| Our
Tiger Bands "On the Road" series continued with
Grrr...Excursion Savannah IV ~ 2002, on December
19-21 [which veered a tad into 12/22]. We had the great
privilege and pleasure of visiting Jackson, Memphis and
Savannah, Tennessee and to support our Team and our College in
the NAIA National Championship Football game - for a
record-setting fourth consecutive appearance.
To the right - the official
SIV ~ 2002 photo of our Grrr...Excursions Travel Party in front
of the Memphis Pyramid |
(okay, Pyramid downright
enormous, Band Folks a little small - but I figure you know what
the Band Scholars look like.....Grrr...) |
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Left:
our faithful Croswell Coach, and Driver Tom ready to whisk us
away
Right: some of the
Fledglings - look a bit concerned as we prepare to embark upon
Grrr...Excursion SIV |
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| Although
it is hard to imagine, SIV ~ 2002, represented the fifteenth
(15) Grrr...Excursion since we started our Tiger Bands "On
the Road" series in the Spring of 1994 with the
"MOAT" [aka Mother Of All Trips] Tulsa I. And
since the beginning, each Grrr...Excursion has started with our
Departure Devos. To the right you may see our much-beloved
chaperones [the Lobis (plural for Lobitz), the Summersses
(plural for Summers) and our special friends the Crabdrees], the
Devo Team, Band Scholars watching on, and "GH" [aka
Group Hugs] before we leave |
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After
driving through several torrential downpours, the sky begins to
clear as we get closer to Jackson [left - and Little Jason has
an "artistic moment"] - we arrive at what has become
our December home - away - from - home the Garden Plaza Hotel
[right] - and we have the first of our evening rehearsals
[below- in care of the local Presbys - THANKS] |
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Friday,
began with Scholar Wake-Up [however, it was Saturday when
"AC" (aka Alchy-Cam) also made the rounds - and when
we figure out to digitalize "AC" that will be a treat]
and moved to our Devos & Daily Meeting as we prepared to
leave for Memphis. Sites of interest which we toured in Memphis
included the fabulous Kasten holdings of Egyptian Art and
artifacts at the University of Memphis, Beale Street and the W.
C. Handy House [perhaps the greatest stop ever in the history of
Grrr...Excursions - who will ever forget Maddie - see photos
below], the Brooks Museum of Art, with photo-ops at the Memphis
Pyramid and Graceland
To the left: Daily Devos
and Operational Meeting and photos of the exterior of the
University of Memphis - Kasten Galleries. |
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The
W. C. Handy House on Beale Street. Mr. handy was the
"Father of the Blues" and Maddie provided us all with
memories which we shan't ever forget - arguably the greatest
moment of this or any Grrr...Excursion |
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| Right:
The Elder Scholars [seems like a long time since we took your
Fledgling Photo at the Will Rogers Museum in Tulsa - how can we
thank-you enough for everything you have done |
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Official SIV ~2002 Photo |
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Left:
the Fledgling Scholars [and for many in this class - we think
there is "hope" - they traveled well and we look
forward to many Grrr...Excursions in the future with them |
| On
Friday afternoon we spent a most-enjoyable hour at the Brooks
Museum of Art viewing their fabulous galleries.
Beneath - you may see
special photos of 1) Whit, PJL and Little Jason [and believe you
me - I could not live without these two great
student-colleagues]; 2) great Grrr...Excursion Friend and Member
of our Tiger Band Hall of Fame, Cousin Kim [aka Mr. Kim Summers]
and PJL; and 3) Gents of Lambda Chi Alpha - Kappa-Omega Zeta who
are also Band Scholars (Jeremy-Wade, Burley, KTT, PJL, Cousin
Kim & Big) |
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Graceland
Home of the King
Elvis Presley |
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And
it is Game Day - time to "Get Your Grrr...On"
The Band Scholars eating our pre-game breakfast and Whit
applying the official Tiger Paw to Fledgling Patrick |
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At
Jim Carroll Stadium in Savannah, Teneessee for the NAIA National
Football Championship Game
Left: Opening Ceremonies
Right: The scoreboard looking about as good as it was going to
on this particular day |
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| Right:
our much-beloved "FTGPB" lending their special flair
and flavor to the event |
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Left:
a sea of orange and black Tiger Fans permeated the crowd at Jim
Carroll Stadium |
| No,
the game did not necessarily turn out as we had hoped for - or
planned for - but Grrr...Excursion Savannah IV - 2002 was
delightful and provided for us all a great time and memories
which we shall cherish for a lifetime (including the highly
questionable, new Tiger Band tradition of Bus Dancing - which
you may get a glimpse of to the right). Special Thanks to the
Band Scholars for giving of their holiday break for SIV - and a
very special Thanks to all of our many, many, many Band Friends
who make Grrr...Excursions possible. |
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Banner given to the members of
the "Fighting Tiger Grrr...Pep Band by Honorary Band Member
and Tiger Band Hall of Fame inductee, Mrs. Ellen Cronin [wife of
head Football Coach and Great Band Friend Bill Cronin] prior to
the National Semi-Finals Game - we thank all members of our
Tiger Football Family for a great and memorable season. |
