Dec. 25, 2008

Day Three - Entry One - 6:32 p.m. - A Different Experience

As promised, this from Chandler Harnish:

Merry Christmas everyone! I am pretty sure that I can speak for all of us down here in Louisiana that our 2008 Christmas experience has probably been a little bit different than most everyone else's. Here are some reasons why...

These are most likely the things you did today: spent time with the family, opened up gifts, ate a bunch of candies and cookies, lazed around on the couch and watched TV. I know those are the things I love to do on Christmas day. However, I didn't get to enjoy any of them, and neither did any of my teammates.

For example, this morning (Christmas morning), we woke up at 7:30 a.m., ate breakfast, had meetings then went straight to the stadium where we practiced from 10 a.m. to around 1 p.m. But we are okay with that. I guess giving up one Christmas for a bowl game won't hurt too much.

At the end of the day when I think about it, the experience of being with my teammates and coaches for a week while preparing for the Independence Bowl is just to awesome to pass up. Again, Happy Holidays everyone. Go Huskies!

Chandler

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Editor's addendum: Chandler was one of several people on the trip to express how strange it is to have Christmas here; not so much that it feels odd to be with the team. I think it's more the little things. For example, Larry English was one of a handful who said this is the first Christmas they remember without snow on the ground. But like Chandler said in his blog, and Alex Krutsch said earlier in the week, we're all with family, it's just a different family. And we can't wait until the rest of the family, you the fans, arrive Dec. 28 for the big game.

RH