When Gameday Meant More Than Football

Those who know me well understand my passion for college football. Most of my fall Saturdays are either at a game – almost exclusively watching my beloved alma mater Fresno State – or spending many rainy Pacific Northwest days channel surfing from game to game.

But last November, I spent a memorable Saturday at a game with my buddy Chris at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. The game itself – the Air Force Falcons dominated the Oregon State Beavers – was less meaningful for me than the scene at the Academy. And it has me thinking about it on this Memorial Day holiday when we’re honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.

Chris is even more of a diehard when it comes to attending games. It’s something he does almost weekly during the season, so we usually try to arrive early and check out the pregame festivities. The players all came into the stadium together and I chatted with a family of an Air Force player. Then the academy’s marching band performed in front of Falcon Stadium.

Photos by Chris Cocoles

Inside the stadium it was fun to walk around and check out the Academy paying homage to past Air Force and U.S. Army Air Corps missions over the years.

There were commemorative plaques throughout the concourse from specific units, so I found a couple of Alaska-related homages.

It was a special day in Colorado Springs, and while I can’t wait for another college football season in the fall and already plotting out some Fresno State games I plan to attend, games at the Air Force Academy are much more than the game itself. My bucket list includes an Army-Navy game. Someday!

Enjoy this Memorial Day celebration.