Experiencing the different worlds of Eagles football

FROM KEITH GROLLER

On Sunday, I got to experience Eagles football from two very different perspectives.

Because I had family on a bus trip to Sunday's game, I got to go into the heart of tailgate country.

After parking in the media lot, I worked my around to the other side of the stadium, behind a large warehouse (the one with the sports figures painted on them) and ventured deep into a parking lot to find the bus and my family and experience what an NFL tailgate is all about.

And there I got to witness what a typical Sunday is all about.

Hadn't be out there in the middle of it all in some and it was quite eye-opening for someone accustomed to flashing a press pass to get where I need to go.

In some regards, it's a religious experience every Sunday in these parking lots. Everyone is wearing their Eagles green; many painting their vehicles, including some old buses, in Eagles colors, and of course. food and brew all over the place.

I expected to hear some radios, but near my family's bus was stationed right by someone who had set up an HD television to watch the early NFL games.

The West Chester University dance team strolled by, did a little a dance in front of the bus (difficult since they didn't have music) and then asked for a donation.

Some folks staggered on through and you wondered if they would ever make it inside the stadium or if they even cared. I guarantee they will never remember who won or lost.

I am sure many of these people were just going to so some tailgating and then go home to watch the game, or just watch it from the parking lot.

I have to say that I am amazed we don't hear more reports of major accidents on the way home from these NFL games because you're talking about people drinking and drinking heavily for about 6-7 hours before kickoff every week. And they're not stopping once the game begins.

Anyway, it was an eye-opening experience out there in the maze of RVs and vans, and my family seemed to be enjoying their first NFL game -- at least their first NFL tailgate.

I stayed for about 90 minutes and then left the outdoor fun for the comfort of the pressbox, getting up there about an hour before kickoff.

Very different atmosphere in the box, of course. It's pretty cool and comfortable until the game ends and you have to navigate the locker rooms and get quotes with about 70-100 other reporters (and many hefty cameramen) wedging their bodies every which way to get a shot of a player saying something they canuse.

I was thinking of how the people outside at those earlier tailgates would love to be in these locker rooms.

I am sure they would ask even more provacative questions than the assembled media horde.

I definitely doubt that a majority of the players in those locker rooms care as much as the folks out in the parking lot about who wins and who loses. The players worry about themselves first and foremost and who can blame them considering how difficult and dangerous the game is to play.

But I imagine it was pretty ugly back out at the tailgates on Sunday night before people left for home. A lot of curse words about the Eagles and one Andy Reid were being exchanged. This was not a pretty game, and I am sure it was an even uglier postgame party.

As for my family, they got home safe and sound. They didn't like the outcome, but loved the experience.

I get the feeling they'd do it again.

And perhaps one day down the road, I will join them because they seem to be having a lot more fun out there in that concrete sea of green then I was banging away on the computer.

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/