Monday, Oct. 1, 2007 | 7:02 a.m.
During a recent trip to the Carolinas, my brother-in-law taught me a new way to see college football.
I've seen plenty of West Coast football and even worshipped once under the upraised arms of Touchdown Jesus.
But I'd always heard that football is true religion in the South.
I didn't really know what they meant until Joe Foy took me to watch his beloved Clemson Tigers.
My wife's younger brother loves listening to football on the radio. When we got to Spartanburg, S.C., Joe was standing on his porch, dressed in Clemson orange and grinning ear to ear.
"I couldn't hardly sleep last night. I have always wanted to go to a college football game."
His daddy had taken him to Landrum High games when his brother played for the Cardinals. Joe talked football as we drove down I-85. He testified to his relationship with Clemson football, naming off coaches and speaking reverentially of the old Voice of the Tigers, Jim Phillips.
Four hours before game time, we were swallowed by a sea of cars and trucks sporting tiger tails and Clemson flags. Huge paw prints painted on a state highway marked the route to the stadium.
Tailgaters surrounded Death Valley for miles around. Inside the huge stadium was a sea of solid orange, save a tiny triangle of purple - Furman fans and band. The Paladins - who play in the same conference as Michigan - mashers Appalachian State - were looking to upset their nationally ranked hosts.
"The Tigers are going to tear them up," Joe said, echoing his wife's favorite phrase. He'd lost her to cancer a few months before his dad died last year.
Joe was excited to meet announcer Pete Yanity, who had invited him to stop by the play-by-play booth before the game. The first thing he did was show Joe a wall of photos, old coaches and the one Yanity knew he'd want to see - Phillips, who'd called 400 football games before he died during the 2003 season.
Once we settled into great seats, Joe clapped along with the cheerleaders. Hollered as the Tigers clawed to a 10-0 lead. Groaned each time the Paladins sacked quarterback Cullen Harper.
Midway through the second quarter, Joe bolted from his seat the moment a tight spiral left Harper's hand. A second later, the crowd erupted as Tyler Grisham cradled the 49-yard bomb for a touchdown.
While I wandered off to get him another chili dog at half time, he was up dancing to "Tiger Rag."
Late in the game, Joe's favorite player, second-string quarterback Willy Korn, threw a 42-yard TD pass to seal a 38-10 victory.
The grin had never left his face.
On the way home, I asked Joe about his favorite part.
"I love the boom when they kick the ball into the goal post after a touchdown."
If you've been blind all your life, as Joe has been, I guess it's easy to confuse cannon fire with a football hitting a goal post. I know I will from now on.
THIS WEEK'S BEST BET
Manny Pacquiao vs. Marco Antonio Barrera 6 p.m. Saturday Mandalay Bay Events Center
Can the Baby Faced Assassin avenge his 2003 loss to PacMan? Barrera also tries to defend Mexico's home against the Filipino superstar in this super featherweight fight.
TICKETS: $200-$600
ON THE WEB: mandalaybay.com
ALSO WORTH A LOOK
UNLV women's volleyball 7 p.m. Thursday and Saturday Cox Pavilion
The hottest UNLV team plays Wyoming on Thursday and Air Force on Saturday. Its star, Maria Aladjova, a senior from Sofia, Bulgaria, owns the Rebels career record for kills.
TICKETS: $7
ON THE WEB: unlvtickets.com
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