Article Contributed on: 1/3/2006 3:41:02 PM
Editor's note:Northglenn High School alum and Colorado State University punter Jimmie Kaylor agreed to write diary entries about his experiences as part of the team's trip to San Diego to play in the inaugural Poinsettia Bowl.The Rams lost to Navy, 51-30.
December 18th
After practicing through snow and 10 degree weather on Saturday in Fort Collins, we stepped off the plane into 80 degree weather on Sunday in San Diego. When we arrived at the hotel, the Poinsettia Bowl Committee was waiting at the door to welcome us. This is the same group of people that hosted Oregon and Oklahoma at the Holiday Bowl the following week. As with most bowls, our week started off with a welcome dinner hosted by the bowl committee. After the speeches the bowl gifts were displayed. Albert Bimper, who was our starting center, went on the stage to model the gifts. Bimp had a little problem fitting into the clothes. We had an extended curfew our first night in town, so we were able to explore San Diego on our own.
December 19th
Following an early breakfast, we had a two-hour practice at San Diego State's practice facility. San Diego State has a top-notch athletic facility, one of the most impressive I've seen. Following practice, the bowl committee had arranged a go-kart tournament for us at a local indoor race track. The go-karts had a weight limit of 260 pounds, so almost all the offensive and defensive linemen were stuck playing video games instead of racing the go-karts. The races got pretty competitive because the times were on display.
December 20th
We started Tuesday with another day of practice at San Diego State. We hadn't practiced in such warm weather in a long time, so fatigue was setting in sooner. After practice, the bowl committee arranged for us to go to the San Diego Zoo. Navy was visiting Sea World at that same time. A lot of us hadn't ever been to the San Diego Zoo before. The zoo is very spread out, so it was hard to see everything that was on display. I made sure I went to see the pandas, though. There are currently three at the zoo, and the youngest is2 months old. As the game was getting closer, curfew started getting earlier.
December 21st
The day before the game the bowl committee hosted a luncheon aboard the USS Midway, a retired Navy aircraft carrier in the San Diego Harbor for both football teams. Highlight videos from both teams were shown, and there were several speakers including Rudy Ruettiger from Notre Dame. As we were boarding the Midway, there was a battle of the bands going on between Navy and CSU and the parking lot was full of fans from both teams. Later that day we had a walkthrough at Qualcomm Stadium, which is where the game was going to be played. Back at the hotel a few hours later, there was the CSU Alumni Association pep rally. Cam the Ram was there, along with the band and cheerleaders. Coach Lubick, and seniors Dave Anderson and Justin Holland all thanked the fans and alumni for their support. Since this was the night before the game we had a curfew of 10 p.m.
December 22nd
The weather on game day was foggy and humid, far different from the weather we had been enjoying earlier in the week which may have been a sign of what was to come. Navy came out from the start and played a complete game. We had good moments, but just didn't do enough to come out on top. I'm glad our senior class got to end their collegiate careers with a bowl game. We couldn't have asked for a better place to visit than San Diego.