As November rolled in, I received the email confirming my Penn State season tickets. The prospect of Penn State potentially hosting the College Football Playoff’s First Round at Beaver Stadium was exciting. I quickly applied for six tickets, planning to share the experience with friends by selling the remaining four.
My fraternity brother, Bill Radilac, expressed interest in the extra tickets, and I was happy to oblige.
On Sunday, after Oregon defeated Penn State in the Big 10 Championship, it was announced that Penn State would face SMU on Saturday, December 21, at noon. The timing worked well for me, as I prefer daytime games and felt confident about Penn State’s chances.
I asked my son, Billy, if he could join me for the game. He and his wife, Lauren, are both Penn Staters, and although they have two kids, he confirmed he could make it. We planned to leave on Friday at noon, drive to my place near Penn State, and head back to Philadelphia after the game.
For me, this game was more than just football; it was a chance to spend time with my son and discuss my experiences with aphasia since my stroke.
We arranged to meet Bill for a tailgate before the game. His daughter, Mackenzie, was also a Penn Stater, and she and my son had known each other through the Lion Ambassadors when they were at Penn State. My daughter-in-law Lauren, a former Lion Ambassador, couldn’t join us, but the tailgate was still a good opportunity for Bill and Mackenzie to catch up.
The game day was bitterly cold, with temperatures hovering around 20 degrees, but the win made it all worthwhile.
I’m looking forward to the next game and the possibility of a National Championship.