Jake and I decided to celebrate our upcoming 10th wedding anniversary a few months early down in Durham, N.C. to watch the Duke University Blue Devils take on Notre Dame.
We had an absolute amazing couple days away together!!
Of course, the night before leaving Andray decided he wanted to come with on our Duke trip.
I would've loved to bring him, but Jake and I have decided that a family road trip to North Carolina is due in
the near future.
We flew out on a Friday night and despite asking for a corvette rental (jokingly),
we ended up with MINI MATCH BOX CAR!
Jake's calves barely fit ;)
Once we checked into our hotel we got dressed up and enjoyed a "formal night" together for the first time in years.
Richard Gere doesn't even compare to my hubby!
;)
Was fun to wear this red dress again!
We had an amazing waitress at the restaurant...cheers to nearly 10 years of marriage.
And then the next day was GAME DAY!
Talk about a dream come true getting a tour of Cameron Indoor Stadium and the campus of Duke University prior to the afternoon game.
A huge THANK YOU to Duke University's Sports Information Director, Art Chase, who continues to spoil us with Duke keepsakes and apparel each year.
Thank you Art for helping make it possible for Jake and I to come visit again!
You are the BEST!
We're Here!
I joked with Jake that we need at least 8 chairs like these in our house!
Ah, to return to the good old college days.
Quite the atmosphere!
Duke's new football field should be complete by the 2016 season.
Going to be quite the improvement Art says!
We got an amazing tour of Duke's Hall of Fame...what a treat!
Prior to the game I had to introduce myself to the Cameron Crazies!
This blue guy is from St. Paul!
He couldn't believe it when I told him we were from MN...small world indeed!
We were on the floor for the start of warm-ups
Then we headed up to the rafters to our reserved seats.
Truly, not a bad seat in the house!
Our House...No where better to watch a bball game!
I wasn't kidding about sitting up in the rafters...we could literally touch the TV guy.
Pre-game Broadcast with Grant Hill and Bill Raftery - court side.
Duke fans don't give the Visiting bball team much room to run out onto the court!
Yes, Mr. David Robinson himself was in the house!
The National Anthem was tear-jerking.
Let the game begin!
Center Court
Coach K's Court Indeed...
Jahlil Okafor - not sure if there's anyone more entertaining to watch!
MN native Tyus Jones...fun to watch!
The Cameron Crazies are entertaining!
Have no idea how the media personnel get any work done sitting in the front row ;)
Would hate to be a visiting player in-bounding the ball in this stadium!
Ah, what a treat it would be to sit in on a timeout with Coach K and his coaching staff!
Talk about intense!
Half-time entertainment with the Blue Devil...
literal body surfing!
HILARIOUS!
Final score - what a game!
So awesome - the entire Duke team went and shook the Cameron Crazies hands after the victory!
On-court Post Game interviews.
Our view of Coach K Court for the afternoon...talk about Heaven!
Our seats for the game - Old school like Fenway Park!
Waiting for Grant Hill and Bill Raftery to come down from the Broadcast Booth...
literally in the rafters.
I waited for a picture with Grant Hill (who broadcast the game) but a little boy budged in front of me.
Oh well, I got to touch Grant Hill's back and ask him for a photo opp ;)...even though he didn't turn around.
It's all about the kids!
Bonus - Jake got a photo with Bill Raftery though!
Pretty awesome!
Taking it all in after the game. We didn't want to leave!
We were literally the last two fans pushed out of Cameron after the game.
Was fun to walk around and take it all in!
Lucky #11
#11 Bobby Hurley, my one and only Duke Jersey from 8th grade!
What a sight!
Duke Chapel
Where Jake's and my Duke passion all began back in 1991...
Amazing sign hung on the outside of Cameron in honor of Coach K's 1,000th career victory.
The kids made this sign for us while we were gone...so sweet to come home to this and huge hugs from the kids and my parents!
Very thankful for our time away at Duke!
Until next time...Art made us promise we wouldn't wait 8 years again to return to Duke!
