Rarely does Big Red have a disaster.  We only have to open the windows and stick up a sign, and we have a line of people.  But, last night, the unwanted disaster struck. [caption id="attachment_342" align="alignright" width="300" caption="An Hour Before Kickoff"] [/caption] Sadly, I'd had visions of sugar plums dancing in my head all week.  Thoughts of breaking our new football game record set only last week at JMU were clearly in our sights.  JMU was visiting Liberty.  The game was sold out by early in the week and standing room only tickets were selling like crazy.  A crowd of over 20,000 was expected which would have made it the largest event ever held in Lynchburg.  I had a full staff scheduled and plenty of supplies.  We were ready. And then the rains came.  It was raining lightly when I set up on Saturday morning.  It was raining moderately when Peggy and I got there to start our prep work at 2PM.  By gates open at 5PM, it was pouring and it poured all night. [caption id="attachment_341" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Big Red in the Rain at Liberty"] [/caption] The hoped for crowd only reached a little over 15K and by midway in the 2nd quarter, most of them were gone. We never had a line and only sold one funnel cake at halftime. Unfortunately, we set another record.  Worst game we've ever done.  After I paid Peggy, Laura and Tank, and Sodexho's percentage, there was nothing left.  Oh, well.  It happens.  And, luckily for Big Red, it doesn't happen very often. This week will be different.  No rain on the weekend.  Weatherman won't do it to us two weeks in a row. [caption id="attachment_343" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Soaked Fat Funnel Cake Guy"] [/caption] Tank, Laura and Jean plus another person will be doing another Liberty game.  Peggy, Chuck, Ryan and I will be at Martinsville Speedway for the Bailey's 300.  That certainly won't be like the NASCAR race in late October, but should be a good event for us. Just a little personal note:  As many of you know, mom had a mini-stroke on Thursday. Lost use of one leg and slurred speech.  The symptoms were gone in a couple of hours. She's back at Heritage Green and is back to as normal as someone her age and condition can get.  It was scary but not overly serious.  Thanks for the calls and messages during the ordeal. I'll be updating via the phone to Twitter and Facebook from Martinsville.