Monday Night Romance: Orange is the color of Tracy's football past
Move over, Al Michaels and John Madden. Here come the goddesses of the gridiron, romance author Tracy Solheim and book blogger Kim Lowe, with Monday Night Romance! Every week at this time, Tracy and Kim are dishing about football stats, romance novels and pop culture for the football fan and football widow alike. Tracy is the bestselling author of the Out of Bounds series, featuring the Baltimore Blaze in Game On, Foolish Games, Risky Game and A Numbers Game. Kim lives near Baltimore — home of the two-time Super Bowl champion Ravens — and she appreciates Tracy's Alpha heroes — especially the ones in football pants and pads.
Kim: American football is off to an explosive start! So many games, so little time. Last week we chatted about our loyalties with professional teams, but now I am curious about college teams. I attended the UT — the University of Tampa. The UT Spartans played football from 1933 to 1974, winning the Tangerine Bowl in 1972. Notable players include future NFL stars John Matuszak (Raiders) and Freddie Solomon (49ers). Once the NFL awarded a franchise team to Tampa in 1976, UT decided to close its football program, expecting local support to shift to the Buccaneers. Still, the Bucs paid tribute to the Spartans by incorporating one of its colors, red, into its logo. I remember when the Bucs stayed on campus for summer training camp …
Tracy: I remember my first college football game at Tennessee. Everything was so — orange. Walking to Neyland Stadium (one of the largest in the nation), I felt as though I was being swallowed up in a sea of orange. Even the fire hydrants were — you guessed it, orange! But nothing beats a game day in Knoxville. It's very close to a religious experience. We didn't have the greatest record when I was there, but I do remember a victory over rival Alabama at least once. We'd have great halftime performers, too. One rain-soaked Saturday, Charlie Daniels and his band teamed up with the Tennessee marching band to bring down the house with Devil Went Down to Georgia. I try to get back to a game as often as I can — dressed in orange, of course!
Kim: Since UTampa didn't have a football team, the "big men on campus" were the soccer players. They looked like they stepped right out of a sports magazine dressed in their low-slung shorts and socks with slides. They hosted tailgate parties in their dorm so we could still root for other Florida teams — the Seminoles, Gators and Hurricanes.
Tracy: In the 1980s (I can't believe I admitted that!) when I was at Tennessee, the football team boasted several big-name players who would go on to be huge stars in the NFL: Reggie White, Willie Gault and Bill Bates, for example. But another player would become a household name for the hardware that ended up around his neck — specifically, Olympic gold and silver medals. Sam Graddy (along with Willie Gault, who was a member of the boycotted 1980 Olympic Team) was an integral part of the Volunteer offense at what was known then as "Wide Receiver University." When not on the gridiron, Graddy garnered Olympic medals for his speed on the track. Believe it or not, Sam Graddy actually let me hold his gold medal once. It wasn't the last time I'd have an Olympic gold medal in my hands, but that's a story for a different day!
Kim: All this talk of hot men is whetting my appetite for a great romance. I am looking forward to reading Janet Chapman's The Highlander Next Door from Jove. Oh, a Highlander is certainly hot … and would make a great football player!
Tracy: I can actually picture a few football players who would look good in kilts! Thanks for the visual. I came late to the Outlander party — I know, I know, what took me so long? — but, being a Scottish lass myself, I've always loved a good Scottish romance. Suzanne Enoch has some very virile Scotsmen donning kilts in her current series, The Scandalous Highlanders. I'm also looking forward to Grace Burrowes' What a Lady Needs for Christmas coming out next month. Crikey! Is it that time of year already?!
Thanks for joining us at Monday Night Romance! The party continues at SOS Aloha with this week's special giveaway. Learn more about Tracy's books at www.tracysolheim.com.