Some of you know I lost my Mom recently. And thanks again for all the messages of support of thoughts and prayers. They are much appreciated.
My sister has found, in a suitcase, photo albums and envelopes filled with pictures, OMG! Photos of my great, great grandparents' weddings, from 100 years ago. Good stuff! But, this is a football forum...
My Mom and Dad's second date was in the fall of 1949. Specifically they joined hundreds of other Tulane fans and rode a train to Mobile for the big showdown Tulane vs. Alabama with the SEC championship on the line. Certainly a game that would help decide who would win the conference. Tulane's all-world RB Eddie Price had a huge day, 100+ yards rushing and scored 3 TDs as Tulane prevailed 28-14. (Price played for the NY Giants in the NFL).
My Mom was quite the diligent photographer, snapping dozens of pics and then later writing details on the back of each photo explaining what it was, what it showed. Of course, there is a lot of personal value in these photos. Pictures of my YOUNG Dad enjoying a college football game. But, beyond the obvious personal family treasures these photos represent, these pics also show just how important sports are to us as a society, and how special college football is in particular.
I did not have time, unfortunately, to read the backs of each photo. My brother is a Tulane grad and I gave the photos to him to take back with him to Georgia, where he now lives. Anyway, the stadium was packed! I did not see a single empty seat. It was, of course, a small stadium by today's standards, probably about 25,000 max. I guess it's Ladd Stadium in Mobile....probably. (Just looked it up, it was Ladd Stadium which opened in 1948).
I recall my Mom joking about their second date being a train ride to see a football game. She would say, see, we are big college football fans! I asked how comfortable were her parents allowing her to take a train ride with a fellow she had just met!? My Mom was 18 at the time. Oh...they were worried, but trusted my Dad to be a perfect gentleman.
Sorry for this sojourn into my family's history. Like most, ours was(is) a VERY big football-fan family! From high school, to college, to the Saints football was (is) a part of the fabric of our lives. It's the off season, so just thought I'd throw a little college football out there!