Entering Ole Country
Now that I have attended my first Tommie/Johnnie Game at U.S.T., (Saturday’s glorious 12-9 victory) I thought why not make the trek to (what I am told) beautiful Northfield for Saturday’s Johnnie/Ole tilt? Johnnie Tats, up until this year you had never attended a game at UST? Well, to be honest I think there was a restraining order in place because of my deeply-rooted disdain for all that is U.S.T. and purple (nice ALL purple uniforms! Looked like we were playing a team of popsicles), and it did take a lot of the pre-game tailgating “goodies” to numb these feelings! But it was absolutely and undeniably a GREAT time to be a Johnnie. To drink, eat and converse with both the MTC Bus Drivers who stopped at the corner and St. Paul’s finest all while standing on the Summit Avenue Boulevard was without a doubt a JOHNNIE memory that will stay with me forever. I would say that all in the Johnnie Nation did SJU proud!
So this Saturday I am going to make the trip to Northfield (my first) with one of my very best friends who just happens to be an Ole (yes believe it or not I do associate with folks from other MIAC Institutions…but only a select few!). Collin graduated from St. Olaf in 1994 and over the years he and I have created a tradition of washing, polishing and otherwise taking care of our vehicles on those beautiful Minnesota Saturday Spring/Summer days. Of course we also tend to partake in some iced adult beverages (yes Fins many times there are some Hamms branded cans in the cooler!) while taking a break and turning up KQ. The only downside for this Ole graduate is that my garage is adorned with many SJU posters, banners, towels and other SJU branded items! Oh well, the company is good and the beverages are COLD!
During an earlier Saturday car washing session we were taking a break from our tasks and enjoying the aforementioned adult beverage when it dawned on us that we should make plans to attend home and home Johnnie/Ole football games together. This way we could share with each other all of the great watering holes, joints and “haunts” that always make each MIAC Town so GREAT!. So, here we are, it’s the Johnnies rolling into Northfield for a gridiron meeting and a Johnnie accompanying an Ole so we can take and share in the entire game day experience.
When I informed Collin that he was most welcome to attend the Johnnie Stiftungsfestivities with me — which is being hosted again this year by Jeff Hanson ’95 and other “southern” residing Johnnies — he was most impressed. Collin’s first response was that how could he attend if he is not a Johnnie? Why would we want an Ole supporter to “party” with us? And there is truly no admission fee? See Johnnie Nation we are without a doubt an inviting, warm and ever so kind group! This attitude is what I feel is one of the — if not the — greatest attributes of all the Alumni and students in the MIAC. However, we in the Johnnie Nation have simply taken it to the highest level! What a magical gift for all of us in the MIAC and Johnnie Nation that we can, in this day and age, gather before the games (even with “arch rivals”), share, laugh, yet still take the time to — in all sincerity — wish each other’s team “good luck”.
So Johnnie Nation, when you see Johnnie Tats roll into the pre-game tailgate road tripping S-festivities this Saturday with an Ole buddy who will be sporting Ole gear (more than likely advertising something like Um Ya-Ya…) you will understand that I have not gone around the bend or changed allegiances. I am simply attending two events that I hold near and dear, Johnnie Tailgating and a Johnnie football game! And it will be an even more enjoyable because I get to share these priceless experiences with one of my best friends, Collin Mutchler, St. Olaf ’94. And I am secure in my knowledge that all in the Johnnie Nation will warmly welcome my Ole friend to our pre-game festivities by giving him a red cup, a brat or a burger, and a slap on the back. But of course I also know that you will politely remind him of what the outcome of the main event will be: yet another JOHNNIE VICTORY in Northfield! Why? Because we are JOHNNIES and this is how we roll. This is why I am and always will be proud to be a JOHNNIE.
It’s time for the Johnnie Nation to roll into Northfield and kick some Ole arse!
Johnnie Up Everybody!
