September 30th, 2007. I've had this date circled on my calender ever since the NFL schedule was released last spring. I stood in line the first day season tickets went on sale at the Metrodome office in July. My cousin Jon who lives in Sitka Alaska is a huge Packer fan like me. When he and I were visiting over the summer he mentioned that he would love to make his annual pilgrimage to a Packer game be this one. So four tickets is what I got so me Alex, Jon and his son Seth could enjoy the game. The Vikings in an effort the keep their home sell out streak alive forced anyone buying a rival game (aka Packers and Bears) to also buy tickets to a pre-season game so I dutifully handed over the cash (well really plastic) to secure my Packer tickets.I went into the NFL season with what I thought where reasonable expectations. Based on the way the team came together over the course of the 2006 season and especially the vastly improved defense I hoped that we could pull off an 8-8 or even 9-7 season. My biggest concern was the opening 5 games that included 4 playoff teams plus the dreaded cross-state rival Vikings. I hoped we could get through this stretch with a 2-3 record.
Imagine my joy as the Packer/Viking game approached. The Pack are 3-0. Brett Favre is tied with Dan Morrino for career touchdown passes at 420. Brett is still extending his consecutive start record with every game he plays. Alex and I couldn't believe it, there was a good possibility we would be witness' to history! The excitement began to build.
Game Day. Alex and I don our Packer colors. My well worn #4 jersey never felt so good as I slipped it over my head. Along with Chris we drove to an IHOP near downtown to meet up with Jon, Seth and Aaron to enjoy a pre-game breakfast. We had a really nice time catching up with each other. We got a fair amount of flack from the server and the restaurant manager, both Vikings fans about us being in the wrong state with our Green and Gold colors. The manager actually bet us that if the Packers won, he'd buy us all dinner. After breakfast Aaron and Chris left and the four of us drove over to the stadium.
We arrived at the Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome 90 minutes before kick off. The outdoor plaza was as crowded as I've seen it. There was a pretty equal mix of Packer fans and Vikings fans enjoying the food, music and festive atmosphere. We walked around for a while but the lure of the stadium was too great. We went in and found our seats. The players were just starting their individual warm-ups. There was Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers stretching while talking to one the Vikings assistant coaches. Awesome. Already the stadium was starting to fill up. Every time a Packer player came out the Green Bay fans would cheer. This excitement built to a crescendo as game time drew closer.In the final minutes before kick off the house was packed. The atmosphere was electric. There was so much anticipation and excitement. Jon turned to me and said, I'm so nervous I can't stand it! The noise level was greater than any event I've experienced in sports. It was actually louder than an F1 race, which is totally amazing.
The Packers are in the red zone on the 16 yard line having driven nearly the length of the field. It's 3rd down with 7 yards to go for a first down. Brett has a hard time getting the team to the line. The play clock is winding down. With 8 seconds left Brett tries to audible. But Donald Lee doesn't hear the play change. As the seconds tick away Brett runs over, yells the play in Lee's ear. The noise from the crowd is deafening. Brett runs back into shotgun position and as the play clock clicks to zero Scott Wells snaps the Ball to Brett. It was then that we all saw what Brett saw, a wide open Greg Jennings on a slant route. Favre hit him in stride with a perfect pass, and a split second later....Touchdown Packers! Number 421!! Brett Favre is the all time leader in career touchdown passes!!! The crowd, deafening before the ball is snapped now explodes in thundering cheers. I leap to my feet, Alex is there, we give each other a huge hug, knowing we have both witnessed history. I turn to Jon and Seth and we exchange high 5's. I have goose bumps from head to toe. I never want this moment to end.
The Packers go on the win the game, a very exciting finish that goes right down to the last minute of the game before victory is assured. They are now 4-0. At that point I don't even care so much that they won. We had come to the stadium than day hoping to be a part of history, a part of something bigger than ourselves. We where not disappointed. Alex summed the day up by say, "You know, only 65,000 people in the entire world will be able to say they actually witnessed this event. And we are here!" Amen Alex, I couldn't have said it better myself.
