Thursday, November 21, 2013

Number 149

In the mid 80's it was still in Taylor stadium. The administration allowed the Fraternities to populate the parking lot in the far end-zone and swill keg beer from the back of pick up trucks during the entire game. It was tailgating inside the stadium. My first view of Lehigh football  was an end zone perspective thru a chain link fence with a 12 ounce plastic cup of cold keg beer...usually Hamm's. The PA system would crackle "Shigo on the tackle" and "touchdown...Renny Benn."
We had one eye on the game and one eye on the Sorority girls from Alpha Phi and Delta Gamma. Room temperature hot dogs and stale chips were the beer sponge of choice. This was not tailgating in the Grove at Ol' Miss with coat and tie and Southern Belles; this was 1AA football in the Northeast in a steel town. Banker's Club whiskey and A-Treat ginger ale and Popov Vodka  fit the house social budget so this was as far as the cocktail menu extended. We cheered as the Engineers triumphed over Colgate or Bucknell. We screamed "Lafayette Sucks" on the day of "The Rivalry."
This Saturday I will do it again...with the same guys from that end zone.

6 comments:

  1. SO classic! I'll root for your boys too.

    As an OLD Delta Chi, gotta love those DGs.

    ML

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  2. Oooo! A-treat sodas. Haven't thought of those in 20+ years since I left Berks County. Enjoy yourselves come game day.

    Best Regards,

    Heinz-Ulrich von B.

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  3. Heinz…berks County. So you are a dyed in the wool Dutchman…my heritage is the same. Middle name is Kistler

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  4. Dig Lehigh's grave both wide and deep, wide and deep.
    Put tombstones at her head and feet, head and feet,
    And from each sweater take away the "L,"
    Which Lafayette alone guards we.

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  5. Oh no. While I knew many Kistlers, Kemps, Printzes, Boyers, Moyers, and Schwoyers in District Township, my clan hails originally from Central and Western North Carolina. My sister and I were born north of the Mason-Dixon Line purely by accident. I was actaully born in Jefferson Memorial Hospital in downtown Philadelphia many moons ago now, and I still consider SE Pennsylvania my home although I've been away for almost 25 years now.

    Best Regards,

    Heinz-Ulrich von B.

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  6. Looks like our boys took a beating on Saturday. Hopefully the beers and greekers softened the blow.

    GWB

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