re: 1997 Independence Bowl

I remember it well. I had broken my leg earlier in the season and had to sell my season tickets. Oh how I missed Section 421 so for Christmas my Grandma had gotten me tickets to the I-Bowl. I had gotten my cast off my leg the day before so I was so excited to go.

During those days out in the boondocks we didn’t have a pizza place, and during my convalesce, I had longed for one thing pizza.

I wasn’t an OT Baller in those days, so I think I had like $17 bucks on me when I went to the game. And lo and behold there it was … Pizza. In the stands.

Now keep in mind it was snowing/winter precipitation In Shreveport that day and I was a wee bit unsteady on my newly healed leg.

As I got to my seat, I was trying to maneuver my crippled self along with my hot coco and my big slice of Italian Pie.

Then it happened. The ice caused my good leg to slide and my newly castless leg started to strain. I was about to fall and in my desperation of spilling my hot coco and scalding someone, I had to let the pizza fly so I could steady myself.

For a brief moment, the slice levitated there in the air like it was acquiring a target and then like a heat seeking missile, it attacked this fellow wearing a brand new Starter Style jacket.

The team had gold on, beat the Irish, and brought some semblance of magic back. But I sometimes wonder whatever became of the young man and his Starter jacket.