The game yesterday was a lot of fun. I'm not sure if our coaches are making this stuff up to get us pumped for the games, or if it really happens, but most of the other teams are making silly comments about us. A Canadian coach was saying that we are a bunch of all-stars that won't mesh as a team. Germany said that we have great players, but our coaches weren't good. The Finland QB said that she hoped to beat USA like they did Austria... It sounds like a bunch of locker room bulletin board stuff, but it gave them an excuse to make the theme of game two "leave no doubt". We let up a little at the end, but we still scored 72 points in a game with 12 minute quarters. That's a 48 minute game and 10 touchdowns. So a touchdown every 5 minutes... We scored more points in that game than the entire group B has scored in the whole tournament (they've scored 64 points - that's 3 teams with 2 games each). I heard that on the IFAF website, someone was quoted saying that Finland could score 25-30 on us. That didn't sit well with our defensive coordinator. No one likes the favorite, and we're taking it personally. On a side note, I think Sweden likes us because we cheer loudly for them at their games.
Today is post-game stretching and some game film. We have practice tonight on the field from 7-9pm. Tomorrow is the big dance. Once the game is over, we have to go to the IFAF BBQ sponsored by the IWFL. There is no drinking there, so the second afterparty will start around midnight. We may not have known each other two weeks ago as we were all flying out of our home towns to meet in Austin, but we've had some quality bonding time since then and everyone is looking forward to a drink or two ;)
Last night before curfew, Grisafe was singing and playing her Ukulele out on the patio. A crowd quickly formed to listen. Holly and I were eating ice cream, so we listened for a while. She sang two songs she wrote and then a couple that we all knew. She is a great musician. There have been many times where she gets the team going on a song and it really lightens the mood and takes the edge off. One of our managers broke up the party at 11pm to send us to our rooms. There was a big collective moan from players and other hotel guests.
I just realized that today is Friday and it's already after noon. It's one of those vacations where I lose track quickly. I count days to our next game, rather than days of the week. Each morning when we get up, there's a schedule posted on the manager's door. I look forward to the down time when I can take the bus or subway to the Clarion where Mom, Dad and Holly are staying. Today our down time is confined to the hotel because they will call us in for game film at any time. They may call individual players or the entire defensive line, for example. So I'm stuck here from 12:30 until 4:30. Holly is bringing some pizza at 1:00 for lunch.
I think Mom, Dad and Holly have done all the site-seeing that they planned on doing. They talked about jumping on a bus and just riding it for a while. I haven't gotten to do much, but I'll have all day Sunday to myself. Mom, Dad and Holly leave in the morning and most of the team will be recovering from a late night celebration. I think I'll try to do some shopping. I've seen some really cool jeans here so I may try to hunt down the shopping district. That way no one will get annoyed with me (Toes) for spending 4 hours looking for one pair. We'll see.
