REMEMBER THE ALAMO BOWLl!!!

Pull up a beverage, this is going to be a long post . . .

Our beloved PAC-12 Washington Huskies (7-5) were invited to play the Big XII Baylor Bears (9-3) and their Heisman Trophy winning QB Robert Griffin III, a.k.a. "RG3," in the 19th Annual Valero Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.

Over the years Laurie and I had been to 13 Husky bowl games but none outside the State of California.

We had been to seven Husky Rose Bowls and saw the Dawgs win five of them.

Here are the results of those seven Rose Bowls (5-2):

1978 beat Michigan 27-20

1981 lost to Michigan 23-6

1982 beat Iowa 28-0

1991 beat Iowa 46-34

1992 beat Michigan 34-14

1993 lost to Michigan 38-31

2001 beat Purdue 34-24

For a brief time, Anaheim hosted the Freedom Bowl. We saw Washington take home two victories there to boost our Husky bowl watching record to 7-2.

These are the results of those two Freedom Bowls (2-0):

1985 beat Colorado 20-17

1989 beat Florida 34-7

Finally, we had journeyed to San Diego four times without much good fortune to watch the Huskies play four times in the Holiday Bowl as our UW bowl game watching record slumped to 8-5.

We saw the following results in "America's Finest City" and their Holiday Bowl (1-3):

1996 lost to Colorado 33-21

1999 lost to Kansas State 24-20

2001 lost to Texas 47-43

2010 beat Nebraska 19-7

Over the years we had consistently passed on traveling long distances with the Huskies to ten bowl games outside of California. The Dawgs had visited El Paso, Texas (2-2 in the Sun Bowls of 1979, 1986, 1995 and 2002), Shreveport Louisiana (1-0 in the 1987 Independence Bowl), Miami, Florida (1-0 in the 1985 Orange Bowl) and Honolulu, Hawaii (2-1 in the 1982, 1983 and 1997 Aloha Bowls as well as 0-1 in the 1998 Oahu Bowl).

With this as a background, we decided that it was time for a road trip! We were joined by both of our sons, Andrew and Michael, which made it an even better nostalgic few days in . . .

The Lone Star State

Laurie, Mike and I flew into Austin, the capitol city of Texas. After picking up our rental car, we drove about an hour southwest to the San Antonio Airport to pick up Andy who had flown in from his home in Las Vegas.

First order of business?

Why food of course!

Recommended by Guy Fieri in his book

"Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives"

For me, this makes it a better bet than any 12 star rating in a gourmet restaurant guide!

The order of Onion Rings was a good sign

It is said that in Texas there are only three types of food. They are BBQ, Tex-Mex and . . .

Chicken Fried Steak

The gravy underneath was incredible!!!

I did concede to some healthy green salad as you can see.

Our Headquarters was built in 1909

Very centrally located with an awesome lobby area.

It is the Holiday Season

Always love a grand old fireplace

Measuring Laurie against the Nutcracker

Laurie won this one.

The first phrase that comes to my mind when you mention San Antonio is

"REMEMBER THE ALAMO!"

So, once fed and settled into the St. Anthony we walked the three short blocks to the site of the 1836 thirteen day siege of the Alamo by 1,800 Mexican troops led by General Antonio López de Santa Anna. The badly outnumbered 189 Republic of Texas volunteers inside the Alamo were led by soon to be immortals/martyrs William Travis, Jim Bowie, Davey Crockett and James Bonham.

The entire volunteer army was wiped out but "Remember the Alamo" would soon become the battle cry of other Texan forces who would eventually defeat the Mexican forces to win their independence before finally joining the United States in 1845 as the Union's 28th state.

To this day, the Battle of the Alamo is a source of tremendous reverence and pride for any Texan.

Tribute to the Heroes of Texas

It seems like only yesterday . . .

Mike at the entrance to the Alamo

No, he did not ask about the basement.

As we were checking out the Alamo, I heard someone say, "Hey George!"

I turned around to see . . .

Corey Mazza

Small world.

Corey was a great wide receiver at Thousand Oaks H.S., Harvard University and the Italian Football League's Parma Panthers in 2008 when I coached in Catania.

Corey is currently an officer in the United States Marine Corps who recently returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. He is visiting Texas for the holidays because his in-laws live in Austin. It was good to see him safe and sound.

I really want to thank him and all of our men in uniform for their sacrifices and service to our country.

Yes, a small world indeed.

Laurie at the River Walk

This is another of San Antonio's tourist attractions filled with restaurants, watering holes and people wearing goofing looking purple and gold or green and gold outfits.

The Buckhorn Saloon and

Texas Ranger Museum

Interesting decor but slow service were the rule of the day here. We did not visit the museum.

Texas actually does have a few gun laws

New boundaries in shopping

Andy and Mike proudly exhibiting new outfits for Tank and a "grandson to be named later."

Who would have guessed that Mike would opt for the tie-dyed one for the Doctor.

Game Day Lunch Spot

on the River Walk

The County Line's Five Meat Combo

Beef brisket, beef ribs, turkey, pork spare ribs and shot link . . . Texas BBQ is good!

Sorry/ashamed to report that I could not finish it all.

Market Square

Scene of Laurie's latest quest for the perfect souvenir.

San Antonio Court House

Interesting architecture.

San Fernando Cathedral

Started by Spanish colonists sent by King Philip of Spain who arrived in San Antonio in 1731, a French Gothic addition was completed in 1873.

The Cathedral's simple interior

The Remains of the Texas Heroes

Included in this tomb just inside of the Cathedral's entrance are the mixed remains of Travis, Bowie, Crockett and other Texan martyrs of the Battle of the Alamo.

The Alamo Dome

Pre-Game Festivities

Game Time!!!

Husky Band "W"

The San Antonio Express-News headline after the game said it all:

"Downright Offensive"

Robert Griffin III

"RG3" lived up to his Heisman Trophy image on this wild offensive night.

He led Baylor going 24 for 33 passing for 295 yards and a TD. He also ran 18 times for 55 yards and another TD.

What a talented player!

ESPN reports that he has decided to forego his Senior season to go into the NFL draft this Spring.

Husky QB Keith Price

Only a Sophomore, Price was incredible as well, maybe even more so than RG3.

He was 23 for 37 passing, good for 438 yards and four TDs. He rushed five times for 39 yards and scored three TDs.

He accounted for an astounding SEVEN TDs!!!

Goodness.

After one period it was 21-7 Baylor.

Baylor WR Tevin Reese

Not a bad night for this Sophomore as he caught five passes for 66 yards and rushed twice for 101 yards.

The Husky defensive secondary was porous to say the least.

13 yard, Third Quarter TD catch

by Husky WR Devin Aguilar

A Senior in his final college game, he did not disappoint. Aguilar caught five passes for 90 yards two TDs.

The Dawgs roared back with 28 second quarter points to lead 35-24 at the half!

Bears RB Jarred Salubi

This Baylor Junior rushed only five times for a whopping 101 yards and scored 2 TDs. He also caught a pass for 13 yards.

Husky RB Chris Polk

A Junior who will probably enter the NFL Draft with RG3 this Spring, he again proved why some day he will have his name carved in the Husky Hall of Fame.

His totals on the night were 30 carries for 156 yards and a TD. He also caught two passes for eight yards.

It was a crazy third quarter that saw the two squads combine for an insane FORTY-THREE points! Baylor held a narrow lead going into the final period by a tally of 53-49.

Baylor Bears RB Terrance Ganaway

This Senior earned the game's Offensive Player of the Game award by virtue of his 21 rushes for 200 yards and FIVE TDs!

They also selected a Defensive Player of the Game, but only God knows why as the game was correctly described as either an Arena League or an Italian Football League game.

Baylor Senior LB Elliot Coffey won the Defensive trophy based on his game high 15 tackles.

The evening's fireworks added up to 123 total points scored, a new record for all bowl games that did not go into overtime.

The Huskies had 620 yards of total offense while Baylor countered with 777 yards. The 1,397 combined total offense yards is another all-time all bowl games record. That means that each and every one of the two team's combined 159 offensive plays averaged 8.78 yards per snap!!!

They combined for 17 TDs, none scored by the defense or special teams!

In the aftermath, the Huskies fired their Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers Coach and their Safeties Coach two days after the game.

The final score you ask?

Baylor (10-3) 67 - Washington (7-6) 56

All 65,256 of us in attendance at the game certainly got our money's worth of excitement for the night!

For ESPN's highlights of the game, go to: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7403134

Breakfast at Schilo's Delicatessen

One last meal together before our flights home and another good place to dine.

After dropping Andy off at San Antonio's Airport, we drove back to Austin where we had about five hours to kill before our evening flight back to LAX.

Time to sightsee some more.

University of Texas' Memorial Stadium

Great Tradition

Interesting Seahorse on the UT Campus

Webbed Hooves???

The Famed Texas Tower

Memorial Pond

Located near the back of the Texas Tower to remember the 16 killed and 32 wounded when a crazed sniper climbed the Tower and opened fire on innocent students in August of 1966.

Passing the Torch

UT likes sculptures including one of . . .

Cesar Chavez

At the Texas State Capitol Building

Mike firing a canon

Laurie still needed that perfect souvenir

in South Austin

A fine selection

I wonder what size Johan Hammarqvist wears?

Laurie was very happy with a pair of tan and brown mules that she purchased.

If she's happy, we are all happy!

One last meal in Texas

"Keep Austin Weird"

That's a big slogan around these parts and the Magnolia Cafe lives up to it.

The food was great here as well.

Again, "Keep Austin Weird"

This piano was part of a small live music concert in the waiting area of Austin's Airport.

Cousin Harris showed up

at the airport to see us off

We had a great three days in Texas as a family, saw a truly amazing game, ate great food and even had an adult beverage or two along the way.

GOOD TIMES INDEED!!!

Buon Natale, God Jul, Frohe Weihnachten, Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noël, Glædelig Jul, Gelukkig Kerstfeest and a very Merry Christmas

It was the usual gathering of the Clans over the weekend as our families got together to celebrate Christmas 2012.

It was our first Christmas as Grandparents

Michael and Vanessa gave us these two new snow grandparents for our doorway.

Laurie's sister Gayle

Our first stop was on Christmas Eve in Orange County at the home of David and Gayle Hicks.

The Always Fun "Gardner" Girls

From top to bottom, Left to right: Lyndsey, Gayle, Laurie, Amy and Sarah.

You had to be there

Left to right: Tim, Amy and Sarah

No REALLY, you had to be there

From left to right: John, Lyndsey, David and Laurie

Some form of musical "entertainment" shall we say is a traditional part of the Hicks Christmas Eve festivities.

Gayle is multi-talented when it comes to the arts

Brian on the left is trying not to laugh.

Unsuccessfully.

Andy, Jenn and Kevin were present in spirit

They were in their home in Las Vegas hosting Jenn's family but sent this top hat full of cookies!

We'll see them during the upcoming New Years weekend.

Nothing says the Holidays like Dessert

The Hicks were great hosts as always and we all had a grand time!

On Christmas Sunday we hosted my side of the family at our home in Camarillo.

My Mom Chuny and my Aunt Katie

Mike sampling Laurie's cooking

Quality control is key on this day.

Michael and his Aunt Linda

Goofy Hat Day

I wear these suspenders twice a year, these were the two days in question.

With my sisters Marilyn and Linda

Vanessa and our newest

Grandson to be named later

Due March 17th.

Marilyn was a Theater Arts major at U.S.C.

Fortunately her husband John Wintroath loves movies too.

My Mom LOVED her Team Spain Soccer Hat

The bath robe was a big hit as well, but I think she liked the hat more. Michael was her 'Secret Santa' this year in the family drawing.

Vanessa loved her son's new Michigan jersey

She is hoping that the youngster will someday be a doctor like his Great Grandfather was.

At least that is the story that I'm going to print.

More Dessert

Yes.

Lauren, Lorenzo Jr., Ivan and Lorenzo

Lorenzo is our niece Lauren's significant other. The two very polite young men are Lorenzo's sons.

Chocolate from Switzerland

Swiss Flag Luggage Tags

Laurie had a theme going in her presents to me.

You can NEVER go wrong with a Brighton purse

The Doctor's first Hawaiian Shirt

Grandparenting was another of the day's themes

Yahoo.

A happy pregnant woman is a good thing for all

Mustache Key Ring Stocking Stuffer

Laurie has tons of football related ornaments

A whole tree's worth

Next up, the Alamo Bowl

Washington vs. Baylor

GO DAWGS!!!

Reading is FUNdamental

Mike D'Antuono sent me this book to try to get me out of my Scandinavian crime noir funk for a bit. The main character in this series is an interesting one by the name of Jack Reacher. Besides this novel, Mike also sent me another in this sixteen book series by author Child.

I don't know if Mike was feeling a little guilty, having gotten me started on the Stieg Larsson "Dragon Tattoo" series two years ago, when he sent me this latest read but I found it quite different and more than a little enjoyable.

Only 15 books to go in the Reacher Series.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Laurie and I got the chance to see this Hollywood film adaptation of Swedish mystery writer Stieg Larsson's incredibly popular book.

Mike and Susan D'Antuono got us started on Larsson's "Millennium Trilogy" just before we moved to Hässleholm, Sweden for seven months back in 2010. It was our first small step into the fascinating noir world of Scandinavian crime/mystery writers like Larsson, Mankell, Hoeg and Nesbø.

Personally, we loved this movie and I highly recommend it to you. Overall, it was very faithful to the book and really captured the mood of Larsson's tome. The casting was superb with newcomer Rooney Mara doing an incredible job as Lisbeth Salander.

That being said, if you haven't read the book, lived in Sweden for seven month's, gotten to know the stark beauty of the Swedish landscape as well as the warmth of the Swedish people, then maybe this film will not be as well received by you as it was by us.

Still . . .

LISBETH SALANDER KICKS ASS!!!

California State Bowl Game

On Friday and Saturday nights, the California Interscholastic Federation (C.I.F.) hosted their Sixth Annual Bowl Championship High School Football Bowl Games at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

As I stated in my previous post, these five Bowl games attempt to match the best team in Southern California against the best squad from Northern California based on a combination of perceived strength and enrollment.

While trying to decide which ten schools deserve to be in these games is no easy task, once selected it is "GAME ON!"

Friday night saw two new State Champions crowned.

In Division IV, Chatsworth Sierra Canyon (15-0) defeated Le Grand (12-1) by a score of 34-13.

That afternoon's contest was followed by the Division I game. In that high scoring affair, Santa Margarita (13-2) edged San Jose Bellarmine (12-2) by virtue of a last second score winning 42-37.

The Saturday's slate of games began with the Division III game which again was hotly contested. Fresno's Washington Union (14-0) beat Moraga Campolindo (14-1) in another close one 21-16.

The Division II game was again close as La Mesa Helix (13-1) got by Loomis Del Oro (13-2) 35-24.

That brings us to the big finale, the Open Division Bowl Game. The theory is that this game, very arguably, features the two best teams in the state regardless of enrollment.

The picks this year for this prestigious game were Concord De La Salle and Westlake.

My original plan was to stay at home and watch this game unfold in the warm comfort our family room as it was being aired live on television. About four days before kickoff I received a phone call from a former Westlake player, Craig Weisman, about going to the game with him. It turns out that I was at one time the Head Football Coach at Westlake (1978-88) and Craig was one of our really good linemen in those days. After a lot of coercion on Craig's part, I finally agreed to go to the game with him and another ex-Warrior great, Bill Fisher.

I am glad I did.

L. to R., Bill Fisher, Craig Weisman, me,

Gary Wellman and Sue Wellman

Once at the game, we ran into the Wellman clan. Gary was also a player for us at Westlake and his mother Sue was one of our top two booster Moms, Molly Slavin being the other.

Gary's big brother Glenn was probably the best back I coached at Westlake and his son Bradley is a starting CB/WR for this year's C.I.F. Southern Section, Northern Division Champions. He was destined to play a very good game on both sides of the ball on this cool evening.

In all of the excitement I didn't get a picture of Glenn.

NUTS.

Jason Raciti

It was great to see Jason at the game, he was a manager for us for a couple of seasons and is now a very successful fashion photographer.

We also saw Derrick Schmucker, Chris Kreibehl and Larry Freed at the game. All in all it was a great night to reminisce about the good old days.

Meanwhile, back at the game . . .

A Good Memory

In a show of great sportsmanship, no this is not a post-game handshake, it is a pre-game handshake.

Back in early September, undefeated Westlake opened their season with a game in Northern California against eventual Division II Bowl game participant Loomis Del Oro. Westlake handed Del Oro their only loss of the year in overtime 30-27 until their loss to Helix minutes before this picture was taken,.

Even though they had just lost, the Del Oro players in yellow jerseys were all lining up to wish their former opponents good luck as they warmed up.

Classy.

As for the Open Division Bowl, it was no contest. De La Salle was an easy victor over a very good Westlake squad.

De La Salle has a truly amazing program having won TWENTY consecutive C.I.F. North Coast Section Championships! They have 27 of those crowns overall.

They have appeared in a Bowl Game all six years that this system has been in existence winning four of them.

Their Head Coach, Bob Ladouceur, has a career record at De La Salle of 383-25-3!!!

The Spartans also hold the National Record for the longest winning streak with a 151 game skein from 1992 to 2004.

They have not lost to another Northern California team in 20 years, going 221-0-2 in that time.

Their last loss to another California team was in the 2008 California Division I Bowl Game when the lost to Corona Centennial 21-16.

WOW!

Still, it was amazing to read that this incredibly great De La Salle team lost a game in Florida by a score of 30-6 to a Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas team that didn't even win their own league on the way to a 10-3 record. How good is Florida football?

The final score of our game was De La Salle (13-1) 35 - Westlake (14-1) 0.

Wait 'Til Next Year!!!