Sometimes It's More Than A Game.......

October 22, 2005. I remember that game like it was yesterday. After a weekend of a huge house party, Better Than Ezra in Tigerland, and scoring my first ever LSU student section tickets, I witnessed what was one of the best games in LSU Tiger Stadium history. Most of you remember the ESPN national broadcast. Auburn kicker John Vaughn missed 5 field goals, and LSU escaped with a 20-17 win despite Early Doucet's dropped TD catch in the endzone in overtime. To top it all off, it was my 24th birthday. My grandfather called me that day and said he would be looking forward to watching and would be looking for me on TV. He always did when he knew I was there, even if he didn't care about the game. He tried to understand why I was an LSU fan, because his beloved Auburn Tigers were just so dang important.

Six years later, I find myself in a situation too good to be true. Only God could draw it up. I planned several months ago on attending this year's LSU/Auburn game in Baton Rouge. Once again, it's on my birthday, but this time my grandfather won't be able to call. It's amazing how something as little as a college football game can mean so much when it comes to life and death.

My grandfather, Kenneth Forbus, lived 57 years in Greenville, Mississippi as one of the most well known people in to ever live in the Mississippi Delta. He'd never admit it, and I probably never realized it. In the last few years, I've met many people from Leland, Cleveland, Hollandale, Isola, Cottondale, Greenwood, and even Clarksdale. I would say that around 50% of those people either knew him, heard of him, or knew someone who knew him. I've never seen someone be so well known on a local level, but yet be so humbled just because it was never his goal.

Growing up in churches, I've been around alot of ministers. With all bias aside, I've never seen a servant of God who enjoyed his work as much as he did. Even with the little things like providing recreational programs for senior adults and leading worship on Sundays to big things like pastor searches to traveling with youth choirs across the country, he did it all at 100 miles per hour and I never remember him once complaining about ever going out of his way or being inconvenienced by anyone or anything. He helped people of all races, ages, and backgrounds just because it was his calling to do so and because God gave him the talents of that we seek in so many people who serve in churches. I could work the rest of my life, and I'll never even come close to the influence he had on so many people.

Like with my other grandfather, some of my greatest memories I ever had was watching football with him. Being from Alexander City, Alabama, there was no team he loved more than the Auburn Tigers. He got it from his father, and all of his family was the same way- hey, no one's perfect right? Even so, he always was so proud of me for getting my masters- even if it was from LSU. Despite not being a fan, I was so happy for him last year when Auburn won the National Championship because he was able to live to see it. Unlike my other grandfather who never saw the Saints with the Super Bowl, I am so happy he lived to see his favorite team climb to the top of the mountain.

So, now we come to next Saturday night, and while I am excited, I find it all too much of a coincidence that the first game I attend in person again features the Auburn Tigers. I'll be there supporting LSU, but I have to admit, it's different this time. Honestly, I don't even care who wins. I just wish he'd be able to call me on my birthday again and be excited for me that I'd be able to see his favorite team play mine and for him to "look for me" on TV. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I don't have a prediction, and I've already prepared myself for anything. All I ask is that this game is just as memorable as the one I saw in 2005.

He won't be able to call me..........but I know he'll be watching.

Kenneth Forbus

There's no way it's a coincidence