GO, AIR FORCE!!!!

For Christmas, Travis (and Pam) sent us tickets for the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, LA - about a 5 hour drive.  He also got us into the AFA Tail Gate which was awesome in that we were up close and personal for pre-game preparations.

 As part of the package, we got shirts and a barbecue, beer, pop or water and a lot of fans to rub elbows with!!  It was actually pretty fun, even though we didn't see a single soul that we knew!!

We got to meet the Peregrine Falcon (mascot):

After we ate, the cheerleaders showed up to practice, then the band and of course, the Bird was greeting everyone and posing for pictures! 

 Interesting enough, the Bird (or one of the jump team dressed as the Bird) parachuted into the stadium - just like Travis did back in 2000 - (left).  YUP!!  That's Travis as the Bird as he parachuted above us on his entry into the stadium!!!!  If you asked him today.... he'd likely say it was the 'funnest' thing he did while at the Academy.

Back to the present:  We enjoyed the cheerleaders practicing along and with the band:

GO AIR FORCE!!!

Then for the game.... they were first on the scoreboard, but were down by one point (6-7) by halftime.

Then came the halftime show....  a B-52 flyover at 1000 feet (felt like 100)

and of course the band:

then my battery gave out!!!

Any of you that watched can attest to the fact that it was a good game and kept you just a little worried right to the end when AF got an interception on the 1 yard line, which shut down Georgia Tech with seconds to go!  It was a close game (and COLD!!!).

Probably the worst thing that happened was that we had to go through security on the way in, and they confiscated by full bottle of Propel....  but worse that that, Dad had to throw his trusty sidekick, his pocket knife away!!