When I was really young, I remember my dad going to Bloomington for IU football games. I also remember his repeating cheers like "Go-go Gonzo." If he wasn't at the games, he was at home listening to the games on the radio. Living in Lafayette, he had many ongoing good-natured banters with friends and coworkers.
In the mid-70s, I started to develop my dad's love of IU football. That shared love became one of the things in life that kept my dad and I close through the years.
My dad made the drive down to Bloomington for all the IU football games from the mid-80s through the mid-2000s, when his health wouldn't allow him to continue making the trips. He still faithfully watched the IU games at every opportunity. For me, this was a blessing because it allowed me to call him before, during and after each game for lengthy discussions on the game. Even though I live in Texas, those calls always meant so much.
In the fall of 2019, my dad had a stroke that lead to dementia. When I called to talk about the games and tell him IU football was beginning to become pretty good, it barely registered in his fading mind. My wife and I drove from Fort Worth to Jacksonville for the Gator Bowl and had a really good time. Still, there was something missing because my dad would have dearly loved to have been there with us cheering for our Hoosiers.
As for me, I dedicated this season to my dad and enjoy the season for both of us. While I have succeeded in that goal, it still feels a bit hollow because I want to make those phone calls but I can't. It is a tragedy for me that my dad is not able to finally enjoy seeing IU football being really good after all those years of unfulfilled hope and disappointment.
I will watch and cheer for IU football for the rest of my life not just because of my love for it, but because it will remind me of my dad and what we once shared.
In the mid-70s, I started to develop my dad's love of IU football. That shared love became one of the things in life that kept my dad and I close through the years.
My dad made the drive down to Bloomington for all the IU football games from the mid-80s through the mid-2000s, when his health wouldn't allow him to continue making the trips. He still faithfully watched the IU games at every opportunity. For me, this was a blessing because it allowed me to call him before, during and after each game for lengthy discussions on the game. Even though I live in Texas, those calls always meant so much.
In the fall of 2019, my dad had a stroke that lead to dementia. When I called to talk about the games and tell him IU football was beginning to become pretty good, it barely registered in his fading mind. My wife and I drove from Fort Worth to Jacksonville for the Gator Bowl and had a really good time. Still, there was something missing because my dad would have dearly loved to have been there with us cheering for our Hoosiers.
As for me, I dedicated this season to my dad and enjoy the season for both of us. While I have succeeded in that goal, it still feels a bit hollow because I want to make those phone calls but I can't. It is a tragedy for me that my dad is not able to finally enjoy seeing IU football being really good after all those years of unfulfilled hope and disappointment.
I will watch and cheer for IU football for the rest of my life not just because of my love for it, but because it will remind me of my dad and what we once shared.