns also had more penalties than they should have had. But holding this team to just 21 points showed again how much this defense has improved from last year. Grade B. Kicking game: They covered kicks and punts better than they have all season. Steven Coutts got a punt inside the five. The Cajuns blocked a punt and had a long punt return and squelched a fake punt. Artigue kicked three field goals. It was the best special teams performance and only the late missed field goal keeps this grade from having a plus next to the A. Grade: A.
After the game we packed up and had a boxed dinner and headed for the airport. As usual, we were the last ones to arrive at the airport. We got our equipment and overnight bags put under the plane and got seated. Fortunately there was a brief window as far as weather was concerned and that enabled us to get all of the bags off the plane before the rain started up again. That was a good thing. We got home in time to watch the second half of the Alabama-LSU game.
Oh, one last thing. There was a huge framed collage of old football cards by the elevator at the Georgia Dome. We were stunned there wasn’t a Billy Ryckman card. Stunned, I tell you.

More From 103.3 The GOAT