GAME #7: BLEND IN | STAND OUT

SYRACUSE @ NC STATE

10.10.19

SYRACUSE - 10

NC STATE - 16

SECOND OFFICIAL GAME OF YEAR ONE. I AM OVERWHELMINGLY IMPRESSED BY RALEIGH & NC STATE, AND EQUALLY IMPRESSED BY THE SYRACUSE FANS. ONCE WE SHOOK OFF THE ABSURDITY OF FLYING FROM SAN DIEGO TO RALEIGH FOR A FOOTBALL GAME, WE HAD A BALL. DOWNTOWN RALEIGH IS VERY NICE, CLEAN AND PRETTY. WE DIDN'T SPEND MUCH TIME THERE, JUST WENT FOR LUNCH, BUT IT HAS A REALLY NICE FEEL.

THE CAMPUS IS GORGEOUS. VERY MUCH A SOUTHERN SCHOOL LIKE AUBURN, SO THAT MADE ME FEEL AT HOME. ONLY REAL DIFFERENCE IS THAT THE STADIUM ISN'T ON CAMPUS. THE AREAS AROUND CAMPUS ARE VERY NICE AND SOUTHERN FOLKS ARE GENERALLY KIND AND WELCOMING. THAT WAS CERTAINLY THE CASE HERE.

THE STADIUM ITSELF IS DECEIVINGLY LARGE. WITHOUT PLANNING OR REALIZING IT, I LOOKED LIKE A SYRACUSE FAN. ROB, HOWEVER, LOOKED LIKE A 6' SENTIENT LEMON AND STOOD OUT BEYOND RIDICULOUS, AS HE WILL PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE WE GO. IT HAD TO BE CONFUSING TO PEOPLE BEHIND ME WHEN I CHEERED FOR NC STATE. WE MET SOME GREAT PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS EXPERIENCE AND NOW I CAN'T WAIT TIL THE DART HITS SYRACUSE. DEFINITELY GOT SOME LOOKS AND QUESTIONS, BUT PEOPLE GET ON BOARD QUICK WHEN THEY HEAR WHAT WE'RE DOING. DEFINITELY SOME JEALOUS GUYS OUT THERE. ALL AROUND LOVELY EXPERIENCE IN RALEIGH!

GAME TIP - THE HOT DOGS ARE REALLY GOOD FOR SOME REASON. OTHERWISE, WALK AROUND THE WHOLE STADIUM AND TAKE IT IN. FANS WERE ARE REALLY NICE.

SIDE TIP - THE STUDENT CENTER IS AMAZING AND THERE'S A MASSIVE TEAM STORE THERE. I WOULD RECOMMEND GETTING GEAR THERE SO YOU CAN SEE THE BUILDING AND WALK AROUND CAMPUS. BEAUTIFUL ALL THE WAY AROUND.

TRAVEL TIP - THE AIRPORT IS ABOUT A HALF HOUR FROM CAMPUS, FORTY-FIVE FROM DOWNTOWN, I THINK. EASY IN & OUT.

TRAVEL TIP TWO - I LOST MY REGULAR EAR PLUGS, SO I BOUGHT THE ONLY PAIR THEY HAD AT THE AIRPORT. THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN FOR BABIES. I PUT ONE IN BECAUSE THE CONNECTOR TO PORTLAND WAS VEGAS, SO THE PLANE WAS POPULATED WITH OVERLY EXCITED PEOPLE. THE EAR PLUG GOT STUCK IN MY EAR - AT TAKEOFF - AND I HAD TO DIG IT OUT WITH AN INK PEN LEST I GO FULLY INSANE. I DON'T RECOMMEND DOING THAT.

WHAT TO EAT - WE HAD LUNCH AT ORO DOWNTOWN. EXCELLENT VIBE, EXCELLENT FOOD. COREY WAS THE BARTENDER AND HE WAS OVERLY FRIENDLY AND MADE OUR TIME THERE WONDERFUL. REALLY CAN'T WAIT FOR DUKE AND UNC SO WE CAN COME BACK TO THIS PLACE. COREY IS IN THE PHOTOS. TELL HIM I SENT YOU!