Go, Heels Go!

Edmund and Rameses

This past Saturday, Edmund attended his first UNC football game. Grandma and Grandpa were so kind to invite us to the game against William and Mary. Several days prior to the game we prepped Edmund by telling him we were going to see Carolina play football. From then on every time we got in the car to go somewhere Edmund was convinced we were headed to a football game. All this anticipation meant that he could not contain his excitement when the moment actually arrived.

Football is not my game. I enjoy being surrounded by fans and get caught up in the excitement, but I simply don't get football. Basketball I understand. It's a fast paced game with clear, simple rules. Football is a bunch of guys running and falling, followed by what seems like an eternity of stop in play. I probably could learn the game if my heart was in it, but it seems my brain has put up a shield preventing me from learning even the most basic rules of the game. This was evident when I pointed out the goal to Edmund and said "see that? If Carolina kicks the ball through that they get a touchdown." Steven heard this and quickly corrected me, "Um they get a touchdown if they run the ball over the line over there." My mistake.

As a parent you start seeing everyday things differently. When the fans started cheering at the first tackle, I couldn't help but wonder what Edmund was thinking. As a parent and teacher of young children I spend a good portion of my day saying how unkind it is to jump on people. And now people were cheering and clapping uncontrollably as several big guys piled on top of one another. Edmund hasn't tried to make a tackle since the game, so for now I think we're safe. Edmund enjoyed himself immensely throughout the first quarter. After that he was all done. "I go home now, ok." We had to get creative in order to keep Edmund interested enough to stay the entire game. Earlier we had seen the Rameses mascot walking around. Edmund said "Rameses, I give him hug and kiss." So during the second quarter when Rameses approached our section I decided to take Edmund to greet him, as a distraction. I wasn't sure Edmund would be quite as enthused when he came face to face with the giant mascot. I was wrong. Edmund immediately threw his arms around the big ram and gave him a small kiss on the cheek. We got quite the keepsake picture to capture the moment.

During half-time we got a hot dog and some popcorn. That most certainly kept Edmund entertained. He also loved watching the instruments during the marching band's show. He is becoming quite the musician and now relishes in any live music.

Half-time concluded and it was back to the game. Edmund was getting a bit antsy. He asked grandma to take him on several walks up and down the stairs. When he returned, he started to get into the cheers. Edmund loved the opportunity to scream without anyone telling him not to, and as he has quite the pair of lungs on him, made quite the contribution. I may not know football, but I knew well enough to know the Heels weren't doing all that well in the second half. Steven's earlier reminder of how the game works was a good thing because I was able to cheer extra loud as the team made their way down the field for a touchdown. By this time Edmund had caught onto the chant "Go Heels Go" and said it so sweetly that the spectators around us couldn't help but smile.

When Carolina scored the touchdown, a round of fireworks was set off into the early evening sky. To everyone's great surprise, Edmund, who normally shies away from loud noises, simply looked at us and said "I see fireworks." This was a good test. Maybe he'll be ready for his first big fireworks display by next 4th of July. The touchdown and the plays that followed were enough to put Carolina in the lead. All they had to do was keep William and Mary from scoring. With our football team's track record, this was easier said than done. What do you know? They actually played great defense and earned themselves a win.

When we met up for pizza with Aunt Alison after the game everyone talked about how proud Edmund's Granddad would be that Edmund saw his first football game. Tar Heel football made quite an impression on young Edmund. Today while all the other kids were relaying tales of Halloween night, Edmund was running around the playground shouting "I got a football, Joshua. Go, Heels, Go!" Edmund has the most infectious excitement, so by the end of outside time more than half the class were playing imaginary football and shouting "Go, Heels, Go!" Only time will tell whether Edmund will be a basketball or football fanatic, but we all know where Granddad stands.

*Don't worry. A Halloween post will be coming your way by the end of the week.