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by Jadon Bosarge
Jadon at AT&T Stadium for OSU Practice
The first ever College Football Playoff Championship Game in history and I was there to witness it all! It was more than just the second ranked Oregon Ducks facing the fourth ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. It was weeklong activities and events leading up to the finale on the field at AT&T Stadium, in Arlington, Texas.
My journey began days prior to the big game at the Leadership Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony hosted by the National Football Foundation. While there I was able to get a one on one with the chairman of the foundation, former NFL quarterback, Archie Manning. I was also able to speak with Roger Staubach, Jay Novacek, and this year’s inductee—Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, whose work with the NFL and contributions to the world of fitness was honored.
The following day, I was on hand to witness the announcement of the inductees to the class of 2015 College Football Hall of Fame, consisting of 15 players and two coaches. Four of the inductees, Brian Bosworth, Bob Breunig, Lincoln Kennedy, and Coach Bill Snyder, were present and shared their experience with college football and the reaction to being selected. It was exciting to see these college football legends enter the Hall of Fame.
Jadon with CFB Trophy
The next morning was Media Day for the College Football Playoff Championship at Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.Reporters questioned Ohio State and Oregon teams—each for an hour. A regulation size football field covered the floor of the convention center; each team’s name marked an end zone. At the front of the room were four booths, where the three team captains and head coach sat and answered questions. Higher ranking Oregon went first at 8:30 a.m., followed by Ohio State at 10:30 a.m. Being the youngest reporter did have its advantages. I was able to speak with numerous players and coaches, including: OSU’s Joey Bosa and Ezekiel Elliott, and Oregon’s Tony Washington and Heisman Trophy winner—Marcus Mariota.From there, I headed over to AT&T Stadium to watch the Ohio State team practice. The stadium was simply amazing—FANCY like nothing I had ever seen at a football stadium before. This was definitely one of the best days of the trip!
The Coaches Press Conference took place the day before the game. Ohio State’s Urban Meyer and Oregon’s Mark Helfrich faced off behind the podium as the two discussed what it would mean to them and their school if they won the game. The coaches both joked and laughed with each other, as they answered questions and took photos. The trophy was situated between the two and served as a reminder of what they would be playing for.
The official game sponsor—Dr. Pepper, had the star from their commercials “Larry Culpepper” on location. He was walking around taking selfies and passing out iced cold Dr. Pepper. When asked which team he thought would win, he replied, “Obliviously, I think the team with the most points on the scoreboard will win. That always seems to be the case.”
That afternoon, back at the convention center, was THE location for all the fans. There on the indoor regulation size turf field, the Oregon band perform and their mascot Puddles cheered them on. The designated tailgating area was very popular and one could enjoy a variety of football themed activities from kicking field goals to throwing touchdowns. My personal favorite was the display of uniforms for the final four teams in the playoffs. I was able to see the uniform of my beloved Alabama Crimson Tide from the 2015 Sugar Bowl. There is always next year…
The evening before the game was the Media Party, held at the South Side Ballroom in Dallas. It was a night of entertainment, fun, and food. Country Music singer Kacey Musgrave performed a few of her hit songs. There were numerous arcade and video games for everyone to enjoy. A wide range of menu items were offered to please even the most discriminating palates. Some great swag was given to the guests and games winners! A good time was had by all.
The week building up to the game was just as exciting to me as the game itself. The coaches, the players, the interviews, the practices, and the events—it was a dream come true for every sports reporter and college football fan! The only hard part is now the long wait for the next season of college football.
