Life out of the Pool: Seattle as an Aztec

I think every family has something that they all bond over. I would have to say growing up that was football. Long before I can remember my mom would be taking us to Friday night football to watch my dad coach. Then growing up we kept going-went to University of Utah bowl games (my Uncle Sean coached there for over 20 years) and spent the weekends watching football. One of my favorite memories is Boise State winning there bowl game over Oklahoma in OT. Having no connection to Boise besides loving college football. The entire family was in the living room yelling at the TV. When they scored my mom was standing up on the couch, my brother was yelling at the TV with his hands over his face, Brooke was yelling, Mikayla was yelling, dad was talking shop. Dad then made a note that he ruined a great game by asking the cheerleader to marry him. It is just another day in the Vessey house and I wonder why people think we are intense?

Well my love for the game has continued I am an avid Aztec fan (San Diego State). I am sure you all realized that. Throughout college I attended all most all the home games. Once Brooke arrived we continued going and her dating #68 Right Guard Nik Embernate made us even more into it. My parents became Aztec season ticket holders about 4 seasons ago. Now we are all Aztec fans! After graduation I decided I wanted to try to go to an away game every year. Pick a game on the schedule that is against a University with a pretty good record and in a place I am interested in going. I went to Missouri with my mom two years ago (she is an alumni- you can read that post here). I missed out in 2011 when my dad, his bestfriend Chuck (Rest in PEACE) and Brooke went to watch the Aztec’s take on Michigan at the “Big House”. Brooke also went to New Orleans when they played in the bowl game there. In 2012 I would not miss out on a big away game- especially since it is Nik’s senior season. Seattle I went!

Going to an away game is a lot of fun. You get to experience how another college parties and views football. Brooke, mom, dad and I would board a plane leaving Ontario at 6:30am Saturday morning to Seattle. With a little bit of nerves and almost missing the plane we got through security and walked right on the plane. Once in Seattle we headed forthe hotel to shower and have some breakfast.

Brooke & Me at Pike's Public Market

Since we were in Seattle we headed down to Pike’s market. We had a great day just walking around, eating seafood & doing a bit of exploring. It turned out my parents had not been there in over 15 years. Brooke had never been. I oddly enough have had some weird trips up to the great Northwest. After spending all afternoon we headed over to a brewery by the stadium. Since the University of Washington is remodeling there stadium the game was to be played at Seattle Seahawks Stadium (NFL Team). At the brewery we meet up w/ my Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Karen (my mom’s brother). Then Nik’s dad and his wife joined us. After hanging out & eating we headed to the stadium. Brooke wanted to be there for warm ups.

With dad

Mom with her brother

Walking to the stadium was a lot of fun as there were so many people out. Of course being in all Aztec gear you get some boo’s a few good lucks with a laugh. Then a lot of high fives from the other 3 Aztec fans you come across. In front of the stadium they close one of the main streets by the stadium and there is just a bunch of venders and food carts. Had we known we might have decided just to eat like that. Once getting our ticketsat the player’s entrance we headed inside. Since we are the visiting school you usually get seats up in the corner near an end zone. Like usual we were in the end zone but we were seated surprisingly in the second tier of the stadium. After playing a good amount of musical chairs with people due to confusion of what seats everyone had. We buckled down for the game. It is fun to be at an away game our section was all Aztec fans. Alumni, parents, siblings, random people. Everyone cheering for the Aztecs.

Can you find Nik??

Like usual the Aztec’s took the field and Brooke and I were yelling away. As the game went on we yelled and yelled. I enjoy watching football and cheering for kids I went to school with and my alma mater. I will bleed Red and Black forever. There is a saying "Aztec4Life". And if you ask Brennan he will confirm I am a die-hard Aztec. He has a saying “Go Aztecs”- I know he says it with love and a little laugh thinking she is just a bit crazy. The huskies jumped out to an early lead and looked like it could get ugly. But with a trick play the Aztec’s were back in the game.

The gang (missing KK and Sean)

The trick play was funny because as it was unfolding Brooke realized our receiver was on the side lines unguarded. As she is yelling there is no one covering him I started yelling at her to shut up. I didn’t want her to give away the play. Looking back sounds stupid I know. But in the heat of the game from the second tier of an 80,000 seat stadium she was about to give away our chance at an easy touchdown. The play went off and the huskies left our man unguarded. It was great! The Aztec’s would struggle here and there and ultimately we would lose the game by 9 points. We had a chance in the last 3 minutes of the game to get a touch down & were not successful. It was a heart breaker- a winnable game. On the upside Nik had played a great game!

** Event happened later but relevant to the above paragraph. The next week at practice the QB for Nik's team Ryan Katz was like hey man my parents were sitting behind your girlfriend and her sister at the game. (Hearing this story is when I start thinking: did I say something bad about him? I don't think I did!) His parents explained to him that they we were really intense! They were yelling almost every play! My parents couldn't decide who was more intense your girlfriend or her sister. I like to think Brooke is more intense since Nik is her boyfriend. But yea I am intense (Again we are intense- even random strangers see it!!). I hope Nik at least explained that we are both alumni and from a football family. I am unsure if this came up in the conversation- so the QB and his parents might just think we are crazy and intense.

After the game we would wait at the player’s gate to chat with Nik. This was one of the fastest showers and changes ever for Nik. Surprisingly Nik was not as upset as I thought he might be. He was happy with his performance but disappointed because they could have won. The other team was just not that good! After chatting with Nik we were exhausted. After our mile or so walk to the car we headed to the hotel where we all planned to just pass out. Getting up at 4:00a m and then going going all day our Saturday in Seattle was coming to a close around midnight.

With Mom!!

Entrance to University of Washington

We slept in well till about 8:30 which is late for the Vessey’s. The plan was to see a little more of Seattle. We drove over to the University of Washington to see the campus. I had been on the campus about 4 years earlier but no one else had seen it. We drove through and admired how beautiful it was. The campus has a very back east feel to it with brick buildings. We of course checked out the athletic facilities (were Vessey’s). Then headed out to Tacoma where we were going to have lunch at my Uncle’s. On the way mom took us by a beautiful golf course and park along the water. Some big golf tournament is going to be held there next year (US Open Maybe?). Then headed to my Uncle’s.

We spent the afternoon just being with family. My cousin Ruthie and her husband Cliff were there with their super cute daughter Ava. Ava was not so sure about us at first. Of course by the end of the day she was in love with my dad. There is something about my dad teenager’s fear him, babies love him! My Aunt and Uncle would cook up an amazing spread including you guessed it fresh Salmon. It was a great afternoon. From there we headed back to the airport to fly home.

The center of campus

The only thing that would have made the trip better was an Aztec win. But no matter it was awesome getting to see them play. So I plan to go to all the home game’s but will probably not make another away game. Thank heavens for TV and radio- cause you better believe I will be watching or listening. All while yelling like I am standing on the sidelines and not 1,000 miles away! Sorry in advance to Brennan!