If you’ve been following the committee for a longer period of time, you’ll understand that the Commish aka myself, has been allotted one random college football-related trip a year away from my kids and my place of residence in San Antonio, Texas. (This is just basically, since this is not my full-time gig yet…)

Last Year in 2023, I went to Pocatello, Idaho, on a pilgrimage of sorts to see the stadium where my beloved ULM won a National Title in 1987. My Pocatello Pilgrimage

The year before that in 2022 when the Committee was really still in its infancy, I went to visit Las Cruces, New Mexico for a FIU and New Mexico State game and got to witness Diego Pavia’s first game where he completed more than 50% of his passes at the Division I level. New Mexico State Odyssey

I just want to give a gigantic thank you to my wife and my mom for allowing me to take this trip. Without their permission and tremendous help, I wouldn’t have had the chance to do something this incredibly ridiculous. Also, I want to thank you, the readers, followers, and patrons. Without your support, I wouldn’t have been able to make this trip happen. Finally, a huge thanks to all the awesome folks at Northern Arizona for allowing me to get a media credential to wander all over the place. 

Picking this Year’s Trip

This year was a bit different because I wasn’t sure where I would go in the off-season. You see, my real job has me request vacation weeks for 2024 towards the end of 2023 to reserve things in advance. At that time, nothing is really set in stone for the upcoming college football season because one is still going on. So, what I do is randomly request a week off in September, October and November each year and hope the college football scheduling odds fall in my favor. 

Once the schedule dropped, I checked where my random weeks of PTO from the real job lined up. I had the weekend of October 19th off and set my sights on that date. Last year, I got to see a unique domed stadium in Holt Arena, and I wanted to continue down that path. Now, NCAA Football doesn’t have many domed stadiums, and this may lead to me attempting to complete a bucket list of all the college football domes. 

The first thing I did was to check the Big Sky Conference Schedule. It has two more domed stadiums I need to see, and here at the Committee, we’re huge fans of the Big Sky Conference. Pretty much every school in the conference has an awesome destination for a vacation.  The two domes remaining in the conference for me to visit were the Walkup Skydome (NAU) and the Kibbie Dome (Idaho). 

On logistics alone, getting to Flagstaff was much easier: a flight to Phoenix and a drive to Flagstaff. As for Moscow, Idaho…, flying from San Antonio was a larger challenge. Either fly into Phoenix, Denver, Salt Lake City, or Las Vegas, then change planes to Spokane and then drive to Moscow. Trying to do this on a weekend trip is pretty tough (leave Friday and return Sunday). Two flights and seven to eight hours of travel in one day is tough, but doing that twice in one weekend is something I could pull off in my younger days without a problem. However, I am definitely not as young anymore, and I realized I would need to sandbag a few more days to pull off the trip to Moscow. Don’t worry, Kibbie Dome, I am coming to see you, and I will make it happen, but I could not pull it off this year. 

Time to Travel to Arizona

My flight from San Antonio was one that left at 9 a.m. but arrived in Phoenix at 9 a.m. (I hear Pitt Girl saying “Linear Time was a Mistake” in my brain the entire flight). I knew I was in for some time zone-related weirdness on my body along with the travel wear. I checked the forecast for Phoenix and Flagstaff, noting it would be the first cold front of the season, and there was a small chance of snow in Flagstaff. So, I packed some hoodies and jeans, hoping that would be enough (I was wrong). 

My flight arrives, and I am greeted by a strange airport in Phoenix's Sky Harbor. I immediately think of the movie Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. Have I seen that movie? No. But a Sky Harbor would mean you would have to have a Sky Captain, right? I got lost on the way to the baggage claim because I wasn’t following signs closely enough, and it was a right then quick left to the baggage claim. Besides, I spotted one of those moving walkways, and I love walking superfast while watching myself in the window reflection, saying “Wow, I am really walking fast”. (Yes, I am 43 years old, why do you ask?) I wind up in the wrong terminal and have to double back, but you know what that means? More superfast walking! I finally got my bags and rental car. My rental is a Mazda CX-50 with all-wheel-drive, and it really was one of the two vehicles I was looking at buying. Perfect test drive time.

I begin the drive north on Interstate 17, ready to make the climb to Flagstaff from 1,000 feet of elevation to 7,000 feet. This would be a test of my driving skills because I drive in flat areas and have never really driven in too much inclement weather since I moved to San Antonio. Honestly, it’ll tell me if I want to get a Mazda CX-50. The drive up 17 is a tough climb as traffic is pretty heavy. I maneuver up and around the mountains with both hands on the wheel at speeds ranging from random, sudden, complete stops in the left lane to 80 mph. It begins to rain, and with my arms getting tired, I make a stop at a McDonald's in Camp Verde, which is 3,147 feet in elevation. I check the map, and it says I got about 55 miles to Flagstaff and nearly 4,000 more feet of elevation to climb while driving. I grind through the rest of the drive, and as I get closer and closer, the rain stops, but there is snow on the side of the interstate, and I spotted a few deer.  

Finally in Flagstaff

I finally arrived in Flagstaff, and much to my surprise, the first exit is for NAU. I exit, and I am immediately surrounded by pine trees while navigating campus at 15 mph. Likewise, I head straight to the NAU Bookstore to buy my family merchandise for the trip. It’s “a cold to me,” 36 degrees, and I only have my Centenary hoodie with a long-sleeve shirt underneath it. I loved the bookstore and spent way too much money on merchandise, and as I went to leave, it started snowing. I start laughing, and then the Big Sky Conference account starts laughing at me too. Thanks, Big Sky Conference. 

Beth advised I should try Bigfoot BBQ downtown since one of her sister’s attended NAU. So, I head there in the snow, driving ever so careful in my rental Mazda. I made it downtown but can’t find entrance the place. The Google map says the place is right here on the map but I am walking around in snow, cold and trying to find this place. So I just enter some random coffee shop, and then I see it's like a cluster of stores and I see a sign for it to go downstairs. Who knew tracking Bigfoot (BBQ) would be so difficult? 

I ordered a Pulled Pork sandwich with some spicy BBQ sauce and asked for a local beer and was provided a Sunday Drive from Mother Road Brewing Company. They handed me a Montana license plate as my table sign and I sat down waiting for my food.

I enjoy my food and grab some merch, including a knit beanie I needed for the cold weather. I drive carefully back and check into my hotel. I’m exhausted due to the time zone difference, but it’s only 4pm. 

Weary from travel, I drop my bags and plop down onto the bed. I decided to check our twitter account and noticed I got a message from on Twitter. He told me to go to Mother Road Brewing for dinner since his brother in law is a brewer there. That’s all the recommendation I needed for the dinner spot. I rested for a little bit and watched some of the Friday night games that started already (this time zone was messing with me so much). I stopped by a sporting goods store to get a puffy coat before heading out into the snow again. I headed to Mother Road Brewing and had some very enjoyable beer and really enjoyed everything there. I am desperately looking for more Mother Road Brewing in San Antonio but alas, I have not been able to find any. Sunday Drive was my favorite but the Saison was a very close second.

I head back to the hotel and spot a little tiny parking lot snowman next to where I parked. I watch a little football and really fall asleep rather quickly.

GET UP IT’S LUMBERJACK GAMEDAY

I awake and it’s 7:00am and College Gameday is on… the time zones are messing with me again.

The rental Mazda has snow and yes I did get one with Oklahoma plates while I was in Arizona. Did I make a broad gesture to swipe the light dusting of snow off my vehicle? Yes. Did it work? No.

I head into downtown to get breakfast at Tourist Home Cafe and get some cold brew along with some Pork Green Chile & Eggs.

Just delicious stuff. I wish I could have gotten more items off the menu, but hey, I am here to cover a NAU game. The crowds along the street were packed for game day on South San Francisco St. I stopped at the hotel to get a bunch of swag to give to the NAU folks and some fans in the stands. I charged the phone and my spare battery.

OFF TO THE WALKUP SKYDOME

Homecoming is abuzz, and the parking lot for the Skydome is surrounded by trees. It’s incredible, and the sky truly qualifies for the Big Sky Conference.

You really can’t get a much better of a view here. You get the Skydome, the sky, the mountains and most importantly, THE JACKWAGON.

I am a sucker for team-themed vehicles. The team-themed school bus, ambulance, combine, hearse or whatever. It’s awesome when you have fans who go all out to decorate specialty vehicles for their favorite team, no matter how big or small the school. (A slightly snowy Skydome)

I am off to get my credentials to get into the game. The email from NAU said there is a Giant Lumberjack by Will Call and that is where you get the credentials. They were not lying, I think I was about knee height on this lumberjack.

I hop into the Walkup Skydome, and it’s a huge dome inside, yet it feels welcoming, like it's a small cabin out in the woods only a few people have ever seen, and you had to know someone to find the place. The atmosphere is one I won’t ever forget.

I try to center myself and find the press area. I find the media area and meet Monica Cowbrough, the NAU Associate Athletic Director/Football Communications. Not only that, but I gift her team many stickers from the Committee and try to express my gratitude for allowing us to attend this game as actual media.

I walk around the press box area and slowly realize that I am basically the only “national” media outlet. (I use national loosely here, but we're just outsiders not associated with either team really) You’ve got the Idaho State folks, Big Sky broadcast, NAU media and me, the Commissioner of the Sickos Committee. Who else would be at a game between two 3-4 Big Sky teams? That’s who we are, and this is why we love the sport so much.

KICKOFF TIME, LET’S GO NAU HOMECOMING

This game is an interesting one for myself, as I was at an Idaho State game last year and stormed the field with them when they beat Northern Colorado. Now, I am watching them play again, but on the road. Personally, I feel like NAU and Idaho State are battling this one out to see who can win my heart. When you make up stakes like this for a game in your head, it can get quite intense, but the game matched the intensity on the field on its own. Don’t worry, I stayed neutral and wore my Homefield Big Sky Conference hoodie.

Where should I watch this game? In the press box? Hell no. Time to hang out with the NAU Logging team, which is situated by the Coors Light Chill Zone in the end zone. Field level for the Commish all the way. If you look to your right in the photo below, the Chill Zone RV and logging set up is over there.

I chat with NAU Loggers (click the link to support them) and find out they only chainsaw the wood after each NAU touchdown. No log cutting for field goals. I give them some koozies and merch for being so awesome. I explain to them we love what they do and its a unique flair to the college football landscape. Who really cares if an MLS or CFL also does this, they are the only college team to do it.

The game begins, and it’s a hard-hitting affair between two teams that are on the rise in the Big Sky Conference. These teams appear to around the same level in the Conference. They see and want the dreams of the deep FCS playoff runs like their conference mates of Montana, Montana State, Idaho and Sacramento State have had in recent years, and the National Title like Eastern Washington won in 2010.

I’m really just waiting for the log to be cut. Let’s get the first cut out of the way. NAU gets a field goal to go up 3-0. Then they get a touchdown to go up 9-0. The small gathering of media comes to the log location after the 5 yard TD run.

Then drama happens on the extra point. I’m standing by the basically under the right upright and see the ball sail outside the goalpost, the extra point is missed. Then we go to the TV timeout, which delays the log cutting again. Then the extra point gets reviewed. It’s overturned??? Ok, the extra point is good?? Did the time zone mess with my eyes??? Have I been inhaling the chainsaw fumes? (I kid, it’s well ventilated, and there is a huge door open behind us too) Well, ok it’s 10-0 NAU. Time to cut the log right? Nope. Got to wait for the kickoff. Well finally that happens and it is time.

CUT THE LOG!!!

The log cutting is an incredible ceremony, and after the piece is cut it is held up to fire up the crowd. Funny thing is after each piece is cut, the wood becomes property of NAU Athletics, so I was unable to take a piece of the log home. (However, if you are reading this Monica, I can give you my address to send me one. Also, I don’t think the log would have survived the baggage handlers or the TSA.)

Back to the extra point that was just ruled good after review. My tweet quoting the Big Sky Issuing a correction on the extra point error. This extra point ruling was kind of important in the grand scheme of the game.

It was a wild back-and-forth game, with NAU and Idaho State going exchanging the lead. I see a 55-yard field goal kicked to me, and I toss the ball back to the field. I had a small section of fans who kept cheering me on as “the guy in the white hoodie” and I went to get them merch, but they were gone when I returned.

NAU leads late 30-26 and Idaho State is driving for the game winning touchdown pass. It’s 4th and 2 on the NAU 13-yard line with 15 seconds left. Idaho State *should* have had a field goal kick for the tie to send it to overtime. However, due to that error in officiating, Idaho State attempts a pass to the corner of the endzone which is intercepted by NAU to seal the victory in dramatic fashion 30-26. I got to witness a Big Sky Conference Banger in person.

Incredible scenes followed the dramatic victory for NAU. I see the players conducting, with the band playing the NAU fight song and alma mater. Just a huge celebration on the field, and the Lumberjacks are back to 4-4. Most importantly, I got to see many more log cuts in the game.

I spot Monica on the field, communicating with her team after the game. They had so many responsibilities during the game, and I was truly amazed at what they did to just pull off hosting the game. Her team was acting as a spotter for the local radio calls and managing the stats for both teams. When you get to see the smaller schools work in person, it’s amazing dedication by everyone just to get the game off the ground. It’s a well-oiled machine, or chainsaw, here at NAU.

I leave the Walkup Skydome out of a different exit and spotted a second gigantic Lumberjack. I had no clue they had two, and a fellow media member leaving at the same time as me said they couldn’t get enough of Lumberjacks up here. Which is really fair.

I head back into downtown Flagstaff, as it starts to rain heavily. I was polling the students randomly to get opinions on the best pizza in town. It was between two spots and I settled on Fratelli’s Pizza. I grabbed another Mother Road beer to accompany the really quite good pizza that I ate so quickly, I didn’t even get a picture of it. I did get a pic of the beer though.

I head back to the hotel for the night as the weather turns colder. I tuck myself into bed with a little Iowa vs Michigan State and prepare for the trip back home to San Antonio.

Before I leave Flagstaff the next morning, I stopped at a Matador Coffee on Route 66. Got a giant cold brew for the drive back to Phoenix.

I bid Flagstaff farewell, full of many more memories I could write about, and honestly, if my 7-year-old wanted to come to NAU for college, I’d fully support it. A scholarship would be nice, though…

Till we meet again, Flagstaff and NAU. Thank you for a truly memorable experience and a college football road trip worth taking.

I’ll have an accompanying photo dump in another substack post. Northern Arizona Adventure Photo Dump