EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE How much stuff can we pack into a Chevrolet Impala? I knew that’s what my dad was thinking; I had seen that look on his face before. It was Christmas, and we
were packing two weeks’ worth of clothes, food, snacks, gifts and junk — for a twoday visit. But that’s the way we did it in the 1980s. Cars were big, and their trunks were humongous. To go over the river and through the woods (only two hours away) required supplies more appropriate for a trek across the North Pole. BUT IT WAS A RITE
OF WINTER, A YULETIDE TEST THE GRISWOLDS WOULD BE PROUD OF. In that pre-Skype, pre-
FaceTime era, we got together during the holidays with too many people and too much food in too small a space. And yet, it was always too much fun!
Those trips remind me of what we have seen in Stillwater during this year’s tailgating season. The high-tech
grills, tents, tables, chairs, televisions, satellites, games, ice chests and (orange) weather-appropriate gear stuffed into every model of vehicle and parked outside Boone Pickens Stadium. All forms of breakfast fare are on display before the dreaded 11 a.m. games. Afternoon and evening games bring out the Wolfgang Puck in those who may have missed their calling as a chef. There’s Cajun, Mexican, Asian, American, fish, beef, chicken, pork, duck, sauces, sandwiches, fried, barbecued, potluck, roast ... you name it, they have it. It’s all unpacked, fired up and enjoyed. Then it’s packed up for the trip back home.
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This remarkable marvel of moving is second only to the one demonstrated by the OSU equipment managers who organize, transport and maintain the equipment for the Cowboy football team. Gen. George Patton, who was known for getting large amounts of troops and the gear needed to sustain them to Europe in World War II, would be proud of the job our equipment folks do to get OSU’s football team across the country. They pack all of the helmets, shoulder pads, pants, shoes, socks, jerseys and more for every player. All of the coaches’ gear is in there, too, covering for 100-degree days or 30-degree nights, rain or shine. Check it out:
There’s a CHECKLIST FOR EVERYTHING, a clear and logical plan for getting each piece of equipment that could conceivably be needed from Stillwater to its destination and back again. The truck is loaded and unloaded in the middle of the night and early in the morning. There are long days and nights on the road and in empty stadiums, long before the fans show up and long after they depart.
Every possible thing that could be needed has been thought about and planned for. It has its own space on the truck and its own sequence for loading and unloading. The process kind of reminds
you of packing for grandma’s ... except there are a lot more kids! It makes me
want to sit back, watch the mystery of it all and pop open a Gatorade. My favorite flavor … Orange!
GO POKES!
Jackets Visors
Sunglasses
Medical supplies and energy bars
Every snap and buckle on a uniform or helmet that could break
KYLE WRAY VICE PRESIDENT ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT & MARKETING