Alright faithful readers.  Merry Christmas.  If you’re actually checking the blog on Christmas Day, then you definitely bleed blue and gold.  And if you’re wondering what the heck I’m doing up at this hour on Christmas morning, well, I have kid relatives over and thus I have Santa duty.  So I have time to kill before I put out the gifts that Santa brought.  Anyways, I thought I’d share with you what I was doing exactly one year ago on Christmas Day.

Well, one year ago the Cal Football team was preparing for the 2006 Holiday Bowl against Texas A&M.  The team stayed at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego - that’s the two tall buildings on the right side of the picture.  In fact, my room was in the right building on the right side.

The game was on December 28th, and the team had practice all throughout the week prior and even on Christmas Day. 

I can’t remember what everyone did on Christmas Eve.  No, not because I was sloshed and krunk and FUBARed, but I just don’t remember.  I suppose it was a quiet night in since we were all tired and just wanted to sleep. 

So on Christmas Day I woke up early in the morning.  I don’t know why since I’m a late riser - usually rising around 10am-Noon if I had my choice.  I actually woke up prior to sunrise and took the picture below from the hotel room. 

That’s the Marriott next door.  Texas A&M’s team stayed in that hotel.  The Hyatt was much nicer than the Marriott.  Apparently the higher ranked team gets the better of the two hotels.  Anyways, we had Christmas Morning off before the practice in the afternoon.  My coworker and I got up eventually and decided to get some food before we left for the mid-day practice.  Unfortunately, finding food on Christmas Day is a little tough.  The hotel was not providing breakfast that day so we hit the marina below us to find an open restaurant.  Luckily, there was one open restaurant.  It was one of very few that were open.  Without surprise it was pretty busy and understaffed. 

My coworker and I took a seat in the back porch in the nice San Diego morning sun.  Actually, the weather was quite nice.  Probably around 70 or so.  But sitting stagnant in the sun for 30 minutes while waiting for your food can become a rather hot experience.   While waiting for our waffles and fruit, who else walks by but Coach Tedford himself with his wife in hand on a Christmas morning stroll. 

I was sort of hoping he wouldn’t see us because I figured this was one of the rare moments when he could be with his wife and not be thinking about the team and the upcoming game.  It’s not that I didn’t want to send him a quick hello and an acknowledgment but I also want to respect his private time.  But my coworker and I were in our team gear, which we had to wear when we were officially out and about on team time, and thus Tedford saw us.  He gave us a little nod and my coworker and I both sent him greetings back.  Then just as quickly as he had come, he walked by and was gone. 

So my coworker and I finished off our breakfasts and went back to the hotel to get ready for practice.  Practices were held at San Diego State’s practice field and facilities.  Sadly, their facilities were much nicer than ours.  Big open and spacey areas, lots of storage room. 

So practice was a little shorter than normal on Christmas Day.  But practice nonetheless.  

Anyways.   That’s what I was doing a year ago.  Merry Christmas!