https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07siajn0pqU

Highlights from last season's Camellia Bowl, this year should be even better! How can you not be excited?

My dad and I had to listen to the Michigan game in 2007 on the radio and I did not even bother to drive to his house in Hudson just to listen to the game. I had an idea of the outcome, and boy was I glad to be wrong. I don't know how many times we called each other on the phone during that game. It was a bunch. After the blocked kick I could not even talk to him, and all I remember is running outside the house and yelling as loud as I could. My oldest daughter at App now was 10 I think. She was seriously worried about me having a heart attack that day.

I remember driving to Boone up 321 later in the season and having to pull over and jump out of the car I was driving where the old DOT dump was just south of Blowing Rock. I was so excited hearing about the fumble at the end of the game against JMU. I thought it best I not drive for a few minutes and I figured the christmas tree I was getting could wait a few minutes. My dad was in the passenger seat and we were both a bit sad about how the end of the year was going to end, and then...fumble and App recovered.

Flash forward to last year and my daughter and I were already in Florida visiting in-laws for Christmas so we watch the game on TV. She was screaming so much after that field goal that I thought SHE was going to have a medical situation. (To be honest, I am not sure if she really understands football, but she loves her Mountaineers!) Watching this video made me reflect back on my dad passing away the summer after the first Michigan game but also how the family tradition did get passed down to another generation with my oldest daughter. I know my dad would be proud of her and her excitement of App winning that first bowl game. I got the same smile watching this video as I do when I watch the Michigan game, as much for the good memories of family as for the win.

(For those that remember the tweet I posted about the student staying in the cold to see Cox break the record... that was my daughter. She called during the game and I told her she could leave the game if she was as cold as she claimed but she did tough it out.)