Cooper's 1st Auburn Game

We had been anticipating this day and were thrilled when it finally arrived – Cooper’s first Auburn game!  Since he could look at a television he has always like to watch sports on television, especially football the older he has gotten.  Having parents like us, he has also been engulfed in everything Auburn since he came out of the womb.  For all these reasons we could not wait to take him to his first game and neither he nor the game disappointed.

The game was at 11:00 so we got on the road early.  We got to Auburn early enough to walk around some and let Cooper take in the atmosphere.  He loved being around in the crowds and especially loved being around all that orange and blue!  We got to the game and unfortunately on this warm day we would be sitting in the sun.  We didn’t know how Cooper would do sitting through the game anyway, but now with the sun and heat we were just hoping for the best.  Well, we shouldn’t have worried at all.

He was taking in all that was going on around the stadium but his excitement level started to grow when the eagle flew.  We had shown him videos on youtube of the eagle flying and he would get pretty excited.  He couldn’t tell exactly was going on but was excite nonetheless.  Then the band came out.  We had also showed him videos of the marching band playing so this took his excitement to a whole different level.  Finally, the team came running out onto the field.  When he saw the players in their pads and uniforms it was like a light bulb went off, he finally realized that he was at a football game.  As a father and an Auburn fan, this is a moment in time I will forever hold close to my heart.  His reaction and the look on his face could never be described in words.

The game was a great one and Auburn pulled it out in overtime.  Cooper was quite the trooper and made it through the entire game.  He had a brief nap on the ride down so he was definitely running on fumes, although you wouldn’t have ever known it.  A few times we took him out into the concession area to get him out of the sun and cool off, only for him to point at the tunnel leading back to the stadium and our seats. 

Following the game we headed straight to the Toomer’s oaks.  As sad as it was to see them in the condition they are in, we were tickled that Cooper got to roll them at least one time before they meet their unfortunate fate.  We barely made it back to the car and he crashed.  It was as if he was holding on long enough until he knew for sure that all the fun stuff was over.  The smile on his face that seemed to be there all day long was evidence of how great of an experience this was for Cooper.  I’m sure it pales in comparison to how great it was for the two of us!