Private tackle

"Virginia's Cedric Peerman leaps over Maryland's Terrell Skinner during the second quarter at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008. The Terps were crushed in 31-0 loss to Virginia."

Although I vowed to begin posting on some older assignments, I felt if anything, this game would become obsolete if not posted.

In addition, until my redesign (another one you ask?) when I am able to post Soundslides and multiple image slide shows, I'll keep this brief as I post on the other side of the game tomorrow.

Last weekend my schedule changed. Not once. Not twice. But three times.

Originally I was scheduled to shoot the homecoming, big welcome home bash (two-months later) for Michael Phelps, honoring him for his Olympic achievements.

Then that got scratched and I was put on the Maryland Million horse race, which is the second largest horse race in Maryland aside from the always exciting Preakness.

I was happy to be shooting either, but then the phone call came. "Would you object to shooting the Terps...in Virginia Saturday night?"

Easy going and knowing it would be a front sports page story on Sunday's paper, I agreed. Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever turned down any assignment ever, unless I had prior engagements.

Anyways, with kick-off set for 7 p.m., I left Baltimore around noon Saturday and arrived in Charlottesville, Va. around 3:30 p.m.

With time to burn, I ventured around town, stopped for a late lunch and looked for a new fall, winter coat in some sporting stores. Then with about two hours before kick-off I made my way over to Scott Stadium.

After getting my computer set up and receiving a little help from DC Press Box shooter Chris Blunck, after my pool glass lens hood was completely jammed on my the end of my 400mm, I shot some test frames and searched for some different angles in the stadium before the beginning of the game. Basically familiarizing myself to the complex.

Maryland went into the contest on a three-game winning-streak over some ranked teams, while Virginia was struggling a bit. I was hoping on making some telling images before the half with hopes of maybe getting on the road back toward home a bit earlier knowing I had to shoot the Ravens at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

But the slogan "Virginia is for lovers" wasn't very fitting for the Terps. They were getting crushed and went into halftime down by three touchdowns.

At halftime, I moved a majority of my images, and almost over looked this "private tackle." It's not often you see something like this and didn't realize I had made the image until seeing it big on my laptop. Not that exciting, doesn't really tell the story of the game, but worth a shot of getting it on the page.

Unfortunately, the "grabbage" only made it online. Oh, well.

Before the second half, I realized if the game kept going the way it did that I would need to concentrate on shooting some telling images. In this case, dejection since Maryland is the team people in Baltimore care about.

I did just that and the front page ended up being an image of Maryland players, including Da'Rel Scott, as they watched time expire during the Terps' 31-0 loss to Virginia.

Overall it was a pretty boring game. I did get some great play on the pages Sunday and Monday from my other images, including some more dejection shots.

More tomorrow on the other side of the game. The fans and atmosphere.

edit: My buddy sent me a link. The photo was on AOL Sports. Pretty cool. Might have to scroll a couple images over.