Temple University Athletics
Travis Manger Blog: May 16
5.16.08 | Football
Senior Travis Manger (Newtown, Pa.) is concluding his academic career at Temple University. The tight end will share his thoughts twice each week about classes ending, final exams, and graduation. His blog appears each Tuesday and Friday.
May 16, 2008
I don't think I need to tell you how happy I am right now, and there definitely was not anyone smiling bigger than me in that lecture hall as I handed in my last final on Wednesday. I never want to see one of those freaking scantron sheets ever again. If I do, I'll probably end up tearing it to shreds. My science final went about as I expected. I can say with confidence that it'll be my worst grade this semester. Coach Golden always talks about there just being some classes you're going to have to fight hard just to get a C or B- in. This class is one of them for me. It was an interesting class, but science is just not my specialty.
A funny thing happened when I walked out of the building. I walked out right at noon, and I swear the bells of the Bell Tower were playing the fight song marking the time. What a perfect ending! Now, I could be wrong, and it could've been some other tune, but I'll prefer to think it actually was the fight song.
The Phillies game I attended a couple of days ago was incredible. Just being there as a huge Phillies fan is good enough for me, but when you throw in Dollar Dog Night, all hell can break loose. Now, I attended many, many games at Veterans Stadium. I sat in the 700 level multiple times, and I never thought I'd anarchy in a stadium like that ever again. Until this week. Dollar Dog Night is like Spring Fling in the upper deck. For some reason, it's an excuse for college students to eat 10 hot dogs, get inebriated, and heckle everyone not included in their group of friends. Hey, I'm not complaining! The mistake of the night goes to the idiotic Pittsburgh Penguins fan who sat down near us wearing a Sydney Crosby jersey. Let's just say he didn't last long. The only things that should be flying through the air at a baseball game are the actual baseballs. But in that upper deck man, anything goes. It's actually quite comical to see people throwing unwrapped hot dogs at people just because they're wearing Atlanta Braves' or Pittsburgh Penguins' jerseys. Come on, you paid good money for that hot dog!
Ah, I love Philadelphia. I beg you, all of you non-Philly sports fans; don't come into one of our stadiums wearing an opposing teams jersey. It's as good for your health as soda and fast food for breakfast are. One image burned into my memory is when I was younger and I attended J.D. Drew's first game in Philadelphia after scorning the Phillies to play for the Cardinals. The infamous batteries that were thrown at him came one section to my right. I should also mention that one of my roommates, Chuck, is part of Philly sports lore. He's one of the founding members of the "Padilla Flotilla." Any self-respecting Philly fan will know the group that cheered on ex-Phillies pitcher Vicente Padilla every start. Since I have no shame, I can honestly say that when I found out he was one of the founding members, I got really excited to be living with a celebrity.
My house is becoming emptier and emptier. It's funny, we'll take a couple of things out, and we'll think we're making progress, but when we come back inside it doesn't even look like we're making progress. There's still so much work to be done. At least we have until the 31st. We have enough Temple sports memorabilia in our house that we could hold a small auction for Owls fans. Not to mention all the pieces of furniture we have to squeeze through our front door. Moving out stinks, and as I alluded to it in a previous blog, I feel like I've been doing it too much lately. Spackle is going to be my new best friend this weekend.
Travis Manger pushes the sofa as he moves out of his house.
I spent yesterday taking books back to compliance and meeting with the wonderful people of Student-Athlete Academic Services on Liacouras Walk. It's nice to get all the little things taken care of so I can relax a little. It's definitely nice to have more time to work out considering I used to spend like an hour and a half in the weight room every day. Life's been so hectic lately. I usually workout with a friend named Max. Max, who unfortunately suffers from a chronic disease known as being a Dallas Cowboys fan, is an athletic trainer, so his life is equally as hectic. We've been in and out of the weight room in like 30 minutes every day lately. Athletic trainers, now there's a thankless job I couldn't imagine doing. Believe me, I've seen what they go through, so go thank one if you know one, especially Temple's because they had to put up with me.
Temple football is holding its annual Junior Day this weekend at Lincoln Financial Field and Main Campus. I'm very excited to partake in this day. It'll be a long day, but in the end it'll be a great learning experience for me. As a player, I was fortunate enough to take some potential recruits on a tour of our campus and what not. I tried then to talk to these kids and their parents like I was talking to my own parents. I'm hoping that's a smart strategy, but what do I know? I'm just a 22 year-old wannabe coach, and I'd consider just getting to wear a headset on the sideline this fall a major victory for me! All that being said though, it should be a fun day and as my friends know, I never have a problem talking up or defending Temple. If defending Temple in a conversation against Penn Stater's was a class, I'd have an A+.
What a dreary day this Friday is turning out to be. I hate waking up to rain. Hopefully, all you Owls fans can find a way to enjoy the bad weather. I just want to take a second to thank all the people who've either texted, Facebook messaged, IM'd, or called me to voice their support or to joke around about the blog. You guys are seriously what makes Temple great.
Until next time Owls fans: Fight, Fight, Fight for the Cherry and the White!!!
