Living in South Dakota, we go to any game within 10 hours, but my kids have never been able to root for the home team. We made a 16 hour drive (Sunday drive was brutal--went back to sleep at 1 am and got up at 5 am to start the long drive home), and the experience didn't disappoint. This will be a memory they will have for a LONG time, and I think they got that memory that makes a fan for life. My two oldest (11 year old girl and 8 year old boy), both loved watching the student section and said, "I want to be a student here and sit with them! I gotta go to school here!"

Early in the game I explained that causing false starts is the only real way a crowd can try to directly influence the game, so that string where the crowd was deafeningly loud and ASU got 4 false starts was so much fun. I apologize to any of the fans around us because my 8 year old doesn't know how to "yell" exactly, and his efforts came out more as high-pitched screams. But he was in the moment and it was so much fun.

Before the game-sealing TD, he said we needed to pass it instead, and I ignorantly Dad-splained that that wasn't a good idea because it might lead to a pick or stop the clock. We should definitely keep running here. Five seconds later, Baylor threw it into the end zone and he loved being right. 🙂

Afterwards we went straight to the victory bell and when the players arrived, Lopa picked our 4 year old son (named Jimmer) to be the first to ring the bell with him and Mason Wake.

This was such a fun and awesome experience. Cougar fans, you didn't disappoint. Thanks to all of you at the game for helping me make this weekend a lifelong memory for my kids. It was totally worth the 32+ hour round-trip drive. We may make the trek an annual trip now--at least that is what the kids are asking for.