Historically, football has always connected generations of my family. Additionally, this past weekend brought us together again, giving Matty time with his cousins and the shared excitement. I traveled to Michigan to meet my son Matty. Friday evening began with a bang under the bright lights in Saline, Michigan. Matty joined his cousin Tommy Carr for a high school football game. Beautiful facilities, a packed stadium and an enthusiastic crowd offered a memorable introduction to the community spirit of Friday night football. Saline capped the evening with a 42–21 victory over River Rouge.
A flat tire on my rental car delayed my arrival until the second half. When I finally got there, Matty was down on the field with Tommy, surrounded by children asking his cousin for autographs. Additionally, Tommy patiently signed for everyone who asked. At one point, the two cousins retreated to Tommy’s car for a little breathing room. For Matty, it was a chance to see his cousin through the eyes of young fans. For me, it was a proud moment watching Tommy handle that attention with kindness. Saturday, the four of us drove to South Bend and met my sister, Tammi, for tailgating with fellow Notre Dame fans. We visited Touchdown Jesus, who took plenty of photographs and enjoyed the atmosphere before heading into the stadium to watch Matty’s cousin, C.J. Carr.
There was a funny twist to our choice of opponent: Stanford is where Matty currently wants to attend college. When I asked why, he pointed to the weather and the fact that Christian McCaffrey played there. His college plans may evolve, but it was fun hearing what already interests him. On this afternoon, though, Notre Dame had the upper hand. The Irish defeated Stanford 58–7, improving to 6–0 and extending their winning streak to 16 games. C.J. completed 14 of 20 passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns, adding 41 rushing yards on five carries. Watching him run brought out my protective uncle instincts. A couple of his finishes made me nervous, and I later spoke with Tammi about how he tries to protect himself. Even amid the excitement, family members never stop worrying about the person inside the uniform.
After the game, we went to C.J.’s house, where we took more photos, enjoyed some fried chicken, and got some autographs signed. We also saw his room, with racks of New Balance shoes from his new sponsor. It gave Matty another glimpse into his cousin’s life beyond the football field. Matty and I even found time for a game of chess. He won. Naturally, I told myself I had let him win. Wink, wink. Sunday morning, we drove to Chicago and headed for our flights home. Despite a few delays, everyone arrived safely.
The weekend took planning, cooperation and a few adjustments along the way. A flat tire changed my Friday evening. It did not change what we had come to do. We aimed to give Matty time with his family and experiences he could carry home. As parents, we cannot control every detail. We can keep showing up, adapt when plans change and work together to create opportunities for our children. This weekend gave Matty a closer connection to his cousins, a glimpse of two football communities and memories we were able to share.
