Hero Inc.

For those west coast readers, I’m talking about University of South Carolina and not University of Southern California.

Yesterday, I made my way to San Francisco to visit May knowing that I would be missing some of the UGA/USC game. I was hoping the game would be locked up before I had to get on the plane but that was not the case due to being televised on CBS and the fact that we always play USC close. While riding MARTA, I’m getting game updates via the blackberry and text messages from my buddy David. This is not the ideal way to watch a UGA game but it was working better than nothing.

By the time it was set to board my flight, the game was just beginning the 4th quarter with UGA up 14 to 7. When I found my seat, the flight attendant asked if I needed anything. I jokingly responded that an update to the game would be nice. She responded by saying that she’d check with the pilot but I might also want to see if it could be found on the XM radio system. I quickly found the SEC channels and the channel for the game. However, since we were still on the ground, they had not switched the audio system over to the XM system due to possible pilot announcements. I was hoping that once we pulled away from the gate audio would begin, but that was not the case. Before we were forced to turn off electronic devices, I was given one uplifting moment when David informed me that we had recovered a fumble in the endzone to prevent USC from scoring.

As the plane pulled away from the gate, I stared intently at the flashing XM radio system. With no audio playing in my ears, all I could read was:

199 SEC            UGA14 USC7            4TH QUARTER

Heading to the runway I kept hoping audio would kick in. When we were about 10th for take off, I knew that I would not make into the air with a result.

199 SEC            UGA14 USC7            4TH QUARTER

Every time the message flashed, I had a heart attack in fear that it would say UGA14 USC14. The message continued to flash and I’m hoping to see any kind of news but at least good news.

199 SEC            UGA14 USC7            4TH QUARTER
199 SEC            UGA14 USC7            4TH QUARTER
199 SEC            UGA14 USC7            4TH QUARTER
199 SEC            UGA14 USC7            4TH QUARTER
199 SEC            UGA14 USC7            4TH QUARTER
199 SEC            UGA14 USC7            4TH QUARTER
199 SEC            UGA14 USC7            4TH QUARTER
199 SEC            UGA14 USC7            4TH QUARTER
199 SEC            UGA14 USC7            4TH QUARTER
199 SEC            UGA14 USC7            4TH QUARTER
199 SEC            UGA14 USC7            4TH QUARTER
199 SEC            UGA14 USC7            4TH QUARTER
199 SEC            UGA14 USC7            4TH QUARTER
199 SEC            UGA14 USC7            4TH QUARTER
199 SEC            UGA14 USC7            4TH QUARTER
199 SEC            UGA14 USC7            FINAL

Man, that was a close one. I’m hoping my flight back next week during the start of the UGA/Arizona State game is not as detrimental to my health.