From Happy to Sad, Big 10 Football Fun-- Part 3: #5 Ohio State, #4 Iowa

5. OHIO STATE--  The first time you see the "Shoe", you might be awed by its size and grandeur.  There is a massive tailgating area and then, that marching band, which bills itself as TBDBITL:  "The Best Damn Band In The Land" and they live up to that as well..  Before the game, about 10,000 fans go to the St. John Arena  for a concert.  However, OSU fans have a reputation for being less than cordial to visiting fans.

Though I am definitely NOT an OSU fan, one year a buddy and I were in Columbus when the Buckyeyes played Indiana at home.  And, I was pulling for OSU, something I thought I'd never do.  But it is always more fun to be cheering with the home team when you are in their home.  I had a real good time at several bars.

4.  IOWA--  When "Back in Black" plays, the crowd roars in anticipation of "The Swarm" where Iowa players lock arms before running onto the field.

And recently, they have added another tradition, "The Wave" as fans show support for patients in the children's hospital that overlooks the stadium.  That to me is probably the greatest college football tradition anywhere and really moves you as you can see the kids waving back.  I'm getting tingles just typing this.

Kinnick Stadium is a classic brick stadium that seats about 70,500 fans, but there are often 100,000 or more people in black and gold milling around.

--RoadFan

Richard Cole, Last WW II Doolittle Raider Dies at 103

From the April 9, 2019, Chicago Tribune.

Retired Lt. Col. Richard "Dick" Cole, the last of the 80 Doolittle Tokyo Raiders, who carried out the daring U.S. attack on Japan during World War II, has died at a military hospital in Texas.  He was 103.

A spokesman says Cole died Tuesday at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, but gave no additional details.

The Greatest of the Greatest Generation.

A Busy Weekend-- Part 2: Old Friends, Vets and Ed Bearrs

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7

This being Pearl Harbor Day, the 77th anniversary, I wrote about it in all my blogs.  My flags were already up for President Bush's funeral.

I drove to Bristol, Wisconsin, to have breakfast with former teachers from John T. Magee Middle School in Round Lake, Illinois.  We had our first get-together back in November and hope to get it to being a regular monthly thing.  It is always fun to get together with old friends, especially ones you don't often see.  A lot of retired teachers from Round Lake have moved to warmer climes, but enough of us stay here to have them.

Afterwards, I drove to the Fox Lake, Illinois, American Legion Post 703 where we were putting on our annual Christmas dinner for the people at the VA Hospital in North Chicago.  I worked in the kitchen plating yams, mashed potatoes and gravy.  We served around 125.

Later I drove to Arlington Heights, Illinois, and visited the grave of Liz's parents in Memory Gardens and then, with some difficulty found the place where Ed Bearrs was going to speak for the Northern Illinois Civil War Round Table at the Arlington Hts. Museum.  Mr. Bearrs is one of the preeminent Civil War people, having written many books and led many battlefield tours.  It was worth the distance and confusion to hear him.  I will eventually get around to writing about him in my Civil War blog.

A Very Long Day.  --RoadDog

JSS: I Can See-- Gas Gouge-- A Band and a Hockey Game-- Congrats to NIU Basketball

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  I CAN SEE--  Thursday I had cataract surgery at Cigna Hospital in McHenry.  It is so wonderful to have sight again in my left eye.  I could see nothing but faint shadows out of it the last several months.

2.  GAS GOUGE--  On Fridays for the last three weekend, our local gas stations have jumped the price of gas up by 20-25 cents and then lowered them about ten cents during the next week before raising them again.  Thanks a lot, guys.

3.  A BAND AND A HOCKEY GAME--  This weekend, we saw a two-piece band Saturday afternoon at the Legion in Fox Lake, Illinois called the Honeymooners and then yesterday watched the Blackhawks play the Detroit Redwings.

4.  CONGRATS TO NIU BASKETBALL--  Friday, the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team closed out their regular season with their 20th win over division rival Ball State.  This was the first 20-game winning season since the 1994-1995 season and only the 4th time in our history.  Tonight we play in the first round of the MAC tournament.

My Advice to You, get Your Gas on Thursday Before the Gouge.  --RoadDog