Valentine's Day Party in September?

I graduated from the University of Washington in 1969. My time in the Seattle area, as you would expect, offered me some of the best experiences and friendships of my life.

As a result, every year at Valentine's Day in February we go to a dinner party at the home of one of four couples on a rotating basis. In 2008, it was our turn to host the party but I was in Sicily and they didn't want to fly over the Atlantic Ocean to party in Catania! As a result, the 2008 party was hosted at our home last night with an Italian theme and as an excuse to gather together to watch the Huskies beat Stanford in a 7:00 p.m. game on television while we dined.

The initial common thread here is that all four husbands are U. of W. alumni who have known each other for over 40 years.

Peter "Spear" Claridge was a wide receiver for the Huskies and was a year ahead of me in school. He is THE most die-hard Husky fan I know and is dying a thousand deaths this season as our beloved Dawgs continue to swirl around the drain. His wife, Sherlyn, also went to the U. of W. and is a great counterpoint to Peter's intensity.

Paul Sabolic was an offensive lineman in his Dawg days and, though not quite as intense as Peter, has frustration issues growing as well as the Husky losses continue to mount. Paul's wife, Joanne, is bubbly and brings an air of hope to all Husky functions.

Mike "Tuna" D'Antuono was a wrestler for the Huskies who nearly upset Olympic Silver Medalist Rich Sanders in an epic match between the Huskies and Portland State in the late 1960's before a packed, frenzied home crowd in Seattle. He and his wife Susan, both cool, calm and collected Husky fans, are the main forces behind this now traditional yearly event that has gone uninterrupted for over 25 years with the exception of one missed year due to the "National Moratorium on Gatherings" imposed by the Reagan Administration.  Football nuts that they are, the D'Antuonos went to the UCLA vs. Fresno State game, won by Fresno State 36-31, at the Rose Bowl before driving the hour from Pasadena to Camarillo.

First Order of Business...Root the Huskies on to Victory!

Mike in the funky Italian hat, with Paul and Joanne behind him watching the game as Stanford builds a lead and our star QB Jake Locker goes down with a broken thumb in his passing hand!

All of our efforts did not work...

HOW CAN WE LOSE WHEN WE ARE SO SINCERE?

Final Score: Stanford 35 - Washington 28 dropping us to 0-4 on the season and 0-2 in PAC-10 play.

Laurie made a statement with her red based,

Valentine themed, dinner table.

MANGIA, MANGIA, MANGIA!!!

Happy, Satisfied Friends Trying to Overcome the Agony of Defeat

Laurie, Joanne, Sherlyn and Susan

George, Paul, Peter and Mike

As it is every year, last night was a GREAT night of fun, food and friendship! Plans are already in motion for next year's gathering at the Claridge's new home in late January before our return to Catania.

Rio Mesa Freshmen Beat Agoura

Rio Mesa (2-0)

at Agoura (0-2)

Game 3 of the season saw us hit the road for the 30 minute bus ride south to Agoura. It was predicted that it would be hot and the temperature at our 4:00 p.m. kickoff was indeed 99 degrees Fahrenheit! 

Agoura High School's air conditioned multi-purpose room 

The Charger's were great hosts and let us into this very comfortable room for our one hour wait before we would take the field. 

We told the team to pre-hydrate themselves for at least the last 24 hours before kickoff. For once they followed directions only perhaps a little too well. When I asked them if any of them had to use the restroom, the response was the best pursuit drill we have had all season!

In order to insure against any shenanigans, I went to the entryway of the restroom to monitor their behavior. After 3 or 4 minutes of nobody leaving the restroom and with 15 players waiting outside, I went inside to see what was holding things up. As it turned out there was one toilet stall and 3 urinals at our disposal. Everyone was waiting for the toilet! After informing them of the purpose of the urinals, they reluctantly started to use them.

The joys of coaching 14 year-olds for the first time NEVER ceases to amaze me! 

KICKOFF!

Let the game begin!

Fullback/Falcon Tanner Wrout

Tanner had a GREAT game! His blocking was a throwback to the Golden Days of two back offenses. He had a 35 yard TD run, caught a 2 point PAT,  forced a fumble and had 2 tackles for losses totaling -9 yards.

Tailback Brandon Chong

Quick and tough, he had 4 carries for 67 yards.

Defensive End Ben Dixon

Ben has been our leading tackler all season. Here he is rumbling to his first high school touchdown on a 23 yard scoop and score of a Charger fumble.

SACK!

We had 4 of them and a lot of pressure on their QB all game long.

Free Safety Darren Gales

Darren had 5 tackles and was a very positive force in the secondary.

Quarterback Trent Thornton

3 for 6 passing for 46 yards and 2 rushes for 29 yards and a TD.

Cornerback/Tailback Jaylen Stewart

Groin issues limited his playing time but he still ran the ball 4 times for 63 yards and a TD. On defense he intercepted a pass and is seen here returning it 80 yards for his second TD of the game.

Kicker Jason Ah Sue

After a poor showing in our season opener that led us to go for two in our second game, Jason has worked very hard to improve his craft. His form and efficiency were great in this game.

In the end, we were able to improve our record to 3-0 with a 41-20 victory. We were up 34-0 after the first drive of the second half and started to substitute liberally.

Offensively, nine different players carried the ball a total of 27 times for 271 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Defensively, our statistics sheet showed that THIRTY-TWO different players were in on at least one tackle! We recovered two fumbles, had an interception, made 3 tackles for losses and recorded 4 QB sacks. Of course, we also scored the two defensive touchdowns that I mentioned earlier.

Up next is our toughest test to date, St. Francis H.S. who is also 3-0. We'll play them on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. at home.

The Emancipation Proclamation

Air Force One

A TRIP TO

THE RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Simi Valley, California is the home of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library which is about 20 minutes from Casa Contreras. This weekend was the beginning of the Library's exhibit of the actual Emanicipation Proclamation which for my Sicilian friends is one of the most important documents in United States history.

Our son Mike and I, two history buffs, had to go see it Saturday.

President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, as the nation approached its third year of bloody civil war. Most people believe that this document freed all the slaves but this is not accurate. It actually freed all the slaves still living in areas in rebellion to the United States on that date. Thus, for example, it lists 13 parishes in Louisiana as exceptions to this Proclamation because U.S. armed forces now controlled them.

These singers greeted us as we walked into the Library's Main Courtyard

Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the United States

serving from 1981 to 1989.

President Reagans Statue

Nancy Reagan eerily seen here was the Nation's First Lady.

"Rosie" the Spy

To tie in with the Emancipation Proclamation's Civil war theme, The Library had several Civil War re-enactors on duty to add a little authenticity of the day. "Rosie" was a widow and a spy for the Confederacy who would get sent to jail twice. Eventually she would drown when her boat capsized as she was wearing a dress with a considerable amount of gold sown into it.

The American Civil War started in 1861 and ended in 1865.

Nancy Reagan was known as a VERY classy dresser.

This dress is made out a popular Tartan plaid. 

The couch in our computer room shows that we must have GREAT taste too!

The Library's re-creation of the President's Oval Office has this sign as you enter.

President John Adams must be disappointed by the last 8 years.  

The Gipper

Ronald Reagan's most famous acting role may have been as Notre Dame's All-American running back George Gipp.

Mike's reflection in the glass case protecting George Gipp's actual Notre Dame letterman sweater.

I'm actually smaller that this representation of the U.S. Federal Budget!

But this statue was made before the recent government bail-outs.

LENINADE? For sale in the Reagan Pub? Incredible!

A piece of the Berlin Wall

President Reagan's Grave

A Civil War Re-Enactor... COOL BEARD!

A Civil War Surgeon

De-Briefing

After three hours viewing all the displays, including Air Force One, we had to sit down and discuss what we had just witnessed by going to the nearby, world famous eatery, The Hat. 

Mike Digs In!

What makes The Hat so good? FRENCH DIPPED PASTRAMI SANDWICHES!!! Pass the HOT mustard please!

Calcio Catania!

When we got home, we found Calcio Catania battling Atalanta in Catania! We were glued to the TVset the rest of the afternnon!

I didn't see anybody I knew in the crowd shots.

An injured Catania calcio player... how is that possible?

Catania eventually won by a final score of, are you ready for this, 1-nil!

Incredible!!!

Rio Mesa Freshmen Win Their Home Opener

NEWBURY PARK (1-0)

at RIO MESA (1-0)

Our home opener was played on Thursday, September 18th at 4:00 p.m. against the Newbury Park Panthers.

"Captains Out!"

#56 OG Kody Herman, #9 TB/CB Jaylen Stewart,

#91 DE Ben Dixon and #11 FB/Falcon Tanner Wrout

Tanner Wrout rumbling up the middle!

Tanner picked up some tough yardage against a very good Panther defense. His totals were 15 carries for 83 yards and 1 pass reception for 13 yards.

WR/CB Blake Selig

Blake did not play in our first game due to injury. He has great speed and is seen here on a WR reverse.

Workhorse Jaylen Stewart

Jaylen probably plays too much in our games. He had 27 carries for 94 yards, a TD and a 2 point PAT. He also was in on 5 tackles and broke up a pass from his cornerback position.

Pass Completion!

#7 Trenton Thornton to #1 Blake Selig

Two Ancients pondering their futures!

NG #45 Zach Saldana

Zach played REALLY well in what turned into a defensive battle. He had 7 tackles including a 9 yard QB sack, 3 tackles for losses totaling 6 yards and he recovered a Panther fumble.

DE James Turner forcing a fumble down low as fellow DE Ben Dixon gives chase. 

Jaylen Stewart battling in the secondary.

"RUN TO THE FOOTBALL!"

DE Ben Dixon recovering a Newbury Park fumble.

The extremely hard hitting, defensive game ended with Rio Mesa improving their record to 2-0 after hanging on to defeat Newbury Park 8-0!

The Spartans had 215 yards of total offense on 55 plays but lost 3 fumbles.

The Panthers were held to 41 plays and 179 yards of total offense but turned the ball over 4 times on 3 lost fumbles and an interception. We were able to hold them to only 6 completions in 20 passing attempts. Losing their starting QB on the second series of the game was an obvious turning point in the momentum of the game.

THE "5th QUARTER"

After the game was officially over, we had a "5th Quarter" consisting of 10 offensive and 10 defensive plays each to give the athletes who did not get into the game a chance to compete.

It was GREAT to see these kids out there who work so hard in practice!

#12 Richard "Slick" Vasquez at QB

#15 TB Roderick White exploded for two TD's in the extra period.

Defensive Swarm led by #60 Marcos Vega

Willamatte Plays at Cal Lutheran

The Football Weekend Continues

Our son Mike and his fiancee, Vanessa, are both graduate students at California Lutheran University in nearby Thousand Oaks, California. The 0-0 CLU Kingsmen opened their 2008 season Saturday against the 1-0 Willamette University Bearcats from Salem, Oregon.

Mike and I went to the game our FIRST EVER CLU game together primarily to watch Catania Elephant Brandon Bennett coach his alma mater's offensive line. Because Saturdays are always such a HUGE work day as a Varsity coach, I have just never had time to go to a 1:00 p.m. kickoff of a CLU game. I don't know Mike's excuse for never going to one of these shindigs.

One of the positive side effects of Freshman football coaching is indeed MUCH more free time on the weekends!

Brandon, in the maroon shirt, strides onto the field for pre-game warm-ups.

Re-United in Ventura County

I REALLY enjoyed Brandon in Catania, just a GREAT GUY!

Watching him at work in Sicily convinced me that he has all the makings of a GREAT coach as well as being the excellent lineman we thought he would be.

#42 Fernado Raigoza

Because I was in Sicily last spring, I lost sight of the fact that Fernando, who graduated from Rio Mesa in June, was playing for CLU. It was a great surprise to see him at the game!

Fernando making a tackle in a pre-game tackling drill.

Fernando was the epitome of hard work in high school. Due to his size he is now a defensive back at CLU after being a stellar linebacker at Rio Mesa.

I was surprised when Brandon's linemen did not run laps before the game.

NCAA Division III Football

College football at it's purest!

Coach Bennett about to make game time adjustments.

The Bearcats Smell Victory in the Hazy Air!

Willamette improved their record to 2-0 on the season with a 31-17 victory at Mt. Clef Stadium.

The Wildcats were down 3-7 at the half but stormed back in the last two stanzas to ensure a pleasant trip back to Oregon. Offensively, Brandon's very well coached linemen helped Willamette to 350 yards of total offense on only 52 plays for a very solid 6.7 yards per snap average.

The Bearcats will return to Southern California on Saturday, September 27 for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff at La Verne University. Because we are hosting a dinner party that evening for soon to be "in the closet" University of Washington fans if our football team doesn't win soon, I probably will not be able to attend Brandon's game. If I did go, Laurie would undoubtedly kill me!

Rio Mesa Varsity Losses a Heartbreaker

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS!

On Friday night the Rio Mesa H.S. Spartans Varsity team travelled up to San Marcos to open their season.

The San Marcos Royals sporting their new red jerseys in pre-game warm-ups.

Here come the Spartans!!!

Win the Line-of-Scrimmage and You Should Win the Game!

In a tough, hard fought, defensive battle, the Spartans tasted the bitter pill of defeat, losing 8-10. The Royals kicked the winning 32 yards field goal with only 21 seconds left in the game.

The Spartans have very quick, hard hitting defense that only gave up 157 total yards. Up next for the Varsity Spartans is a 1-0 Newbury Park H.S. team that defeated Camarillo 14-7 behind it's strong defense that only Camarillo only 89 total yards!

Rio Mesa Freshmen Open the Season With a Big Win

The 2008 Rio Mesa H.S. Freshman football season finally kicked off last Thursday with the Spartans driving one hour north to the beautiful city of Santa Barbara to play the San Marcos Royals. Tensions ran high as these two squads warmed up before an estimated crowd of 300 football fanatics.

Coaching the Freshmen for the first time in my 40 year coaching career is a lesson in patience, humility and, most of all, the torturous continual effort to not laugh out loud too often!

In our locker room at Rio Mesa one player wanted to know if he needed to wear his game socks. I asked him to fill in the blank "We are going to ride the bus to the San Marcos _____." When he correctly answered "GAME", he knew which socks to wear.

Another player asked me if we were going to have a practice today. "No, we are going to play a GAME at San Marcos today instead."

After dressing out, the players assembled in our weight room near the bus pick-up point. Before loading the bus I ran the players through a pre-game checklist: 

Helmet? CHECK!

Mouthpiece? CHECK!

Chin strap? CHECK!

Right Football Shoe? CHECK!

Left Football Shoe? CHECK!

Are you wearing your Game Jersey? CHECK!

Are you wearing your Game Pants with ALL hip, tail, thigh and knee pads in place? CHECK!

A simple procedure one would think. Of course, when we got to San Marcos our starting Nose Guard informed us that he had left his football shoes back in the weight room!!! Thanks to the miracle of cell phone technology, his father went to Rio Mesa, got the shoes and delivered them before the kickoff.

Devin Hinds kicks off to start the season.

The game was not televised locally since it was not a sell out.

Devin, a Tailback, would go on to score our final TD of the game.

Defense Dominated Early and Often

The Spartans held San Marcos to 119 Total Yards on their 29 plays including 5 "Three and Outs" in San Marcos' 7 offensive possessions.  

#11 Tanner Wrout Pressures the Royal's Punter

Tanner had a great day! On offense at Fullback, he contributed 4 carries for 51 yards and the season's first TD. He caught 4 passes for 70 yards. From his Falcon position on defense he also made 2 tackles.   

#21 Brandon Chong on the Spartans Signature Sweep Play

Brandon started the game at Tailback and Cornerback. He had 6 carries for 21 yards and was in on 4 tackles on defense.

This Is Our Fanbase

Unruly, They Strike Fear Into My Heart!

The Spartans actually brought a GREAT group of fans that easily outnumbered the San Marcos home crowd!

#9 Jaylen Stewart

After sitting out the First Quarter for disciplinary reasons, Jaylen rushed 11 times for 133 yards and 2 TD's.

#36 Jeff Espinoza

Showing Off his Heisman Trophy Pose

#91 Ben Dixon

WOW! What a first game for our soft spoken, gentle giant of a Defensive End!

He was in on a team leading 12 tackles including a 5 yard QB Sack. He also recovered a Pooch Kickoff to deny San Marcos an offensive possession in the second half.

#6 Trevor Brandt

"They Call Me Assassin" was the title of a book written by hard hitting 1970's Oakland Raider safety Jack Tatum.

For some reason I never think about either Jack Tatum or his book when I get around Trevor, who works VERY HARD in practice on our Scout (Tiger) Team.

 

As We Say in Sicily, "EEMPOSSIBLE!"

This isn't really happening is it?

After we scored a Touchdown in the third quarter, one of our players on the sideline asked me if I now wanted the Kickoff or Kickoff Return Team.

I informed him that I would LOVE to trot out the Kickoff Return Team but that the referees would probably take a dim view of it!

I did NOT giggle... MUCH!

Maybe Coach Reardon Really CAN Walk on Water!

It all starts with levitating things like water bottles.

Coach Muro

Mike Muro and John Reardon do a GREAT job working with our Offensive Linemen!

First Game Offensive Totals:

36 rushes for 318 yards, 8.8 yards per carry average and 6 rushing TD's!

Additionally, the Offensive Line did a very solid job protecting our 3 QB's who combined to complete 7 of 9 pass attempts for 108 yards and a 2 point conversion with NO QB SACKS!

#5 Christian McNair

Our "Lefty" QB had 2 carries for 7 yards and a TD plus going 2 for 3 passing for 45 yards.

#26 Darren Gales Reaching for SIX!

Darren had 4 carries for 52 yards and this TD. Our starting Free Safety, he also had 3 tackles on defense.

#52 Middle Linebacker Nick Gutierrez

Nick had 8 tackles for us including 2 Tackles behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of 5 yards. He also recovered a San Marcos fumble to cap off a good first outing!

Nick's father, Gilbert, was a defensive lineman for us on Rio Mesa's Varsity football team in 1989... right about now, this makes me feel REALLY old!

THE FINAL SCORE?

Well, that's another Freshman football story in and of itself! When the game was over the scoreboard read Rio Mesa 45 - San Marcos 10.

The last 10 minutes of the game was a period of distraction on both sidelines as both coaching staffs were trying to insure that everybody got into the game for at least a few plays. As a result of this sideline chaos, something never before seen in the history of American football occurred that went COMPLETELY unnoticed by the players, coaches, fans and game officials.

As we were riding home, I tried to recall who scored our 7 TD's but Brian FitzGerald and I could only come up with the names of 5 players who accounted for 6 TD's. Chalk it up to old age and failing memories, we'll figure it out when we do stats off of the game tape.

I did our game stats off of said game tape and I still only came up with only 6 TD's and 39, not 45 points. We'll, maybe our dad, who did a very good job of filming, missed a drive at the end of the game when we were subbing so liberally.

Fortunately, another parent gave me a copy of a game tape she took from the visitor's stands and we found the missing TD. Devin Hinds scored our last TD, raising our point total from 32 to 38 late in the fourth quarter. On this copy of the game tape, you canclearly see the scoreboard operator instead count Devin's TD as TWELVE points, not six! I guess that the timekeeper gave Devin's 20 yard TD romp style points just like Olympic gymnasts got in Beijing last month. I would have only given him an additional 2 points if I was judging his scoring run under these Olympic rules.

Oh, the REAL Final Score was: Rio Mesa 39 - San Marcos 10.

We are now 1-0 on the season and have our home opener this Thursday at 4:00 p.m. against a 1-0 Newbury Park team coached by Verne Merrill who I coached at Thousand Oaks H.S. in the early 1970's. His wife Debbie was our oldest son Andy's first baby sitter in 1974. Now I really feel like I'm older than dirt!!!

Peppe and Valeria's Excellent Adventure

After our scrimmage Friday, I got a phone call from Laurie informing me that Peppe and Valeria had called her with a change of travel plans.

They left our house Friday morning at about 10:00 a.m. to go shopping in the Camarillo Premium Outlet Mall. Instead of just a couple of hours as planned, they kept buying priceless treasures until 4:30 p.m.! From there, they drove about one hour north to Santa Barbara and had dinner on State Street.

During dinner they found out that Santa Barbara was hosting a Beach Volleyball Tournament starting at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. Among the competitors were the men's team of Philip Dalhausser and Todd Rogers as well as the women's team of Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor. As you may recall, both of these teams won their respective Gold Medals in the Beijing Olympics last month.

They decided that they could not pass up the tournament and so they came back to Casa Contreras before going back to Santa Barbara Saturday morning. We were really glad to have more time with the two of them! 

Thanks for supporting the sagging American economy!

... and supporting

... and SUPPORTING!!!

Away go our happy friends...

... NOT SO FAST!

Ten minutes after they left our house, Laurie discovered this bag of new clothes that Valeria had left behind at our house. We called them but they did not answer their cell phone so I jumped into the old Chrysler LHS and tried to catch them on the road knowing that if I didn't, I would try to find them at the tournament.

The only problem was that I left in such a hurry that I forgot my cell phone. I got to Santa Barbara and was able to talk the security guard into letting me in for free to try to find them. There were 8 different courts set up and I did get to see parts of both Olympic Gold Medalist teams play while I searched for Peppe and Valeria.

After 45 minutes, I gave up and headed for my car to go home a defeated Samaritan. Then suddenly as I drove down Cabrillo St. by the beach I heard a faint voice yell "George!"... it was Valeria. We hooked up and you can see her above getting her bag back.

Nothing Succeeds Like Blind Luck!

 

Royal Scrimmage

Friday, September 5th at 5:00 p.m. YOUR Rio Mesa H.S. Freshman football team ran onto John Reardon Field for our scrimmage vs. the Royal H.S. Highlanders.

We still have lots of work to do, but overall it was a VERY positive experience for the young Spartans.

Our first game is this Thursday, September 11 at 4:00 p.m. vs. San Marcos H.S. in beautiful Santa Barbara.

Spartan Defense in Black

Falcon Blitz

This time "Right Linda - Cover 3" equaled an Interception!

HANDS UP!!!

The Sweep was our best play Friday

Same Sweep, Same Positive Result, Different Running Back

Coach John Reardon

You WANT him on your side!

Forced Fumble!

Fullback Rumbling for Six!

PICK IT!!!!

Sicilians Invade Ventura County

Thursday, 5 September, 2008... World famous Italian sports figures Valeria and Peppe arrived in Ventura County.

Valeria, #7, is a high scoring forward playing professional ice hockey for a team in France.

Peppe, #43, is the Elephants Catania starting TE/H Back... great hands, good blocker, part-time pass rusher and a special teams demon!

Cronies Cheeseburger Anyone?

All visiting athletes are required by Ventura County Ordinance #2184.b to eat their first meal in the county at Cronies Sports Grill in Camarillo.

Valeria is also a lawyer in Catania and, knowing the folly of trying to break the law in a no nonsense state like California, advised Peppe to comply with this legalized custom.

Sitting next to Laurie is Koreen FitzGerald and next to me is her husband Brian.

A Light Breakfast at Casa Contreras

For the first time in the 32 years we have lived in our home in Camarillo, we were graced with the presence of an Olympic athlete! Valeria was a member of Italy's 2006 Olympic Ice Hockey team that competed in Turin.

They departed this morning to continue their whirlwind tour of America's west coast. Their first scheduled stop was to go shopping at the Camarillo Premium Outlet Mall. From there it was on to Santa Barbara for sightseeing.

Brian and Koreen FitzGerald, in the Cronies picture above, are two very generous people indeed! They offered to let Peppe and Valeria stay at their condominium in San Luis Obispo as a nice stopping point on their way to San Francisco.

I think that Peppe and Valeria are having a GREAT time and are really excited about all they have seen and are about to see!

Tennessee at UCLA Football Game

It is NOT too early to start voting for the

National High School

Freshman Coach of the Year.

Vote Often!

Elephant Catania Personnel Scouts

checking out the Seniors on the UCLA and Tennessee rosters

 

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON OPENER

#18 Tennessee vs. UCLA

at Pasadena's Rose Bowl

Our friends Mike and Susan D'Antuono, who live in Altadena just minutes from the Rose Bowl, have been  UCLA season ticket holders for over 20 years since the Bruins moved their games from the L.A. Coliseum to this grand, old Pasadena venue. They very graciously invited us to attend UCLA's  5:00 p.m. season opening kickoff vs. nationally #18 ranked Tennessee Volunteers.

 

Besides the obvious joy of another college football season, yesterday's game was even more special because two of our very dear friends from Catania, TE Peppe Strano and his beautiful girlfriend Valeria were here on vacation and the D'Antuono's invited them to both a pre-game BBQ and the UCLA game as well.

The D'Antuono's further went over and beyond by inviting Peppe and Valeria to stay at their house for two nights to serve as a much more centrally located base to visit L.A.'s attractions than our home in Camarillo which is about a one hour drive north of downtown Los Angeles.

We will host our Sicilian friends later this week as they continue to work their way up the west coast to first San Francisco and eventually seattle. 

The D'Atuono's "Bone Room"

Mike and Susan's home was originally the Gillette (shaving products barons) family hunting lodge 100 years ago. As a result they have this one room full of antlers and other animal parts. Peppe was a little unsure of himself in this environment.

Pre-Game BBQ

That's Mike and Susan, our hosts, at the two ends of the table. We moved indoors because it was HOT and HUMID outside!

Homemade Cannoli

Mike's family roots on his mother's side are from Caltanisetta in Sicily and his father's side of the family hails from Bari on the heel of the Italian boot.

Susan made the plate of delicious cannoli that you see here. Mike also made a plate of alcohol laced cannoli that were a big hit with me.

After lunch it was off to the Rose Bowl to take in some of the pre-game pageantry and view the tailgating fans of both schools.

Knoxville, Tennessee has always been a

BIG fashion center in the South

Do they make these pants in XXL?

NOW YOUR STYLING!

Valeria's visor and Peppe's hat and shirt provided by the House of D'Antuono Fashion Salon

"Old School"

Sports Illustrated magazine had a large booth/tent set up outside the stadium featuring their "80 Players Behind College Football's Evolution" issue. ESPN's Dan Patrick was signing autographs and they had a bunch of great displays including a Heisman Trophy.

I am posing next to a poster of my first college football hero, LSU's Billy Cannon, the 1959 Heisman Trophy winner. His 89 yard TD punt return on Halloween night vs. Mississippi is still the stuff of legends.

P.S., Face masks are for the weak!

Peppe tries on the latest in football helmet technology, light but durable.

George, Mr. Potato Head and Mike

What says college football more than Mr. Potato Head?

Giulio Romano's Idea of Heaven?

Giulio is the Madden Football Champion of Sicily, he would have loved this display with about 30 different screens up and running.

The UCLA Bruins Warming-Up

The Tennesse Volunteers Warming-Up

GAME ON!

Peppe and Valeria with 68,546 of their closest Rose Bowl friends.

Note that Valeria is now sporting a UCLA football jersey with #1 on it.

VICTORY!

Football can be a VERY strange game.

UCLA rushed the ball 31 times for only 29 yards. The Bruins threw 4 interceptions in the first half including one returned 61 yards for a TD with 23 seconds left in the half!

How could they even be close to Tennessee with statistics like these? Easy, GREAT defense and returning a blocked Tennessee punt 17 yards for a 1st quarter TD.

UCLA scored a passing TD on a 3 yard "bomb" with only 27 seconds left in the game to take the lead 24-21. Tennessee moved down the field smartly to kick a 47 yard field goal to tie the game at 24-24 with no time left on the clock and force an overtime.

UCLA went nowhere but kicked a 42 yard field goal to go up 27-24. Tennessee would try to counter at the end of their overtime possession with a field goal as well but their attempt sailed wide left to give UCLA the improbable victory. WOW!  

Bob's Big Boy

Bob's was a legendary place to go after games back in the 1960's. On the drive home Laurie and I agreed to stop at the Toluca Lake Bob's for a Big Boy combo, a cherry coke and a chocolate malt at about 10:30 at night... crazy but fun!