I parked the car a mile from the Spartan Stadium, the fans walking together through the middle of campus wearing their green and white was uplifting. I left behind a very cloudy wet New York for the cool partly sunny skies of East Lansing, Michigan.

59 degrees is the perfect temperature for a game and I was taking it in thinking about life, the game and of course Debbie Gibson playing on my Ipod! Yes Deborah Gibson the late 80’s sensation that in a new millennium way is the classier version of Brittany Spears, Ouch!

The only thing that would be different about my visit to Lansing was that it was going to be a short visit unfortunately since I’m watching 2 games in different time zones.

Not to mention the long drive back to Detroit Airport so that I could make it back in time sine I have a few interviews prior to the FSU vs Colorado game.

The scene was electric and different in a funny kind of way. Everyone out on campus had open containers and some were drinking Milwaukee’s Beast and some other beers.

The fans were all into it discussing the blowout of Pitt last year and their freshmen quarterback who had to take over the reigns due to injury.

The game was scoreless as I left at the end of the first quarter. The Spartans barely edged out a win against Pitt who didn’t give up any points in the second half. Maybe they can give someone in the Big East fits as the conference schedule starts next week at Heinz field when they face Uconn. I’m sorry for the lack of zoom shots, I left the battery in the car on the way in. Funniest part of my flight to Denver had to be the halftime score of Michigan 31-0 over Notre Dame being announced. Charlie Weiss what’s the deal brother? Give him 2 more years to see what he’s made of? Well the season is still young and 31-0, wow the Wolverines have awakened.

I will have many pics to provide for the FSU vs CU game. My first stop will be to meet arguably the #1 Denver Broncos fan in the country Steve Fesch who with the help of Reed

has converted a bus which is called “Orange Force One.” The bus is a former New Jersey Transit bus which with the help of Reed a lifelong friend of Westwerks out of Tuscon, Arizona transformed this bus into a classic tailgating luxury vehicle.

The bus is being prepped for tomorrow’s game vs the Raiders at INVESCO Field. Unfortunately I was invited but I have a 7am flight back to the east coast. The bus is the crowning achievement of childhood friends Reed …… of Westwerks and …….. who is the owner of Orange Force One.

I got to speak to the 2 guys who tought about every detail that went into transforming this former New Jersey transit vehicle into the ultimate in Tailgating luxury. Reed put a lot of thought and Dave put a lot of time, money and hard work into the project.

This is a project that’s not for the simple minded. Reed worked on the bus for 100 days. He gave me a few pointers on what to look for in possibly buying and converting a bus of my own in the future.

MCI buses can run for 3 million miles and they are built to last, some modifications to the bus where a urinal, toilet and water system for the kitchen. The bus runs off a high powered generator and has 2 air conditioning units. There is a slide out grill for barbecuing and all the windows prop up to give the bus an open air feeling.

The bus comes equipped with wireless internet and has a few televisions along with Directv and this is the ultimate in tailgating luxury.

Of course the guys were giving me so many ideas that I thought they were going to convert Orange Force One into my kind of vehicle.

Thanks guys for taking the time to talk it up with me.

As I walked to Folsom field I could feel my chest tightening up. Not from the adrenaline flowing through me because I didn’t know if I wanted my Scarlet and Gold to win or my brother’s alma mata CU to win. It was damn altitude! 5350 feet x I haven’t been to the gym in months = bring your Moses Staf and take it slow brother!

I picked up my credentials thank you Dave Plati at CU for all the help he provided me in the process. I was made aware of some other fans who have the similar goal of seeing, watching, visiting all 119 Division 1 stadiums or watching all the 119 teams play.

I’ve emailed all the said parties above and I’ve given them links back to this site and the opportunity to possibly meet up for a game since this is a very ambitious goal.

Many Florida State fans made it out to Boulder and have turned this into little Tallahassee. I’m surprised I didn’t see Primetime or Sterger here but they’re probably too busy waiting to see Florida vs Tennessee or Nebraska vs USC (thought about it).

The CU student body had the opposite of all the white out’s going on around the country. The Buffalo fans have the Black Out motif going. The crowd was pumped up as it was the home opener on campus for the Buffs. When Ralphie led the Buffs onto the field, she was so pumped up that she almost knocked down one of the CU handlers. This heavyweight matchup of 2 former National Champions was ready.

The Black Out look worked in the first quarter when the game was scoreless between these 2 teams. Then Florida State struck first on the ground #6 as he gave the Seminoles an early 7-0 lead. The Buffs couldn’t solve the FSU defense and it showed on the scoreboard, FSU 10-0 at the half.

The second half was no different as the Noles did just enough to keep the Buffs at bay as they increased their lead to 16-0 as the gun sounded signifying the end of the 3rd quarter. Every FSU fan put up the 4 fingers to signify 1 more quarter and this is our house.

The Buffalos scored mid way through the 4th quarter to cut the lead to 16-6. However the Buffs missed converting on the 2 pt conversion that would have made it a 1 possession game and that’s how it ended. Colorado’s last second drive ended up in an interception right in front of me.

It was a gallant effort by CU in a game that could have been easily one by either team. The post game meal took place at an IHOP that was 24 hours in Boulder. Fans from both teams trickled in as the game did end close to midnight. A long day of many flights, different weather, to new friends in Denver, Tallahassee, Atlanta and Tampa. 2 games over 1500 miles in the air.

As Always
Safe Journey
Miguel Rodriguez