The Roadtrip to Oxford

What'cha Think Of Our Town?

Friday 11 AM - (Board plane in Houston for Dayton, Ohio) - Two little problems at the start of the trip. No hotel reservation in Oxford and no tickets to the hockey games.

Friday 2:15 PM (Avis Car Rental Counter, Dayton) - Avis has eliminated the concept of "The Line." What this means is that anyone who is a "Preferred Customer" jumps in front of you and grabs their rental car agreement and are on their way. The rest of us "in line" are treated like dirtbags. Needless the say after it happens about five times it gets annoying. The "Dirtbags" have a mini-rebellion and the Avis Staff look a little worried.

Friday 3:15 PM (Driving through Eaton, Ohio) - Miss the turnoff for Oxford. This happens for three reasons.

1). Oxford is so small you can't find it on the Avis map while driving on Ohio's narrow two lane roads while going blindly over rolling hills.

2). Oxford is so small there is no highway signs indicating that you should turn.

3). The Asshole at the Avis counter wrote down the wrong directions because I wasn't a "Preferred Customer."

Friday 4:00 PM (Best Western Motel, Oxford) - Its a dump but the location is priceless. Plus there's no way to drive to the next town at night on these narrow roads.

dg
- Any rooms available?
Desk Clerk - We've had some cancellations, Yes.
dg - How Much?
Desk Clerk - $195
dg - Ouch. For the Weekend?
Desk Clerk - Per Night.
dg - (****) OK, I'll take it. (I need a new hobby. This stupid college hockey addiction is running 10, no now make that 11 grand a year)

Friday 4:30 PM (Steve Cady Arena, Miami University) - The Vermont - Colgate game has just started. There's about 50 people in the Arena and 3,000 empty seats.

dg - Umm, I'd like to get a ticket for the weekend.
Ticket Lady - We're Sold Out.
dg - OK, how about just a ticket to the Vermont - Cogate game.
Ticket Lady - We're Sold Out
dg - (Am I the dumbest person on earth? I've just flown to Ohio and might not get to see DU play. BTW - there appears to be about 3,000 students in line who are waiting to get into the DU-Miami game 4 hours away).
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Friday 5 PM (Buffalo Wild Wings, Oxford) - I've been in many jams like this before and I've always found the best thing to do at times like this is to drink. I was willing to spend $100 on a scalped ticket, but this is serious. $200 is now the limit.

Luckily CO14ers & Kscant are there to commiserate and down a few drinks with me. CO14ers almost had a ticket for me last night but it fell through. CO14ers makes a few discreet inquires around the bar and tells the bartender that we need a ticket to the game.

Friday 7:45 PM (Still at Buffalo Wild Wings) - Hey (hiccup), these Bull Blaster Shots (Red Bull & Jaggermeister) aren't bad. We're about to head off to the game to look for a ticket, when CO14ers thinks that he can get me 2 tickets for 20 bucks apiece. Since I was willing to go to $200 this is awesome news. Unbelievablely, the tickets come through and they're 2nd row on the side near the goal line. Who says "Drinking doesn't help?"

Friday 7:46 PM (Outside BWW's) CO14ers is instantly enshrined in the LetsGoDU Hall of Fame.

Friday 8 PM (Gametime-Steve Cady Arena) - What atmosphere. Its loud, its bright and a great looking arena. DU is going to kick the snot out of these CCHA punks. What did BC beat Miami in the NCAA playoffs last year 5-0?

7 minutes into the game - Miami scores. This might not be as easy as I thought. Somebody has forgot to tell Miami that we've won two of the last three National Championships. Miami students shower the ice with debris. Its kind of funny, being the first goal in the arena, but the refs need to hand out a two minute penalty. They do nothing. Stupid refs. Great "Sieve Chant" by the students.

17 minutes into game - Miami scores again. OK, I've seen this show before. Last season's opening game in Maine. DU is in real trouble now. More litter on the ice. This time the refs penalize the crowd. Surely DU will make them pay on the Power Play. There's that "Sieve Chant" again.

19 minutes into the game - Our Power Play looks worse than Hillary Clinton in shorts. This is going to be a long night.

1st Intermission - There's actually quite a few DU fans at the game. I'd say around 70 or so. We talk bravely in the lobby, but I'm still worried.

4 minutes into 2nd Period - Miami scores again on the PP. This is getting ugly. Why did I fly up here again?

10 minutes into 2nd Period - MULLEN SCORES FOR DU - GOOOOOAAAALLLLLLLLL... Thats more like it. Perhaps this will be like the Duluth Frozen Four game. Kscant starts banging the Cowbell and gets booed lustily by the Miami Faithful. Good times are here again.

5 minutes later - Its all over. Miami scores two rapid goals within a minute and we're done. More debris from a lone Miami Student. He gets booed by his own student section, pointed out to the police and tossed out of the Arena. Naturally DU doesn't capitalize on the ensuing Power Play. I wonder if Mannino is as sick of the "Sieve Chant" as I am.

2nd Intermission - Gwoz is introduced at Center Ice. He gets a long standing ovation from the crowd. He's looking a little sheepish. Enrico Blasi is there as well and he's got a "perhaps-I-shouldn't-be-kicking-the-shit-out-of-Gwoz's-team-on-his-night-look" on his face.
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They present Gwoz with a beautiful large framed award. The applause continues and Gwoz, never comfortable with crowds, holds up the award for everyone to see as he walks off the ice. Thunderous applause.

3rd Period - DU plays hard. Actually wins the Third Period. Good sign I guess.

11 PM-2 AM (Buffalo Wild Wings) - I forgot to mention. Oxford has tons of hotties. Like basically every girl in town and the entire town is nothing but college students. There's no one over 25 in the entire fricking place. Also since its Homecoming Weekend, every house in town is decorated. Things are definately festive.

US News & World report bagged on DU's "diversity" or lack thereoff. They obviously didn't make it to Oxford. Every student is Caucasian. Not only that, but every guy has the same short hair and the girls (did I mention they were hot?) medium-long hair. Where are the skate boarders, the extreme sports kids, the MTV Generation? They aren't at Miami University that's for sure.

Drinking appears to be the Official School activity and they do it with relish. We have a fun night. Can't go into all the details, but the Denverites put on a good show for the locals.

2 AM - This Best Western isn't so bad. Its walking distance from BWW's....

Perhaps I'll cover Saturday later in the week.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Fantastic diary. Almost as good as being there. Can't wait for Part II.

Anonymous said...

LOL, have you recovered yet?

Anonymous said...

Did you and Todd cuddle?

Anonymous said...

Wow - I am so proud to be a Miami alum. Wish I could get back more often. Hot girls under 25? I love it...

Anonymous said...

Glad you enjoyed Oxford. I wish I was still in school there, if only for the ladies. But I guess I am engaged to one. Were you sitting across the ice from the Miami bench sitting next to the penalty box? I think we were making fun of you too...I have a fever! And the only prescription is MORE COWBELL!

Anonymous said...

Good to see you guys and glad you had a good time. DU's always welcome in Oxford! :)

mmm butterscotch nipple...

Anonymous said...

From Diary: "CO14ers is instantly enshrined in the LetsGoDU Hall of Fame."

This is indeed an honor. I actually think I did better on Saturday..... :)

One lesson learned -- avoid getting a picture taken with the opposing team's mascot! Just remember, DG, I am now a web master myself and what comes around, goes around!

Can't wait to read the Saturday diary. You really do have a problematic hockey addiction!