Senior Day - Tailgate Pasta Salad

Wofford vs Chattanooga was the last regular season game on the 2010 football schedule. This meant it was also Senior Day for all graduating players. On the last practice before the last regular season game, senior players walk the field at Gibbs Stadium. The seniors turn around to face their teammates and coaches and then form a line to shake hands with everyone. After spending four years almost year round for almost 30 hour work weeks of practice, training, film, strategy meetings and games, walking the field is very emotional.

Anticipating the emotions and the larger crowd for this game, tailgating parents Susan and Bob organized a wonderful senior day tailgate for after the game. The weather was once again absolutely perfect and everyone brought a dish to share. But, Susan and Bob had arranged for the main course - ribs and chicken - to be cooked on sight during the game by friends from their home town so that all the parents could relax and enjoy the day. Enjoying was easy. Relaxing was not so easy.

Prior to the final regular season game, parents of seniors are asked to walk onto the field as each senior player is recognized. This is also very emotional. Actually, I was taken a little off guard because the emotions started hitting me as soon as we drove into Parking Lot E. I saw all the tents, tables and parents, families and friends beginning to congregate for the last game and was totally overcome. Thank heavens for sunglasses.

About an hour before the game, we went inside to watch the end of warmups and to watch the players go back into the fieldhouse. Parents of seniors filed down to the field to wait for the players to return. Honestly this kind of felt like walking the plank. When David's name was called, he ran onto the field and gave us both a big hug and a kiss. Then he started laughing because the black warpaint under his eyes had rubbed off his face and on to my nose. If it had been red, I would have looked exactly like Rudolph! Thank heavens for comic relief. David wiped off my nose, gave us another hug and ran back to be with his team.

We headed back to the stands to sit with Beth, John, Leah, Tucker, Ann and Turner who had come to watch to watch David's last game. It was almost halftime before I composed myself.

The game was a solid performance by seniors and underclassmen. After the big defeat at ASU, these guys were ready for Chattanooga. It was an important game again because ASU had one conference defeat and Wofford had one conference defeat. Winning this Chattanooga game would mean that ASU and Wofford would be co-champions of the SoCon. And that's exactly what happened. Wofford soundly defeated Chattanooga to earn the title and the rings. And to earn a place in the FCS playoffs.

So it was a beautiful Senior Day, a great last regular season game, and an amazing tailgate with players, families and friends. But it wasn't the last game. Wofford drew a bye for the first round so players were able to go home for Thanksgiving break. And then it's Jacksonville, Alabama and more Wofford Football.

Tailgate Pasta Salad

For tailgates, I like to make a pasta salad that doesn't include mayo. Like any pasta salad, you can put most anything in that you like and then add the dressing. I adapted this recipe from one that Cindy gave me that Terri gave her and who knows where it originated. You can adapt it too and then call it whatever you want.

12 oz pasta - for tailgates it is better to use something small like penne
1/2 bell pepper, chopped (red, green, yellow or a mixture)
Medium onion, chopped (sometimes I use scallions and include the green tops
2 oz jar diced pimiento with juice
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1/2 cup sliced black olives, drained
1 jar capers with juice

Dressing:
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup lemon juice
3 tsp seasoned salt

Mix all ingredients together and then toss with dressing.