Today we all went to watch American College Football. The US Naval Academy playing ‘The Scarlet Knights’ from Rutgers University, New Jersey.  Although the game doesn’t start until 15.30, the event began at 11.00 when we all arrived to help set up the tailgate. (For Chuck and Gretchen it began yesterday as he made a vat of chilli and she created another of the match cakes for which she is renowned). This is a crucial part of the proceedings, where food and drink are plentiful and each alumni year has its own, dedicated pitch within the stadium car park. ’81 is a particularly strong year with 15-20 turning up every match. They even bring an RV so the ladies can have their own restroom!

Once in the stadium we were entertained by the midshipman in their entirety as attendance is compulsory for all matches. Not only did they parade but after every score by their team, they rush to the end of the pitch and perform the same number of press-ups as the score.  The goats, the mascots and the cheerleaders also played their roles.

Not only did I have a lesson in the rules of the game but discovered that each team has a squad of 53 players, with a number allocated within a set range depending on the position they play. The team selected for any given match is only 45 though, with only 11 on the pitch at any one time. This means that there are completely separate groups for each type of play…………. and a very busy sideline!

We left at about 18.00 and Karen kindly drove us to Baltimore rail station where another of Max’s friends was arriving. Mendel too was friend from undergraduate days in Cambridge. He is doing a PhD in London at the moment (looking at algorithms for enabling MRIs to diagnose brain disease) and has spent the last week at a conference in New York.  We all returned to the house about 21.00 where Mendel provided excellent company and consumed much bourbon.