Red / White Scrimmage Report

[Chris_Sanders]

I have just arrived at the scrimmage two hours early. I brought my laptop and portable wi fi so I can post stuff.

I expected to get a great seat arriving this early but find myself where I was yesterday. Shockingly there are already thousands of fans here, some got here as early as 6 am for an 11:30 AM practice.

Certainly gone are the pre super bowl days when camp was intimate and small. Back then there wasn't even a refreshment truck for the fans. You had easy access to the players or media. I can remember chatting with our local sports broadcasters about the upcoming season.

Now giant kids inflatables dot the hill side in Cardinal colors. There are bounce houses and slides aplenty to lure in young children. When you walk up, girls dressed in Wendy's outfits hand out "Official Wendy's Autograph Books". There are activities for adults to, where you can win tshirts and cardinal luggage tags. The team is flush with advertisers, their banners streaming in the morning breeze.

None of this is bad, just quite the turnaround. This has become the experience for the family that has been blocked out by the price of season tickets. You still get the beauty of the pines and the majesty of the mountains. Now the rustling of pines has been traded for the laughter of children and the murmur of anticipation of a new season.

You can still smell the loam of the earth and fresh cut grass, but now it is intermingled with popcorn and candy. It is like the County Fair of Cardinals where you can see the World's Strongest Hands in Larry Fitzgerald and the wonders of the Twin Headed Quarterback.

It is nothing to be missed. I wish you were all here with me now.

 

[Shane]

Good stuff Chris. Way to paint a picture brother!

Wish I was there too. I miss the intimate setting. But this is how it should be.

 

[BigRedRage]

You rock Chris, already excited for this thread. Great opening post, love the description, makes me feel like I am there.

 

[slanidrac16]

Thanks so much Chris. I look forward to all your post. Keep'em coming.

BTW, you have every right as a true fan to let your feelings go and not have to worry about unbiased reporting. Tell us like you see it!

 

[Seandonic]

Nice. Keep the info coming.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

One hour to go until practice. Paul Calvisi just walked by and recognized me from the Big Red Rage. He commented I had great seats. I immediately thought of the lines for autographs have extended past the parking lots. Many will stand for hours for nothing. What meager space stood around me has been taken already. Where the thousands in line will sit or stand I have no idea.

I see several Cardinals pavilions that have staked out a fair amount of real estate. This is likely what I will do next year. I could see arriving 6 hours early with a generator, a tv, and my PS3 to watch the Cardinals super bowl run on DVD to pass the time.

What just a tiny taste of winning does for this state is amazing.

As I type, I see people have begun to wrap their way around the back of the practice field. I haven't seen that before but it makes sense.

 

[THESMEL]

My Mountains don't care either way- Cardinals or no Cardinals, I use to lie on that field and look at the stars before the Cardinals came to Arizona! Have you seen the stars in Flagstaff- unlike anywhere else in the world.

one day we will all be a very small layer in the Grand canyon--

So Cardinal up and take it like a FAN!

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Just a small glimpse of the crowd. Should be fun to see this when practice is about to start.

 

[Goldfield]

I'm here with my 3 boys. On the far side of the field. Player walking onto the field. Love flag. I do miss when there were small crowds but there was a reason for that.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

This was the same hill 10 minutes ago. Players have started arriving now.

 

[Jersey Girl]

Kids are starting to come back from the autograph session. They are all smiles. Super cute!!''''

 

[Thunder Dan]

nfl network just said they will be covering cards camp soon.

Here is a link.

 

[Jersey Girl]

People just keep coming in. Unbelievable.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

And we have finally gotten to practice.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Just stretching now. Nothing to report.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Calvisi reported that people were here at 2 AM to get an autograph from Micheal Floyd.

WOW

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Ricky Schmitt getting outkicked by Disasterdil during the punter drills. If you can't kick in Flagstaff, not sure where you can.

Basic back pedalling drills being done by the DBs in mass right now.

Receivers are doing short runs. RBs are running the big cones.

All basic stuff at this point.

 

[BigRedRage]

Calvisi reported that people were here at 2 AM to get an autograph from Micheal Floyd.

WOW

How accurate can that be? its not like hes andrew luck and we have fitz...

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Gino Crump with the first drop of the day. This is why you haven't heard of him before

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Everyone cheers when Larry gets a basic catch.

Demarco Sampson with a drop. Man he looks bad.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Justin Bethel stretches out nicely for a poorly thrown ball on an interception drill.

Byrd still looks strong catching an overthrown ball and planting his toes on the corner of the end zone. Other guys aren't trying that hard but they should be.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Haggans looks quick and fluid on an INT drill across the field. Dont remember him looking that quick

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Heap gets the first non Larry cheer.

Bigs are again in the back corner of the field where no one can see them.

 

[O]

nfl network just said they will be covering cards camp soon.

Here is a link.

They will be covering it live soon.

 

[Jersey Girl]

How accurate can that be? its not like hes andrew luck and we have fitz...

Judging by the line at 9 a.m.and the huge crowd that is here, I wouldn't doubt it for a second.