Other Your USA/NFL Trip in Pictures

[Shane Sheridan]

Next morning and a quick 10 minute drive and did a tour of Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.



Cardinal Stadium is about a 3 minute drive from the racetrack so headed over to try my luck at getting into the stadium.
Indoor and outdoor practice facilities are located right next to the stadium. Able to get into the indoor centre, doors unlocked, no one around, could have helped myself to a drink from the unlocked fridge if I so desired.



Stadium gates were locked, however there was some construction going on so I slipped in where a couple of vans were going in and took a few photos. Didn't stay long as I was getting some stares my way

 

[Shane Sheridan]

Back to downtown and had the Louisville specialty for lunch - Hot Brown.



On to the Louisville Slugger factory/museum. A bit meh t be honest

 

[Shane Sheridan]

Took a drive toward Lexington and the horse farms. Absolutely beautiful scenery, not many places to stop and take photos though, ones I did take didn't do any justice.
Wild Turkey Distillery, located on the Kentucky River. Not too far away is the Four Roses Distillery


Back on the road, magic day and a short stop and a little town called Midway



On toward the capitol, Frankfort, stumbled across Kentucky State University along the way and checked out their football field. Not great.



Buffalo Trace Distillery situated on the outskirts of Frankfort. Beautiful grounds.

 

[Shane Sheridan]

Last day in Louisville, headed down to the Ali Center. Well worth a visit.


Crossed the Ohio River to knock Indiana off my list.
Lincoln was born in Kentucky so they like to play on that.

 

[Shane Sheridan]

Back to Nashville. Wandered, ate, then the Grand Ole Opry that night

 

[Shane Sheridan]

Last day in Nashville.

 

[Shane Sheridan]

Last day of my trip, 3 hour or so drive to Memphis. Graceland is about a 5 minute drive from the airport.
Have been through Memphis airport a few times and each year they have a student art competition with the entrant's work displayed within the terminals. Some really good works.
Able to get the holy grail of economy travel, row to myself for the Dallas - Sydney flight, able to spend the 14 hours horizontally.

 

[Shane Sheridan]

Made it back to the US Sept/Oct 2019, 1st stop - Houston. Got in late Saturday afternoon, quick look around before hit the wall.



Up early Sunday morning, already heating up, bit of a wander. Toyota Center and Minute Maid Park are both located in the downtown area, albeit opposite sides of downtown, but only a 10 or so minute stroll apart from each other. Minute Maid Park is quite cleverly done, incorporating the Old Union Station as part of the functioning stadium itself

 

[Shane Sheridan]

Sweating like a pig, back to the hotel for a shower and change of clothes, then jumped on the light rail out to NRG Stadium, 20 minute or so ride out of downtown. Astrodome's still standing.



Fortunate that my trip coincided with the Watson/Newton match up, unfortunately Newton injured himself a game or 2 beforehand, so no Cam.
Not a good day for the Texans, Panthers came away with the win.

 

[Shane Sheridan]

Early morning, short flight to Austin.
Paid homage to Stevie Ray, wandered down Congress Ave then back up to the capitol building, hotel was about 100m's from there

 

[Shane Sheridan]

Headed to University of Texas for a bit of a look around, 10 minute walk from the capitol building


Texas Tower, made famous by Charles Whitman



MLK statue on campus, then over the road to Teas Memorial Stadium. Stumbled across the University Hall of Fame, had only been opened a month earlier and even better, free entry.



Upstairs another place to have a look in

 

[Shane Sheridan]

LBJ Presidential Library is a stones throw from the stadium, had a quick look



Kept walking around the stadium and stumbled on another gem, the Football Department. Asked the Southern belle at the desk if I could have a look around, answered in the affirmative.



Spent the rest of the day downtown before heading to the Texas State History Museum, another absolute cracker of a museum, close to the University and well worth a look.

 

[Shane Sheridan]

Early morning flight to Memphis, via a connection in Dallas, then the hour drive to for a return visit to Arkansas State University, Jonesboro.
Much better weather this time around, new facility was finished, football department moved in 3 weeks previously.
Memorial to confederate troops



Checked in to the hotel, grabbed some lunch then headed to the football field to catch up with the young fella and watch training.

 

[Shane Sheridan]

Like the previous year had been granted access to the facility and any meetings I wanted to sit in on, so nice and early headed up to the facility for a 7 o'çlock start. Into the meeting room and hellos and introductions, offered donuts and Popeyes chicken and biscuits, Declined. Noticed a couple of the coaches had bibles in front of them, thought it a bit strange as was not the case last year, however shrugged it off as being in the south.
Meeting started, however not the head coach who started it off, fella at the far end of the table. To my surprise I ended up in a bible study meeting for the first hour of the day. I nodded and said amen when i had to and joined hands for the end of meeting prayer. Not my cup of tea, but an experience all the same.
AS an aside the head coach, Blake Anderson, wife passed away no more than 4 weeks prior to my arrival. When they played Georgia, there was an extremely nice touch b the home fans. Was also a segment on College Game Day prior to that game.


After the hour a few left the meeting room and a few more took their place and the football day started in earnest. Discussions about travel plans for the weekend, recruiting for the coming year and injuries within the squad. Was a bit gobsmacked when their head medical man told the group they might have to consider keeping players who did an ACL for 12 months rather than the 4 - 6 they currently keep them out for. Apparently they have had 100% of players with an ACL redo the knee over the past 3 seasons.

Sat in on a couple of positional meetings then went for a wander. New facility, still had the fresh paint, new carpet smell.



Followed the route from the changerooms out on to the field


Back into the facility

 

[Shane Sheridan]

More of the facility



And of course you need a barber shop in the change room

 

[Shane Sheridan]

Went and had a bit of a drive around the campus and town about 11, brought some gear for people back home then went back to the facility for the afternoon meetings and training.

New admin foyer



Met up with the young bloke he took me for a look in the gym



Training was in the indoor facility, was able to have a bit of a kick with the footy before they started. Had a crack kicking the grid iron ball as well, hit the sweet spot they stay very true, however not much of a margin for error .

 

[Shane Sheridan]

Early morning drive to Memphis for the short 1 hour flight to Atlanta. Plenty of day left to explore.
Student art work at Memphis Airport


Centennial Park Atlanta, 2nd image close to where the bomb went off in 96



College Football Hall of Fame is situated next to Centennial Park. Copped a bit of damage during the protests earlier last year.
Great way to spend a couple of hours.

 

[Shane Sheridan]

Lowered myself to visit the World of Coke

 

[Shane Sheridan]

Game day against Georgia State, had plenty of time before hand to do some more wandering though


State Farm Arena and Mercedes-Benz Stadium are quite close together and quite close to Centennial Park.
Something about railway lines/rail yards and the South



Georgia State's campus is within the city so some their support is visible throughout



Did a bit of reconnaissance to make sure I knew where I'd be going later in the day. Would be a bout a 15 minute walk from downtown, probably same distance the MCG is from Flinders St



Back towards the hotel grabbed some BBQ at one of the parks in the city, also a very informative civil rights display at the park



Back to the hotel for a bit of a rest, then headed down to the game.
Georgia State play their games at the 96 Olympic Stadium, which after the Olympics turned into turner Field which the Braves played at until 2016
The not so graceful couldran

 

[Shane Sheridan]

Carpark is the site of the former Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium where the Braves played from 66 - 96, Falcons until 92. Olympic baseball was played there and was demolished the next year.



Red Wolves arriving under police escort



And pertinent today, Hank Aaron Wall, section of the stadium where his record breaking home run went over.

 

[Shane Sheridan]

 

[Shane Sheridan]

KD from Last Chance U fame. Not the most popular guy on the team from all accounts





Injured player, all better pray



Slow start by A-State and despite a last quarter comeback, a loss.



Ran the gauntlet and walked back to the hotel, didn't become a statistic.
Capitol building along the way

 

[Shane Sheridan]

Early morning flight for a quick bite of the big apple
From Newark airport


Airport NJ Transit Station


Dropped the bags and off to Shake Shack
Theatre District; Grand Central Station; Lower Manhatten from the Staten Island Ferry x 2; The Oculus; Wall Street; Times Square

 

[Shane Sheridan]

Next morning on the train and out to Queens
Citi Field; foyer; car park with the now demolished Shea Stadium's bases marked out



Over the railroad bridge and into Flushing Meadows

 

[Shane Sheridan]

Down to a deserted Coney Island



A stroll up Brighton Beach Ave



Back the other way down the boardwalk



MCU Park, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones



Walked form Chinatown to midtown



Grand Central Station


Penn Station



Empire State Building