NFL Training Camp

NFL training camp. just saying those words together gets me excited. as i was scanning the usa today sports page looking at all the training camp sites, i figured that none would be even remotely close to monticello, arkansas and i would probably not be going camping this year. however, low and behold, i see that the new orleans saints hold their camp at millsaps college in jackson, mississippi. jackson is only 3 hours away. i think, we can do this. i get on the phone with nephew. he says yes. i get ahold of a couple of guys from the bcm. yes. it’s settled. we’re going to training camp!

as the days drew closer, i became more and more excited. talking to and getting autographs from guys like deuce mcallister, reggie bush, and jeremey shockey doesn’t happen every day. so, the days passed and friday, august 1st, finally came. i woke up around 4:15AM (which if you know me doesn’t happen, ever) and began to get ready. my nephew had spent the night so i got him up around 4:45AM and by 5:00AM we were headed out the door to meet our group. after a quick stop in at wal-mart, we were on our way to jackson by 5:30AM. the trip was great. old stories about past football experiences (mostly good ole sec stories) kept us awake and alert during the early morning hours. we stopped in lake village for a little mcdonalds (greg thought his mcgriddle went in the trash - you had to be there) and then we were back on the road again. we finally arrived into jackson about 9:00AM. this is when things started to go downhill.

after stopping at a convenience store to get gas and snacks, we headed towards millsaps college. the sky was starting to turn dark. very dark. as we pulled into park at millsaps (we had to pay 5 dollars!) the rain drops had begun. we got out, and made the short trek up a hill. as we got to the top, there they were. the new orleans saints. reggie, drew, jeremy, and deuce. all accounted for. we stood in the corner of an end zone and were only 40 yards away, if not closer, to the action. the coaches were coaching, the players were running, football was definitely in the air. unfortunately, so was a large thunderstorm. as we stood there in the rain for all of 20 minutes, the first large thunder clap, followed by a lightening bolt, was all it took to cancel practice. wait a second, we just got here! can we get some autographs? photos? anything? nope. nothing. the players walked around a separate entrance and just like that they were out of sight. the coaches did come right by us, and few of them even signed a couple of autographs (we didn’t receive any). so, after the coaches left. that was it. we headed back to the SUV.

other than a stop in vicksburg to eat at cracker barrel (in an absolute monsoon), we headed back to monticello and arrived at approximately 2:30PM. all that driving, all that anticipation, for 20 minutes. the word is true. we can make our plans, but the final outcome is in god’s hands.