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Mercer Football Game Trip
Making for Macon Reprisal by Merc Morris It’s not that you can’t get there from here—“there” being Macon, Georgia and “here” being from wherever one begins—it’s that the journey may involve passage to, through or around Atlanta. Macon, a mid-sized city somewhat frozen in time, was a wonderful reward for the Classmates who journeyed to support the Tigers in their gridiron contest with Mercer University. Fritz Cammerzell provided his planning expertise in cooperation with Macon resident Jim Marshall, who secured rooms in Hotel Forty-Five, a vintage downtown hostelry that served as headquarters. Fritz, Merc Morris and Ginny Boyle, rolled in from Raleigh, an otherwise easy drive delayed by a flat tire in Florence, SC. Bob and Sallie Wright arrived in the late afternoon as did Mike and Isabel Schroeder. Fritz had secured dinner reservations in the hotel and by 7:30 P.M., the visiting 72 Cheer Complement was nearly complete. Charlie Kohl and Philo Cushing, Mike and Isabel Schneider, Bill and BJ deGolian, Andy Dayton, Randy and Susan Smith along with Merc, Ginny, Bob and Sallie Wright were seated and chaYering away over a la carte dinner. Skip and Camille Rankin arrived after midnight. Game day broke cool and bright—sunny, mid-40’s with the promise of 80 degrees by kickoff. By 8:00 A.M. Bob Wright and Jim Marshall led a stout group on a chilly walk through nearby Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, a preserve of a prehistoric multi-earthen mound complex known to have been used and inhabited for more than 10,000 years. The mounds themselves— massive single earth works taller and broader than Nassau Hall and the front campus—were constructed beginning in 900 C.E. and were occupied through European exploration and seeing of the then New World. (Archaeological excavations of the site in the 1930s recovered more than two million artifacts.) By mid-morning, the rest of the Tiger contingent gathered at Ocmulgee for an interpretive tour that embellished the displays and collections. We collected at the hotel, donned our game day caps—Tigers V Bears— provided by Fritz and headed to the pre-game Princeton Football Association tailgate adjacent the stadium. We passed a stage blasted by a country rock band; ambled between sorority tents and fraternity tents, jostled with parents and kids and lots of orange and black because Mercer’s colors are “black and orange.” Like, we blend… We squeezed twelve around a table for ten and loaded paper plates with pulled pork (a.k.a. almost Southern barbecue) potato salad, tossed salad and then waddled into the stadium to join a sizable Princeton throng. The sun was hot and so were the Mercer Bears who prevailed on the field handily 34-7. In the spirit of sportsmanship, Fritz, Merc and Bob Wright presented Mercer University President William Underwood with one of our classic caps (see photo). Following the game, Jim and Camile Marshall hosted us in their handsome 19th century Carpenter Gothic home. A salute to the hosts and the front porch picnic that closed out a fine road trip. The next morning we said our farewells to put Macon and Mercer University in our rearview mirrors and tightened our seatbelts for the traffic and remaining football season.
8-11 -24 Update ’72 Trip to Macon GA to Watch the Tigers Crush the Mercer Bears Class of ’72 football fans- The Princeton football team heads to camp next week to prepare for what promises to be another successful season. As we alluded to in previous messages, the team will be taking on the Mercer University Bears in Macon, GA on Saturday October 12. We have taken rooms at the Hotel 45 in Macon (401 Cotton Avenue, Macon GA) for Friday night October 11 and Saturday night October 12 so ’72 can watch the team play in one of its rare forays to Georgia. There will be a dinner Friday night at the hotel (you pay for your own meal), a tailgate at 1:00 Saturday at 5 Star Stadium catered by Satterfields, a local barbecue legend, the game at 3:30, and dinner after the game hosted by classmate Jim Marshall and his wife Camille Hope at their home (586 Orange St, Macon GA). Fritz will also have a block of tickets that he will distribute at the tailgate. He will also ask everyone for $100/head to cover the tickets, tailgate and Saturday dinner. Just to whet your appetite a bit more, Macon was listed in the New York Times list of 54 great destinations last year. It was one of the 7 in the United States.
We only have the block of rooms until September 11. We have 24 Classmates and guests signed up so far. If you wish to reserve one, call the hotel at 855-840-9141 and ask for a room in the Princeton Reunion Group Block. It appears there are still some king rooms ($219/night + tax) and double queens ($239/night + tax). You pay for your own rooms. If you have any questions, please contact Fritz Cammerzell at princetonlaw@att.net. Go Tigers!!!!
PRINCETON TIGERS VS MERCER BEARS OCTOBER 12 2024
Princeton ’72 football fans- On October 12, the Princeton football team will make a rare trip to Georgia to play the Mercer Bears. Recognizing an opportunity to give classmates who live in the southeast (and of course anywhere else) an opportunity to see the team play live, we have taken a block of rooms at a local hotel in Macon (details below), and planned some ‘72 events for the weekend. Our classmate Jim Marshall and his wife Camille have kindly offered to host the group to their house in Macon after the game. Details for the weekend are as follows- Friday October 11- arrive at hotel- dinner at the hotel on your own Saturday October 12- Breakfast on your own. We will have a private tent for a tailgate at Five Star Stadium starting at 1:00. It will be catered by Satterfield’s BBQ, a legendary local establishment. The game starts at 3:30 and we have purchased a block of tickets. After the game we will go the Jim and Camille Marshall’s house for dinner. Sunday October 13- No events planned. Travel home reliving the highlights of another Tiger victory. Hotel Details- Hotel 45 401 Cotton Avenue Macon Ga 31202 855-840-9141. We have reserved 20 rooms under the name Princeton Reunion Block. Please make your own reservation and payment. Jim and Camille Marshall’s address- 586 Orange Street Macon Ga When you make your room reservation, please let Fritz Cammerzell (princetonlaw@att.net) know you are coming and which events you plan to attend. You are on your own for transportation to and from all events. This promises to be another wonderful ’72 gathering in yet another interesting venue. Please bring $100/person to give to me when you arrive to cover football tickets, the tailgate, and Saturday dinner. See you in Georgia!!! Fritz |
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