Entry 01/05/2006 HOLY BIG ONE....WHAT A GAME PEOPLE OF AMERICA...WHAT A GAME....CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT GAME...THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT...THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL RIGHT THERE LAST NIGHT FOR ALL THE MARBLES! USC WENT DOWN LIKE A CHAMP AND THE MIGHTY LONGHORNS WENT FOR THE KNOCKOUT AND THIS HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP WENT ALL 4 QUARTERS AND THE KID'S WOULDN'T QUIT! USC went for it on fourth and 2 and Texas stopped themed and USC held Texas to 4th and goal and Vince Young the unbelivable...a heroe is born played the best game that I've personally have ever seen....and what an experience to be at the Rose Bowl last night and see the spirit and agony and love that the fan's had for their team's it was really special to end the film and season with the best game of the year and probably the best game that I've ever seen and especially with the circumstances...Lendale White was incredible and his family was great we interviewed them before the game and they're special people that love and adore and support Lendale in kindest way's...props to the White Family....I've got to admit last night I was a fan for the first time...fully...okay second I was going for West Virginia all the way against Louisville earlier in the season but for 20 weeks....I was making a movie and last night came to an end and it was beautiful sad like a love that has to move on kinda of feeling and it was emotional and has been emotional the last few weeks....big hug's to everyone that I met and special thanks to everyone that shared with the film...thank you....NOW THE HARD PART BEGINS ....EDITING OVER 130 HOURS OF FILM INTO 2 HOURS FILM....I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEP! I surfed today in Venice and I broke my board on a massive 10 foot wave...Imagine a thousand pound lineman that could move and WHAM-O BABY ...THERE GOES TONY'S SURFBOARD! IT WAS FUN THOUGH TO BE OUT THERE AND BE APART OF NATURE! I'LL MISS THE FOOTBALL SEASON....WHAT A GAME AND WHAT AWAY TO END THE FILM....BECAUSE THAT WAS THE FIRST GAME THAT I WENT TO IN 1978 WHEN Warren Moon led Washington to a huge upset over Mighty Michingan and I still remember my Dad's excitement it has lived with me to this day and that's a big reason why I've loved football ever since and last night seeing Father's with there young boy's leaving the stadium was a quiet moment for me...as I rode my Bicycle up the hill to our parked Truck (Parking was $25 buck's! There was no way I was going to pay for parking...I'm making movie!)

Entry 01/01/2006 Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!......Did anybody see that USC got reported for Recruting violation's in a Texas newspaper (I thought that was very interesting?) Scandal's before big games? I've been to Pappadakis's Greek Taverna and Mr. Pappadakis is a diehard Trojan and one of the most unique Human Beings that I've had the priveledge to meet on this filmmaking journey almost 4 years ago....I recommend everyone to go to the restaurant and have a great experience and meet a very powerful man. bbv

Entry 01/01/2006 
Coffee pot perculating, the smell of the christmas tree, my sister in the dining room turning the newspaper from page to page...familar sounds of family...I miss these day's maybe this is why they're so big for us and for me...tradition...Oh Holiday's ! Tomorrow it starts again with some great games and I'm already hyped...I miss my Dad today (Dad died 11 years ago) being at my sister's and seeing my brothers and family but no one in the family to watch the games with.......................Tomorrow will be the first games that I'll sit and watch in front of the TV as a fan all season from start to finish of an actually game....I'm excited to watch games from 8 in the morning to 9 at night tomorrow...quick pick's for tomorrow's games....I'll start from the early games and move on up!..................1. I'll Pick Texas Tech over Alabama....Alabama's got a great defense and they thumped Florida early in the season but I'm going on a hunch that Mike Leach and the Red Raider's who are essentialy playing a home game at the Cotton bowl will come through in the end. 2. Iowa vs. Florida...I don't like to pick against Urban Meyer and they played great against Florida State (I was at that game) in there last game Nov.26 but I'm going with Iowa in a dogfight!.....................3. Louisville vs. Virginia Tech....I've seen both of these teams play and this should be a very compeitive game and I'm going against the spread here and picking Louisville to take down the mighty Hokies....one thing I missed out on when I was at the Virginia Tech/Miami game in Blacksburg, Va was the Giant Turkey Leg...they looked so good..next time.......4. Wisconsin vs. Auburn........Auburn thumps the young Badgers .....5. Ohio State vs. Notre Dame...I'm not big on Notre Dame's Defense against such a speedy team like the Buckeye's but I've got to go with a great battle of Brady Quinn/Darius Walker of Notre Dame vs. The Great Linebackers of Ohio State...AJ Hawk and company...Notre Dame wins......now the game I'll be really looking forward to tomorrow is the West Virginia vs. Georgia game ....I love both the Coaches these two guy's in a room together would be awesome to film and that's one of the great things I've had the oppurtunity to ask some of the coaches...."Is who would you like to hang out with and talk shop with" I remember Coach Hal Mumme of New Mexico State telling me about him and Guy Morris of Baylor going up to Colorado and spending two day's just talking about Offensive stratedgy with the great receiver Raymond Berry........I could only imagine Rich Rodriguez and Mark Richt being together talking about life and football two classy guy's with great football chutzpah and one major thing in common their love for Coach Bobby Bowden both coached for Coach Bowden and both put coach Bowden as there Father figure for Coaching Philosophy.....I think Coach Bowden must be very proud of these two guy's!........................Georgia is more dominate physically and they play a very discipline game and they're healthy....I think Georgia is 2 plays away from being undefeated this season...DJ Shockley getting injured...I think they beat Alabama soundly and I was at the Auburn/Georgia game and it was a classic battle...by far one of the best games that I saw this year.....but there is something about the kid's from West Virginia that getting me going and If they can play at the same level that Georgia brings to the kitchen tomorrow night I think the kid's from Morgantown can pull an upset over the mighty Georgia Bulldawg's! but that being in said they must maintain that same level and that will be the key to the game! right after the get go let's see what happen's on the 2nd and 3rd possesion's of the game and who get's the first turnover and special teams surprise! West Virginia over Georgia! My younger brother goes to Thailand tonight for 6 months he is studying abroad for College...I'm so excited for him...I've been to Thailand twice and I absolutely love Thailand...partly because the food....I love Thai Food! and it is a paradise for Hole in the walls...you just walk and you find these little gem's...and If you like boxing they have Thai Boxing and it's really incredible they use their feet to kick as well as Box and there in amazing condition....time for breakfast...last night for New Years Eve...my Sister made Ham w Scallop Potatoes, Asparagus, Green Peas, and Awesome Biscuits! I love to eat one of my New Year's resolution's is no more Sugar...and I want to get in great shape this year and by doing that I've giving myself the goal to sleep more and eat less sugar!............In Los Angeles everybody is talking about the game against Texas.....everywhere you go...this is a big game. 




Entry 12/24/2005 It's great to see family after 4 months on the road...it hit me like a ton of bricks...when I close my eyes I can feel the car moving...I drove close to 21,000 miles (5 oil changes) I'm eating so good...everybody is impressed that I stayed in shape somewhat without doing anything but I got to tell you that driving long distances can be a great workout and I'm thinking about coming out with a book on "Long Drive Workout's" .....The Cal game was great ...the guy's I worked with where really cool and I'm going to meet up with one of the guy's next week in San Diego for the Holiday Bowl..His name is Taani and he's Tongan and his nephew is one of my favorite players in College Football..Haloti Ngata of Oregon the guy is huge and can move and dominate as a DTackle...I'm going to Interview the family next week should be a great Interview and I'm looking forward to eating some good Tongan Food! (I SWEAR ...THE FUNNIEST THING JUST HAPPENED...."Tanni, The Great Tongan Guy From Vegas" just called me when I was writing about him and he told me to get ready to eat some Tongan food and he told me that Haloti's shoe size is 18 and that he's the sweetest kid around...I look forward to meet the Tongan Family! I just ate some great Toffee and my mom made Ginger Bread Cookies and there yummy and It's just good to hear and see family...I had my second oldest friend that I keep in contact with call me out of the blue after the Cal/BYU game...Mark Brown the best athlete that I ever played with...a true adonis. I remember our Junior year in High School and Mark was our star Running Back at Paso Robles High School in California and Mark scored 2 touchdowns on two consecutive Punt Returns and he scored two more touchdowns on only 6 carries and the next day he got in a car crash that killed one of my other teammates Chris Gallegos and Mark was Paralyzed...he since has recovered a great deal...Mark weighed almost 190..standing around 5'11 and he ran a 4.4 and he just hand those hips and true power...as a football fan I wished I would have seen him play...talking to Mike Leach the Coach of Texas Tech...Coach Leach recruited Mark's younger brother Jayson...he was a great slot back player....Football stories so many....I remember Mark in 3 months going from 190 to 103 pounds...I dropped 32 pounds in a month once when I got Malaria in India...I've since gained it and in the next few day's I plan to make up for being on the road and the road was good to me but there is something to say about your Momma's cooking (Family...my sister is a great cook and I have to thank my sister Angela for giving me $400 dollars to finish up the rest of the trip...Hidalgo The Beautiful Jeep Cherokee had a little breakdown in the cold up in the Philly region and Sis came through...) Back to Football for a moment ....Happy Holiday's and Merry Christmas and Football is family and College Football is family and being on the BYU sidelines was really nice because I was able to see the family atmosphere and they really stick together as a fan base and in the end I got to see my favorite team Cal play and talk to the guy's after the game....where eating Crab tonight and where going Caroling...will be a good time. Many blessings

Entry 12/24/2005 Here is a great article on Coach Mike Leach from the New York Times Magazine: Mike is a great guy and really unique in the fact that he see's himself much more as person than a Football Coach and he treated me like a man without conditions...I think one of the unfortunate conditions in our society and that includes College Football is that we put people on pedestals (Athlete's and Coaches and Politican's) Where all people living this life and some people forget that ....Where all the same in this game that has no name it's just a destination without a face called fame....What is fame? Why do we react to a star player or a media personality? and why is there so much importance put on the media...most of the media people ( Star's that I've met over the last 10 years) tend to be very boring...I think a lot of that has to do with single focus and the media's portryal of them...a lot of People in the spotlight tend to be Puppet's for the machine and Mike Leach is not a puppet! Instead Mike Leach is a breath of fresh air and a man of brillance and humanness...thanks Coach (Check this article out of him) http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/04/magazine/04coach.html?pagewanted=print

Entry 12/21/2005 Where do I begin...On this roadtrip...I'm getting closer to getting home...I'll start with that...I'm in a coffee shop in Tuscon, Arizona...I met and Interviewed the coaching staff at Arizona today...a lot of passion from these guy's and good people that want to take on USC! I stayed in a Teepee last night outside Deming, New Mexico...I had a day between Lubbock and Tucson ...so I first went to New Mexico State and Interviewed a unique guy Head Coach Hal Mumme...what a cool guy...He told me stories about Raymond Berry...going to visit him with Guy Morris (Head Coach at Baylor) in Colorado and just talking football for two day's straight...and how he created his offensive over the years and what he learned along the way as a head coach and a man of Football. Coach Mumme knew when he was 9 years old that he wanted to be a Football Coach and he has done it at every level across America....a great story and a really nice man... thanks Coach Mumme. Back to the Hot Springs...I've been wanting to come to these Hot Springs for years and I got the chance and I camped in a Teepee and it was cold in the desert but so Beautiful...I saw 2 shooting stars last night and I made a great wish! So many stars out in the desert...I recommend to anyone that loves water to go to Hot Springs it is so good for you...There was a law among Enemy Indians that you couldn't fight around a Hot Spring...because it was sacred...and they are! College Football, Eating, Surfing, Making Love, and Hot Springs...not a bad couple of hobbies and of course traveling. What a great experience to see America....I've been to 36 states on this trip that's a pretty big road trip...and I'm starting to wear down a bit...tonight I drive to Las Vegas about 8 hours from Tuscon and then back home but not finished ...I'm off to the Holiday Bowl in San Diego a week from today and then the National Championship the next week...I got some great Interviews from the Texas fan's in Austin and I'm looking forward to meeting up with some of them in Los Angeles...From a Teepee in the middle of New Mexico to Las Vegas in 24 hours...should be exciting...Las Vegas was my Dad's favorite place, every year he took us to Vegas. It was a Milano Family Pilgrimage...Circus Circus, MGM, Frontier you name it, we did it....Buffet's, Swimming Pools, and going to the Sport's book's...I was always in heaven at the Sport's Book..so many sports, so many tv's

Entry 12/21/2005 I've had 3 friends in the last 24 hours call me and tell me about the biggest swell in Southern California....I'm talking surfing...at my home break the bathrooms about 30 feet from the water...broke today and came crashing down to the ocean sea...Wow! To ride big waves is the ultimate experince...it takes total focus and commitment...you become the wave and that is the high....and that is what I miss as a Linebacker...that total focus and commitment for the time of the quarteback getting under center and the duration of the play it was such a high speed blur but in that blur you saw everything and that is how it is with Surfing...you see EVERYTHING AND IT BECOMES YOU AND YOU BECOME CONSUMED! SOUL SURFER!

Entry 12/18/2005 I've been part of some great Interviews this year...and this evening was very special...I went and met a great Coach and in the process I learned from and about a unique person...Mike Leach. Thanks coach for your Interest in the human story...I'm completely exhausted it's 12:15 and I've been up since 4:45 in the morning and I'm tired and sore and I've got to brush my teeth...I almost feel like not doing it but I got to you.....(You ever feel so tired that any position feels comfortable?) 4 and half hours with Coach Leach and I felt like we we're just getting started...I had that feeling when I first met Cy Simon in California and we just stared at eachother and talked for 5 hours on barstools and ate burgers and fries (They where great fries...nothing like fresh potatoes...so simple and savory!) Sweet dreams America...

Entry 12/15/2005 Where do I begin........................ How about that I'm in Austin, Texas. In the last week I've been in Philadelphia to Charlotte, NC to Florence, Alabama to Memphis, TN to Ft. Worth, Texas to Austin. A lot of road has been eaten up by Hidalgo and me (Hidalgo is my Jeep Cherokee...I'm hoping Jeep will sponsor the project!).....In Memphis I stayed with a legendary fan and contraversial booster Roy Adams of Memphis, Tennessee. I must say I've yet to meet a fan that has the Photo collection that Mr. Adams has...a fascinating man and a man that loves College Football...I thank Mr. Adams for sharing his story with me and his Hospitality...we had some great talks over Egg Nog and Roy has a dog that weigh's 154 pounds...a big bruiser with a right hook that would make Joe Frazier proud. I love boxing too bad it sucks must of the time...I miss Sugar Ray Leonard. I stayed at Firestation 14 in Ft. Worth, Texas with a great fan named Ricky McKinney...what an experience to stay inside a Firestation...the firemen work 24 hour shift's and they're constantly on call and they do everything really fast and efficient...Rick who lives and breathes North Texas Football! BBQ Pork Rib's with Mesquite and Pecan wood and right before we where to eat...they got a call for a fire and half the Station had to leave because they needed that certain group of the team to leave and do there job...I stayed and ate the best Ribs that I've had on my entire trip...they where savory and they melted of the bone and they where huge. I would like to thank the Firestation for they're team atmosphere and for making me feel a part of the team and Rick McKinney your a great guy and a great Fan...I look forward to watching the State Championship between Carroll South Lake (The Number #1 team in the country) vs. Katy....the last team to beat Carroll. Yesterday, I went to the offices of Dave Campbell's Texas Football and Adam and Jake gave me the lowdown on Texas Football...great guy's and very insightful on passion and love that Texas has for they're Football....and lastly because I've got to go and film on Campus (Texas) and then eat at a place called Opie's (Brisket)...I want to thank Jay at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in Waco....what a great Museum if you get chance I recommend everyone that is a sports fan to go and check out the great exhibits they have ....The exhibit on High School Football is very impressive and gives you a look at the passion and history that Texas has with High School Football....I'm looking forward to seeing this game at Texas Stadium there expected 40,000 fans for a High School game...Wow!

Entry 12/11/2005 WOW! What a game. Quite possbily the best game this year both teams came to play and the big time underdog almost won the cake... I take my hat off to NW Missouri State they played a great game and they almost beat the powerhouse Grand Valley State...It came down to the last play...you got to love the playoff system because the Missouri club was ranked number #20 and they barely got into the playoffs and they almost pulled it off! Does anyone remember Villanova and NC State in Basketball winning the whole thing ..those where some of my favorite moments as a fan...a team coming from nowhere and winning... there is too much money and structure behind the system of Div.1 Football it will never change and thankfully for this year it's the best game that I have ever been involved with.... I think Texas is a great team with a great Offensive Line and a team that could control USC's defense... but SC will score and find a way to win.... I'm headed to Texas this week..and I look forward to hearing the Texas perspective and meeting some great fan's ...I will be staying in a Fire Station with a great fan in the Dallas area...and I hear they make some pretty good Brisket... I ate too much fried chicken the last few day's I've got to get out of Bama!!!! I found a Catfish place down the street from where I'm staying I'm might go there before I go to Memphis................. Back to the Div.2 experience... It was great and the fan's gave it and brang it! So much spirit...and the played with so much heart....a great game and a great time...I want to thank Brandon from D2football.com for putting me up and sharing a part of his story and passion... I had a great experience.

Entry 12/10/2005 I made it to Florence, Alabama and when I woke up early this morning I saw a map with roads leading to me....all the roads where highways and freeways and they where a part of my body....I think I need to get some more sleep last night I took a shower and I stretched in the shower a little bit to loosen my back and when I bent over I felt a little woozy like I was seasick....Carlogged.......and the world of making a movie.................................I'm a kid in a candy store the guy's I'm with our Diehard Football Fan's that live and breathe football we stayed up until almost 4 in the morning last night tallking about the love of Colllege Football....Brandon Misener and Bob Eblen I thank you for a great Interview last night and taking me in and showing and sharing with me the Div.2 experience....Brandon is the creator of D2football.com and Bob is the Northwest regional writer.....thanks guy's...I'm having a blast and I'm my batteries are running on pure spirit....I'm looking forward to this game and meeting some of these great fan's both schools are about 14 hours away...so everybody had to drive! Northwest Missouri State vs. Grand Valley State (Allendale)....Let's get fired up!....Memphis BBQ is coming up!

Entry 12/09/2005 Off to see the wizard the wonderful wizard of all....the roadtrip continues and when does it ever end. Div.2 Championship in Florence, Alabama...Grand Valley State vs. North West Missouri State...Grand Valley is heavily favored but you never know in a championship game and the Bearcats from NW Missouri State are quite a story this year coming alive at the end of the season and barely qualifying for the playoffs and here they are a month later in the championship game....I love the playoff system....ever sport in the world has a playoff system except the best game in sports Div.1 College Football...there most be a lot of money some people are making....in this bowl and conference championship final conference game..mumbo jumbo? I'm looking forward to seeing the passion and people of Grand Valley State (of Michigan) and NW Missouri State.....I grew up in a Div.2 Powerhouse in the early 80's in San Luis Obispo, California and in 1980 Cal Poly won the Div.2 Championship and I can still remember some great players from that team....Louis Jackson who played for the Giants for 2 seasons and Craig Martin....Mel Kaufman....I believe that's right ...a great linebacker and he went on and played for the Redskins for 8 years.....I remember those nights bundling up with Dad and driving 30 minutes to the big game that week seeing 3 to 5 thousand fan's and eating hot dog's and drinking hot chocolate and thinking that this was big time football and to me it was and the game was great and the guy's played there hearts out....I'm looking forward to this game tomorrow and meeting some great fan's! Here we go another 10 hour drive!!!!! From New York City to the Deep South in 2 day's.....aaahhh...

Entry 12/09/2005 And for you High School Fan's...our just fan's of football and great human Interest stories...check out this team in Texas! They're playing for the State Championship this year. ( You must cut and paste into window)......................................................................... http:texasfootball.comindex.phps=&url_channel_id=&url_article_id=478&cha nge_well_id=2

Entry 12/08/2005 632 miles and my back is sore.....I'm back in Charlotte...my stepmom made snickerdoodle cookies I just ate 7 of them with Hot Milk....Alabama tomorrow another 11 hours....got a great story in Bama! It was wonderful to stay with the Wiley family (& Chris Bishop) in Trappe, PA.....good people, good meatloaf, good talks and I learned a lot on how to prepare your kid's for college sports at a high level....1. you teach the kid's to work harder then anyone else 2. you come from Grandparents and Parents that have a lot of passion and character 3. you believe in yourself 4. there is so much more to say after driving the Eastern seaboard....I'll come up with it tomorrow after I had into the deep south.....on the road baby on the road!!!!! Thanks Grant for diving in and sharing your story! Thanks Jim and Lynne for your perspective, passion and love. Chris Bishop thanks for the call and I look forward to the Philly Cheese Steak next time around.....NY I ate Pizza, West Virginia I ate Pepperoni Rolls, Georgia I ate pulled pork and the best cherry tarts in the world! Florida had the best chicken wings....Sinbad's in central Florida, Catfish Mrs. Norvell, Chili Aaron's Aunt Rose, the Huber Family in Seward, Nebraska made us this amazing Corn Casserole and Filet Mignon with Bacon, I remember that Potatoe salad in Corvallis, Oregon that was great with homemade Fried Chicken...Bratwurst in the pressbox in Madison, Wisconsin (Of The Hook).....Babcock Hall Ice cream in Madison, Calhoun's Rib's in Knoxville! Beer Can Chicken in Charlotte....and Arby Pecan Sticky Bun's.....wow...I'm missing a bunch but I'm in the zone...I need to get some sleep before Alabama and the Div.2 National Championship.......New York was amazing......and so was the Pizza! Bruce Feldman is a class act....check out his column at espn.com (Scroll to the College Football section and enjoy one of College Football's best writer's )

Entry 12/07/2005 I'm finally leaving New York City...and it has been an amazing trip. I stayed with one of the top wine writers in the US (Jamal Raysis) and I ate like a champ...Jamal thanks for showing me a great time in New York City! I thought of my mom a lot yesterday...Mom you would like to New York...New York kinda gets under your skin and you become attached to the intimacy of walking and being close to people it's like being at a game all the time...so many people rushing to get somewhere..always eating always moving..I like New York a lot and I thank all the people in New York City that helped me get from point A to point B everyday! I'm off to Philadelphia to stay with the Wiley family and meet up with a guy named Chris Bishop a great guy and great fan...the cool thing about what I'm doing is I get the chance to hear and see people's love and that's the greatest thing about what I'm doing more so then me going to the game's it's really for me about experiencing the great fan's stories and meeting such unique people...because people that have passion or people that our living and I craved to be around those folks....that reminds me of my dad...my dad head a lot of energy and passion for people, food and sports and he passed along to me and I've been hooked and lost for a long time looking for the heartbeat of life and sometimes I feel I get it and especially when I'm close to other passionate folks...and what I've learnded on this trip (several things) is I love to eat......................I hope I don't become a fat man. 3 times a week on this trip I do 4 sets of 51 crunches ( fancy sit ups) I do them for my lower back pain and to keep in shape a little bit...because driving everywhere and eating everything you get a little out of shape. I'm looking forward to seeing all the family photo's at the Wiley house....they had two son's that played linebacker in college and they where both All American's one at D2 and Grant the youngest brother was an All American at West Virginia.....speaking of West Virginia there secondary has done a great job....two of my favorite coaches will be coaching the Sugar Bowl....Rich Rodriguez and Mark Richt...both of these guy's our classy people that love their kid's, their coaches, their fan's and they love to eat.....both guy's have passion for food, people and football! When we Interviewed Coach Richt I asked him about BBQ and he asked us to stop taping because he would get in trouble if the word leaked out on his favorite place. Passion......People.....Football.....Food....not a bad thing there.

Entry 12/06/2005 I'm still in New York City ......can't seem to get out of here...It's been nice to freeze and walk and look at people and eat hot dog's and pizza. It's funny but being here reminds me of my dad...a lot of emotions in this unique city...shot some monuments today full of pictures of people that died in 9/11...what does that have to do with football? It has a lot to do with America and College Football is America and this is a roadtrip across America meeting the great fan's and the experience of being on the road and living that dream. I've been to 29 states to this point...that's over half of America! I think by the end will have been to over 36 states...that's pretty good and it was pretty good to meet Bruce Feldman today and Interview him today Bruce is my favorite College Football Writer and Bruce works for ESPN and Bruce is a good guy and has a lot of talent as a writer and person...I look forward to what he brings to us ...I also ate my 1st piece of Pizza in New York today and I shared a Calzone with a woman in line right behind me ... because it was the last Spinach and Cheese (that was fun)...had a New York Cop snap at me because I touched his paper plate on accident ( I wanted to wop him one). The one thing about being in New York is the stimulus...there is so much going on my head is on a swivel and my mind is always on there our so many things to see and do...Bruce's favorite players this year our Greg Blue...safety for Georgia and Reggie Bush of SC....I like Blue a lot myself..he is a tough guy that brings a lot of energy and courage to each game....a real competitor....Reggie to me is a cross between Eric Dickerson and Marshall Faulk.....he has that straight up speed and then that dart speed ....Bush is really something else ...I don't if he stay's in school because he will graduate after 3 years ..congrats to him for being such a great student athlete.

Entry 12/05/2005 Today is Monday....how time goes and flies by....It's hard to believe sometimes that I've been on the road for this long...The game on Saturday was very special and a game that I recommend to any great fan of sports. The game represented so much more then a football game, It highlighted I'm almost everything you can Imagine.....and just seeing the Generals and Officers all dressed up and showing and sharing their respects was an honor as a fan and as a filmmaker...I thank our armed forces for a great tradition and again.....If you want to experience something really unique to sports you must go to this game and go early...go to the gala on friday night...and they tailgate big time at this game and they do it up right. Thank you Dylan for helping me out...you brought a lot of positivity and spirit to filming.....Dylan camera man number #9 from Long Island, New York!

Entry 12/05/2005 I'm in New York City and It's snowing and I'm Interviewing writer's that I respect big time in the College Football world...When you get a chance there is a writer from Alabama that writes for the New York Times, he's name is Warren St. John and Warren has written a wonderful book called Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer and it is a must If you enjoy Football and a good read. I had the priveledge to meet up with Warren today at his office and Warren's got a lot of great things in front of him...I look forward to his next creative expression in the future...tomorrow I'll Interview Warren and Bruce Feldman of ESPN....( I hope so ) sometimes it's hard because these guy's are so busy with there workloads and they're deadlines and I'm not so sure there use to being Interviewed....I can't wait to ask these two great writers about their love for College Football and hear there story about how they became writers on this beautiful game...I like New York...I walked almost 90 city blocks today that's a lot of walking carrying a big camera around and it was snowing.....so many lights around Madison Square Garden and Time Square....New York...I bought a 2 Dollar I Love NY T-shirt today and I had the 3 dollar Two Hot Dog Special at Papaya Dog...New York in the cold has great Hot Dog's!!!!

Entry 12/02/2005 My eyes are bloodshot....what a drive last night getting into Washington D.C. around 4am from Charlotte...I slept for 3 hours in my jeep and it was cold. What a sight for sore eyes though seeing the nations capital for the first time today getting lost outside the White House (It really is white) and getting found by the museum system of D.C.....every Museum is free! It's a smorgaboard for Museum buff's....I talked to the folks on the streets of DC and the general consensus is Navy Big! I don't think so...this game is going to very emotional and hard fight to the end this year. I'm wiped! Took a great shower doesn't feel great when your wiped out and cold to take a shower just feeling the water wash away the day and warm the soul. Pick's this week: USC over UCLA (Spencer Havner and Maurice Drew Keep it Close Though...Havner is wonderful linebacker that always seems to be around a big play ready to happer!!!! I think he'll be very successful at the next level)................Florida State in the shocker of the season...........over Virginia Tech in Jacksonville! Bobby Bowden pulls out all the tricks and get's it done...........West Virginia over South Florida....why did S.Florida lose last week to UCONN.....this could have been a very special game for them....that's too bad........Colorado has no chance...I was hoping Nebraska would get a shot at the Longhorns..........The bed is calling.....a big day tomorrow full of history and tradition....I'm looking forward to going to the farthest part of the stadium and getting some interviews up in the cheap seats ( I'm mean the cold seats it's going to be a cold one tomorrow) I'm also looking forward to the song's after the game ....where the teams and schools sing eachother's song out of honor and tradition and in the end we are the same team and we are America and being in front of the Washington Monument today was very touching seeing all the flag's around the Pillar in the sky.....George Washington was 6'2 and in that day he was equalivent to 6'9..(That's what the Park Ranger said) Flag's Washington DC has a lot of Flag's ......that's a big difference between the south and the west ....in the south everybody seems to have flag's hanging from there porch....back home people don't put flag's out that much......I miss sweet tea!

Entry 12/02/2005 It's 3:06 in the morning.....I can't sleep...I feel like I'm on a boat waterlogged but instead of a boat I'm carlogged the motion of the road is in me tonight. I've seen so many people on this trip...I've been a human sponge looking into people's life's asking questions about who they are? Why they have passion? and What makes this passion a large part of their life? My 1st love was Football that's all I remember playing with the football, sleeping with it, biting it, throwing it all over the house being penalized by mom (The Kitchen is of limits) jumping on the bed ala Walter Payton from the 1 yard line, making football dummies from stacks of pillows and diving over the couch when mom or dad wheren't home...........I remember running towards the sun and feeling the grass and mud between my toes....I remember a lot things and being on the road and asking these questions of others has allowed me to re-visit why I became a fan............Army/Navy game is in 11 hours...I remember when I played, I couldn't sleep a lot of the time. I use to be so excited. I would go over play's in my mind and different scenario's seeing myself victorious. What stops a man from dreaming? What stops a man from seeing himself victorius?

Entry 12/01/2005 I'm headed to Philly for the classic Army vs. Navy game....The 10 hour drive is just moments away. I'm looking forward to the intensity and spirit of our military brothers and seeing some great football on Saturday. All the tradition with the call and response cheers...the hat's flying and the song's at the end of the game and them playing for the love knowing that this might be there last game...because of there duties after they complete they're schooling....I look forward to being there and documenting some powerful footage...I will do my best.

Entry 11/30/2005 I'm listening to Burt Bacharach and I'm having flashback's of John Madden as the Raider Coach. John Madden you did okay for yourself and since we just left Thanksgiving you ate pretty good to and didn't you help create a little food phenom in that Stuffed Turkey Stuffed Duck Stuffed Chicken thing....why do I love to eat so much...what is it about good food. I think I hit it pretty good with some of these little Mom and Pop's in the middle of the beautiful south...what I like about them is that the whole community supports the effort of them making simple good food( at lunch the places our packed with all the locals and all the local talk "How was the rabbit hunt, Bill" )....give me Collard Greens, Green Beans, Buttermilk Cornbread (Makes it a little sour but it's good for soaking up the good stuf...Meat!!!!) I love it! I use to be a Vegetarian for about 3 years and one day about 8 years ago my mom was over at my friend Pete's house and they said they where going to make some T-Bones, Baked Potatoe with Sour Cream and Chives, a good Salad and some Fresh Corn...........something happened that day that I don't question anymore and since that day I've eaten things that must would probably question! I smelled the meat cooking (You know how that smell of good BBQ has that special effect on you when your starving?) and My stomach began to rumble and my thoughts began to become un-clear kinda like when your really attracted to a certain women and you just can't keep your mind on being anything but what you feel................and my MOM looked at me and out of instincts put the T-Bone on my plate and it was a big plate and this bad boy filled the plate and I didn't even pray....I just dug in and devoured that steak...I ate it and then I cracked open the marrow and sucked the marrow from the bone and then I ate another one and I did the same again and I didn't even touch the other dishes....I was in deep pleasure.... Pete and Mom where quiet...there was no joking around it was a religious experience and I'm glad I was a vegetarian for 3 years because I would have never had that experience that I had that day....I fill the same with being alone on this portion of the trip....When does a man become a man in his life...I've made more enemies this last year then I think I've made my entire life and I think I know why know because I'm becoming myself and that is a hard thing for one to become and I feel like I'm just getting to it and in that process others flock to the sun it's by nature ....it's like when a tiger see's meat he's going to devour it and I finally feel like I'm becoming the Tiger that I've always imagined myself to be and in this process... I'm still scared because I know I'm very close to something special..... Myself...... When I was heading into 7th grade.....I use to go over to the High School Practice field it was about two blocks from our cul de sac house and I would bring my sleeping bag and I would sleep on the field and look up at the stars (a lot of stars in Paso Robles, Ca) and dream of playing and to this day like the smell of the meat cooking...when I smell the grass of fall....my blood turns and my heart beats faster...knowing it's time for battle and effort...it's Football Season and there is nothing like it!................... Well maybe there is something at least I've tried everything it seems...to get the addiction of Football out of me and it didn't work like me being a vegetarian it didn't work for me........but folks there is this thing called Big Wave Surfing and once it get's in your blood your a different person and your hooked on the sensation and the intensity of your total focus given in that moment it is a rush of power and skill that I've never experienced outside of being locked on as a Linebacker feeling my feet barely touch the ground and hearing my voice inside my head "C'mon, C'mon, C'mon, C'mon" and then bang it's all reaction and instinct and then it's a tackle and it's over ....what a rush! It's almost 2 in the morning and I'm headed to the Army/Navy game...what a beautiful event ...I'm looking forward to feeling the tradition of the past carry the future to the present....... and to see America.

Entry 11/28/2005 You go all across the country and you meet all these different people and what do they have in common...................(Lot's).......................................The 1st week: I remember the Seilaf Brother's and I remember the Mustang Ornament one of the brother's gave me (It hangs from my mirror in my jeep 'Hidalgo') 2nd week: I remember being on top of the stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska looking down on the full house and seeing the sea of red everywhere and hearing Peg the sky box coordinator tell her story about selling Girl Scout Cookies and treating her mom to ticket's to her 1st game when she was 10 years old.....3rd week: Sitting with Mike LeCrone the band director for Wisconsin and eating his left over's of boiled potatoe's and fish and hearing him tell us about his passion of being 69 years old and still having the hair raise on the back of his neck when he takes the field as the band leader for Wisconsin.....4th week: Oct.1st walking up to a priest at Notre Dame (Leon) and him taking us on a tour of the chapel and telling us about Joe Montana as a student...."Joe was brash and a real leader and quite full of himself" 5th week: Seeing Joe Pa ....seeing him dance with energy at the pep rally, filming him from 5 feet away and the crowd in a frenzy....it felt so innocent at the rally like I was in High School again at a big game versus our big rival.....5th Week: Oct.15th going up to the student section to see Big Cat (Mountaineer Maniac's) in the 4th quarter and West Virginia was getting totally out played the score was 24-7 and it wasn't looking good and then "Magic Hit Morgantown" and I witnessed the most incredible turn around that I've ever seen in person it was truly amazing how Owen "I ate 60 chicken wings" Scmitt and Steve "The Touchdown Kid" Slayton and Pat "The Heart Attack" White took over the 4th quarter and overtimes to win the game!..... 6th Week: Eating soul food at Big Ed's in Raleigh (Chicken n' Biscuits) with my brother and talking about our dad's love for food...7th week: Driving all over Tennessee with Cy Simon and filming him from the back seat of his son Kevin's Cadillac! 8th week: Emotionally losing it with the Hurricane fan's at a restaurant called "Corned Beef"in Roanoke,Va and witnessing a religious experince with Jino and the Hurricane crew doing the call and response... truly a highlight! "C....A.....N.....E....S" 9th week: Nov.12th Mike 'Big Dawg's Wood's wife Diane made us a pecan pie out of southern hospitality....10th week: Drinking my only milk shake on the trip at Mac's Diner in Clemson, South Carolina what a great place....all those pic's on the wall and all that history over the last 50 plus years....Mac is quite a legend....and seeing William "The Fridge" Perry's pic's and hearing the stories about one player eating over 38 hamburger's...anytime your in Clemson you've got to check out this place it's a must for that old throw back place! 11th week: Spending 4 hours at Gatorland Park Orlando, Florida with Park Director Tim Williams who is a big time Florida Gator fan and seeing the gators up close and personal with Fred The Head 2 (Diehard Seminole fan)and my two Brother's..12th week: Stopping on the Intersection marker 135 and touching the sign with my little Brother Michael....then saying a prayer with in the car for our Dad Marko who died at this spot 10 years ago............so many different memories over the last 3 months...what about you? What are your memories over the last 3 months and on a different note what are your 10 things you would like to do before you die? Go to Jerusalem? Go to the National Championship? Go on an African Surfari? Dance til dawn in Ibiza, Spain? Eat Gelato (Italian Ice Cream) in Italy? Have dinner with Joe Paterno at his house? So many dreams.......do you ever remember older people telling you that life goes by so fast (I do) and now I'm in it and I realize how fast it all goes....seeing the College life up close and personal seeing the students and seeing the alumni and seeing how the town's are built on the life of the young and how it cycles from year to year and how the football programs tie in the young and the old and create the bond of the fan's and the community for each university. Football is more then guy's beating each other up and down a 100 yard field and it's more then beer keg's at 6am on a Saturday morning and it's more then a cheerleader half naked in front of you and it's more then screaming at the top of your lung's for 3 hours and it's more then watching, reading and listening...it's all of these things and more and there beautiful and there Football and there College and I'm full from eating left over Turkey. I like Thanksgiving.

Entry 11/27/2005 PLEASE BE WARNED ....YOU WILL READ LOT'S OF TYPO'S AND AWFUL GRAMMAR AND RUN ON SENTENCE'S .....Jack Kerouac would not be proud and also my 10th grade english teacher Mr. Berto would be "Tony, Tony, What happened"....Berto had the worst breathe known to man....a mixture of bad coffee and fresh cigarettes...but a special thanks goes to Berto...he always pushed me to write and be creative even if I was barbaric. Enjoy the run on sentences...they're longer then the runs I wished I had as a high school full back....that being said people you must watch this kid out of West Virginia named Owen "60 Chicken Wing" Schmitt ...I love this kid! He came from Div.3 (Wisconsin) and he transferred and walked on to the Mountaineers and the kid is a "Man Child" ...I'm making my prediction right now in the big game come January 1st week....Owen 60 Chicken Wing will be the key to the game..because the Mountaineers will be playing a school that matches up with them on speed and they will have a special ingredient for that school from the SEC and that will be the Chicken Wing Mad Man ....Owen Schmitt coming out of the back field catching screens and hammering the safeties and softening the middle of the "D" to open the middle up for the fab Freshmen ..can you believe how loaded the backfield is for West Virginia and they're so young....congrats to Coach Rodriguez and for the team for not tanking after the Virginia Tech game and for they're bonding as a team over the last few months. I really like this team.

Entry 11/27/2005 Food secret 101! Okay Football Food Fan's get out the left over Turkey and get yourself some Baby Ray's BBQ sauce and dose that bad boy and put her in the microwave for about a minute and 12 seconds and walla walla.....you got yourself what I just had and it's absolutely delicious. I have 3 Brother's and I just got back from Florida with my two youngest Aaron 19 and Michael 16 and we had a very memorable experience....we drove over 15 hundred miles in 4 days ...so we had a lot of time in the car together which happens to be a big theme in the Movie and we played this one game called Popcorn....it's basically each person starts with a story and you go around and around continuing the story....making up the story as you go (after your finished with your turn which is up to you, you say Popcorn and then the next person continues the story).....I highly recommended it the next time your driving across America without a radio in your car (Radio Got Stolen) . About my brothers....tonight on the way home from Florida we stopped on Highway 26 at the 135 mile marker and there was a candle still there that I left the previous week ... (I'm my way to the South Carolina/Clemson game) It's where our Dad had his automobile accident and we stopped there together as a family and each one said a story about our dad and we made a pact with each other and then we ran outside the jeep and touched the mile marker. I'm thankful to share this time with them and I'm going to miss them...I had a great thanksgiving and that being said I want to thank our main fan for the week and his lovely family for taking care of us and showing us a wonderful time in Central Florida...Mr. Bill Keene and his wife Lisa and his lovely daughters....thank you for the food and hospitality and the Florida State War Chant still lives inside me ....all I remember Friday night was going to bed around 2;30 in the morning and Bill listening to the War Chant and then him waking me up around 6 am and the War Chant was still on.............................The Swamp is a great place to see a game and the Florida Fan's bring a lot of noise to the game .....good fan's and I love the colors this week....Blue and Orange everywhere.....oh yeah I forgot to mention the different types of Gator Meat I ate this week.....Fried Gator, Rib's of Gator, Stewed Gator, Filet Gator and Pepper Sauce Gator!!!!!!

Entry 11/23/2005 It's almost Thanksgiving...A time of tradition and ritual. I remember being in Massachusetts right out of High School for Thanksgiving and the local High Schools playing on Turkey Day and I thought it was the coolest thing watching Northhampton High on a freezing day and drinking Hot Cider and later having Hot Chocolate and curling up with a beautiful girl and everyone cheering and then we left the game and had a feast! and like College Football...we've made a deep tradition and I've learned that on this trip from the fan's I've met and the places I've gone everyone has a team and every state has it's unique take on Ritual and Tradition from a unique song to a local eatery that everyone goes to after the game all across America on a Saturday afternoon people having been going to College Football games and sharing there love and passion for this game and like Thanksgiving it's become a deep bond for many people's lives from all spectrums and in this spectrum we find another family .....The Football Family and when it's your team and your a diehard fan...it doesn't matter if your rich or poor, black or white being a true fan transcends all barriers and that is Incredible and that is one of the beautiful things I've learned on this trip across America and I'm very thankful for on this Thanksgiving! Eat alot of food and then have an extra piece of pie and then complain about it and then talk about a story from another time and realize your part of something really incredible....a Holiday, a Ritual, a Tradition! Godbless America, be safe and eat with reckless abandon! and watch some great football this weekend I'll be in Florida for the Florida State/Florida game with my two brother's ....Michael age 16 and Aaron age 19...It's a great feeling to be with family and see yourself in them and how you've influenced them as people and in the end how they've inspired me to stay open and to keep growing as a man. Tony

Entry 11/21/2005 What a weekend....all across America heart's where opening and hurting....the agony and ecstasy of being a fan of your team. I got the opportunity to watch a great In-state rivalry that alot of people in College Football don't talk about the South Caroina vs. Clemson battle....a great mix of different perspecitives and a much anticpated game each year. I had so many stories of guy's working together and all year it's bragging rights and who get's to pick where lunch is for a month? The game was close and it could have went to both teams and in the end it went with the farmer's from Clemson....The South Carolina fan's made sure I knew what a tractor was because that was the only thing the Clemson fan's knew how to drive....They where having a good time with each other and that's what it's all about!!!!! At the end of the game with about a minute left .....I got one fan...a Clemson Diehard Crying on camera....The sound was loud with the Clemson Fan's in hysteria...I just hope I got what I think I got...It was pure emotion....a man in his element, a fan in ephoria....bleeding the spirit of his school..........................................................Every few weeks a player from one of the games really stands out to me and this week .....like previous week's a kid stood way above the other kid's with pure instincts and that special innate gift to play the game of football. That kid is a freshmen reciever named Sidney Rice of South Carolina .....he's a blend of Jerry RIce meets Randy Moss....so fluid with suprising strength looks like he's playing basketball on the football field....he's got that grace..I really enjoyed watching him as football fan and l Iook forward to seeing him play at the College level the next few years under Steve Spurrier's Offensive genius.....Coach is a great chess player and he's done an excellent job coming into South Carolina and making them tough to beat...other then there game against Auburn...The Gamecocks where in a chance to win every game this year and alot of that is coaching.

Entry 11/18/2005 Fried Chicken, Pulled Pork.... and 3 Brownies.... there goes my belly again...I gotta look good when I get back to Los Angeles!!!! I like sweet tea! Collard Greens, Cole Slaw, Green Beans...The last few day's I've been eating like a big dog! Special thanks to Mac's in Clemson what a cool place and what a great storyteller Mac is.... thank you for the Interview and the food...I thought it was interesting that Ex-Clemson Coach Danny Ford use to have his weekly show inside Mac's ( Where did they fit?) Places like Mac's is what make this road trip special seeing the country and meeting the faces behind these special places make it a unique adventure for me! Speaking of a unique adventure on my way out of Athens.... Mike Woods aka "Big Dawg" (Georgia Diehard Fan) told me about a jewel called Zeb's outside of Danielsville about 2 miles.... the place has nostalgia and I met some of the best Football Fan's on the entire trip at this beautiful "Hole N The Wall".... I met these guy's that make Custom Van's for College Football Fan's all across the country in this small BBQ Joint in the middle of Georgia.... we we're all shaking our heads in disbelief that we met.... but that's the story and I went for it because I wasn't going to stop by Zeb's but I was like c'mon Tony going deeper and I got rewarded with a great new friendship with Pam and Family at Zeb's and the guy's at American Van (DC, Jim and the gang!) What amazing fans and guys!!!! Special thanks to American Van for putting all the stickers on Hidalgo The Jeep!!!!!! Now The Jeep is the official "America's Greatest Fan Mobile".................................Leaving South Carolina tonight witnessing The Tiger Burn! Over 5.000 fan's where out there tonight to witness the 25 foot Tiger burnt to the ground...It's a big game and it was great to spend a few day's in both towns to get the feel of this great rivalry between the two school's...South Carolina has won it's last 5 and Clemson has won it's last 4 out of 5 and both team's our playing great football...should be a great tomorrow and everyone in the State of South Carolina is fired up for this game saying it's the best game between the two schools since George Roger's was in school in the 80's ......The Gamecock fan's love Coach Spurrier and I got the chance to meet him and he was very nice man.....I had a great Interview with one of his former player's at Florida and the Redskins ....a really cool guy Robert Gillespie...He started playing pee wee football in Mississippi when he was 6 years old and I interviewed him on his life and what College Football has done for him and he gave his heart in the Interview and It was an honor to hear him tell his story and how thankful is for what Football has given to him because it is his life now as a Coach for South Carolina...he made me promise him that I would go to a Soul Food Restaurant in Gainsville called Mom's and he insisted on me eating The World's best Oxtail's and Rice!!! I'm fired up.... I love food and being in the south and eating at all these Mom and Pop's has rekindled the spirit of the trip for me and in the south if you're on the street corner or at the gas station you can talk football.... I was eating Fried Chicken today and the folks next to me where smashing there roll's and the showed me how to eat Southern Fried Chicken with smashed roll's and it was delicious.... but back to the story about Football fan's in the south...The Fried Chicken Smashed Roll's people where great Football fan's and they talked about how everyone in South Carolina looks forward to this rivalry each and every year..."You, Could be 0-11 and beat Clemson and it's a livable season" That's how they feel down here.....they live and breathe Football 12 months a year ....It's non-stop and the fan's our mad and they have nick name's....It's great!

Entry 11/17/2005 I read a great article on rock muscian Bono from the group U2 today and I found it really interesting how he talked about growing up and how he became an artist. He also talked about his relationship with his father and it hit home on why I created America's Greatest Fan it was a chance to get close to my father again...18 years have passed since I left Football as a player and my father died 10 years ago and the one thing we had together was me playing and us watching sports together and after I quit playing after one year of College. My father and I didn't talk for about 5 years (It was a tough transition for us) ....I loved my dad dearly and the one thing we could talk about was football and he loved to watch me play...he was my greatest fan...he rarely missed pratices and he never missed a game in 9 years of playing football, basketball or baseball. Making the movie about the fan's is an extinction on something I miss dearly with Dad. I miss the little things...I miss the comments...I miss the bond between father and son

Entry 11/15/2005 The south is humid. It reminds me of traveling in Asia a few years ago....I've been eating Collard Greens the last 3 day's ....I found these little Mom and Pop southern cafeteria place's ...I love these "Hole N The Wall's" and they love Football...I met a guy yesterday that talked my ear off and gave me the ABC's on what make's good Grit's.....a great guy and a great fan. The Auburn/Georgia game still lingers in my system...I feel bad for Georgia! It was one of those games where you hate to see a team lose and that's SEC Football....These guy's go after! That being said I think Southern Cal has the best Offense in College Football...they're defense scares me ....I think Texas will giv'em a game....I also think Scott Ware the other Safety for USC doesn't get enough credit compared to Darnell Bing the All American from Long Beach Poly. This week is about Food....I had my 1st milk shake last night and I topped it of with a mighty cheeseburger....it was grub and the place has been open for over 57 years ....It looked great on camera and it was a piece of classic Americana in the south!

Entry 11/13/2005 Early Sunday Morning! Alot on my mind. 1st what a beautiful game and how heartbreaking to have a loser in the win column. Both teams came to play and who ever had the ball for the last pure possession would when this game....the momentum swayed back and forth like a great boxing match. Beautiful Specatle...Beautiful Sport...Beautiful Football Game...wow! The Georgia fans our classy and spirited...thank you Georgia...and congratulation's to the Auburn Tiger's what a game for you and your fan's.

Entry 11/13/2005 Today I leave on my own....Mark Beuller is off to Wisconsin and Scrappy Norvell (Aaron) will be heading back to Los Angeles ....these last few weeks will be very personal and a deeper look into being a fan... I'm sad and excited about the new experiences to come....I want to thank Aaron Norvell for acting and producing the last few months and I want to acknowledge that without him alot of the access to the coaches and stadiums wouldn't have been possible....thank you Scrappy for doing some terrific things! for America's Greatest Fan!!!! and to Mark Beuller you came on a journey and you got a journey...I look forward to you doing your project ....YOU ARE STEVE McQUEEN...KEEP THAT SPIRIT! Again Aaron Norvell thank you for having the balls to come on the trip ....there where alot of guy's before you and you stepped up to the plate and I will always be grateful for that...regardless of our personal differences the last few months....I thank you Aaron for doing some great things as an Actor and a Producer of America's Greatest Fan!!!!!!! The next month should be very thoughtful and Introspective ....I'm looking forward to going solo....to meet America, to be a Fan.

Entry 11/12/2005 IT'S ABOUT THAT TIME!!!!! Big Time SEC Football baby! Auburn vs. Georgia.....The Oldest rivalry in the south! Last night upon arriving home...I took a walk and I talked to my friend Sandro back home in Venice Beach and he went on like he does................ and he started going into the history of our country and the battles that where fight right where I was walking and talking to him and I got to tell ya (My favorite phrase right now) that's been the amazing aspect of the America's Greatest Fan trip across America....seeing our country, seeing the subtle differences between states even counties and at this point the great thing that I'm getting the chance to witness up close and personal is the intense feelings between rivalries in the great SEC Conference....."I Got To Tell Ya" The fans hear our rabid....Just look at the games in the conference this week down in South Carolina you got Spurrier playing the Gators for the 1st time that's a great story and should be a very compeitive game..I'll go on a limb and say that S. Carolina is playing the better football right now but I'll pick Florida to win that game by 12 points and down in Alabama country you got a slugfest, a battle, a great atmosphere for the LSU/Crimson Tide game....I want Alabama to win because I want the BCS to go to a playoff but I think Les Miles and Jamarcus Russell of the Purple Tigers win this won and win it by 14 points!!!! and the game where about to see tonight (It's our 5th Night game in a row....can we please get a day game in there...I'm serious...I miss the day game's) Georgia Bulldog's vs. The Auburn Tiger's .....Who do you pick between Bo Jackson and Herschel Walker either way you got a great player but learning from the Georgia Fan's down here in the state of Georgia....Herschel is a legend and by far the most loved former player that we've came across so far on our trip and I would have to say that about the Mascot as well and yesterday had to prove it we went and met up with 8 Bulldog Families and a whole street corner in Athens stopped checking out what we where filming....UGA is loved and the Bulldog is king in the State of Georgia..........................now about the game, I look forward to this game being a war two teams taking it to eachother every play no rest in effort and I expect the game to be settled by less then a touchdown and I can't really pick....part of me thinks Georgia will eventually wear down Auburn and maul them by attrition but the kid's from War Eagle country got some big hearts and I look for a war of hard nosed football....Southern Style to the bone!!!! Now back to Food because they love to eat down here in this part of the country!!!!!...Mrs. Big Dawg yesterday (Mrs. Woods) made us a Southern Pecan Pie and Big Dawg himself picked the Pecans from his trees .....It Good Was Good!!!!! and last night we went and saw a Documentary Film on UGA The Mascot called "Damn Good Dog" ....I didn't watch it, I sat outside the theatre and talked to the Director Erikka and her sister Michelle good people....real good people....I thank Erikka for sitting with me and giving me a lot of encouragement and teaching!!! but back to food! After that we went to Weaver D's and Erikka and Sis from "Damn Good Dog" came with us ...(Erikka did a cooking show on Dexter from Weaver D's) and we had ourselves a Southern Fish Fry....Catfish, Flounder, Hush Puppies, Green Bean's, Boiled Potatoes with butter, Cole Slaw, Baked Beans and Sweet Tea. It was great and the atmosphere was down home...Folks where playing Cards and then the jukebox got playing and it was Marving Gaye and then Earth, Wind and Fire and I was out there do my 'White Man Can Dance' and then I started singing and I felt good and it was just fun to be simple. I had a really good time....and what felt the best was I was able to be myself amongst strangers that made me feel at home...there was no judgement in me singing and dancing and being open with how I felt.....thank you Athens, Georgia for your kindness and putting things in perspective and what's really important in the end..........."BE YOURSELF" AND DON'T LET ANYBODY TAKE THAT FROM YOU!

Entry 11/10/2005 PEOPLE I JUST MET MY 1ST BULLDOG!!!!!!! Driving up to Mike "Big Dawg" Woods Property and there they where two big one's ...one pushing 80plus and the other over 60 pounds and they where chomping and huffing and making prehistoric kinda noises .....trying to bite the camera!!!! Bulldog's Are Cool! So is Coach Richt of Georgia.....I really liked him alot. I wish I had more time with him to ask him about Coach Bobby Bowden and give him the right time to go into his story but that being said we got a great 15 minutes with him and I thank Scrappy for getting the Interview with Coach Richt...(Coach Mark RIcht is good man with a big heart full of character and perspective! ) Athens, Georgia is a cool place and the people are real nice and they give you sweet tea all the time. I like it!!!! That being said I got sick for the 1st time on the trip...my stomach has been on acid patrol....'Burnin and Gurglin' put me through the roof!!! I've got to put a chill on things ....it's hard when there's so much food to be eaten....I look forward to seeing the town tomorrow....We have Interview's with 4 families of Bulldog's tomorrow in 5 Point's Athens (10 dog's in total) and later in the evening we're going to a documentary on UGA The Mascot...Interviewing the director of the feature film and owner of UGA Sonny Seiler.....it's all about the DAWG this week!!!!! and for dinner we're headed to a Fish Fry at Dexter Weaver's joint ! Can you say Hush Puppie! Pass the Catfish please!!!

Entry 11/09/2005 (11/07/2005) It's been over 3 years working on the project "America's Greatest Fan"…. now as I lay in bed in Charlotte, NC writing on my laptop…I think of all the different people that I've talked to about the project which was 1st called “In Your Face, America” and I've got to thank my mom for sitting with me and helping me craft out the initial skeleton of “America's Greatest Fan” …I remember my mom playing catch with me as a kid more then my dad playing with me and growing up in California in the 70's I remember my favorite Quarterback was Kenny”The Snake” Stabler of the Oakland Raider's and my mom and dad where both left handed ….so I always imagined them to be Kenny Stabler and my mom had a great arm! I've got to give special thanks to Michelle Raven! Michelle you always said, “Ideas are worth shit!” and I've fight you over that statement since you said it to me almost 2 years ago and finally I understand what you mean…I've lived in my dreams for so long that I never seemed to do them and know that I'm doing it and making it happen. …It's not as hard as I bought into…I'm giving Nike some props on this one…”Just Do It” and to the old yoga guru man I met in the south of India…he said to me in broken English…”Swim the river of life and you won't be caught on the shore of your mind”…I've met a lot of great fans the last few years and in the last two months traveling across our beautiful country…so many great people our coming up to us and saying thank you for making this happen…. this is a dream that I've always wanted to do! I've got to tell you it's been such a dance to create this …just getting it of the ground! I use to be a very, very social person…a hundred friends and every night something planned and up to the last 3 years I've had to change to make this happen ….I have this analogy of myself being a wild horse and over time I've been tamed by life…through the struggles, joy's and pitfalls of trying to become something more then just a dream. What makes a person go for a dream and in that process still be a person of integrity and consciousness? I think a big part of my healing with my dad has been going for my dream…I've had and still do have a lot of anger toward my dad breaking up our family when I was 7 years old because his dream of success was bigger then keeping the family together and I've always had a chip on my shoulder for people that sacrifice others for their dreams and know being in my dream and being in that point of my life where I feel like I'm swimming instead of being eating away on the shores of life (I have a lot more respect for my dad and other men that go for their dream and I've done a lot of healing on this trip about my dad and other men…I realize how difficult it is to do a dream and to maintain the focus and pureness of making a dream possible because Men in general our looking for their dream and we look for other men to show us our teach us how to get there…I certainly have!) The last 3 years I've changed so much and by me going to India, It was a deeper calling for me to learn how to get closer to what was really important to me…going to India was a time and place of deep reflection…a lot of the day's where spent doing nothing and in that nothingness there spawns a lot of self examination and I got the chance to see things from the past …things that where lost but not forgotten and by me having the time and I got to tell you it's not always easy doing nothing …just sitting with yourself, looking at Coconut tree's, reading all day, hearing Hindu men sing for hours and watch monkey's and cow's roam and rule where they please…a very unique time and adventure I highly recommend it to anyone that is looking for a challenge and a gift to themselves! Because I got to tell you …a few years ago I was the kind of person that couldn't stand to be alone for 15 minutes. I was always on the phone with someone, or had the radio on all the time or was watching the TV, the house was never quiet and I believe quiet time is quite essential in maintaining and acknowledging your true self and in the end your dream…. Now after going to India for that period of time (one year)…I'm more concerned with my dreams and in that respect others dreams as well. I'm always asking people what their dream is? What is your dream? My dream is to tell stories about people? I really feel like I found something that makes me feel alive and special. What makes you feel alive and special? College Football on Saturdays for 4 month's of the year! I don't know about you folks but I get real down after College Football season! I get fired up and excited for March Madness but after that It just doesn't do it for me. Thank god for Surfing and the California Sunshine!

Entry 11/09/2005 Athens, Georgia.......we're here...last night we went to Weaver D's Soul Food Restaurant ....I've heard about Weaver's for a few years...each town or state we go to I try to go to some local favorite restaurant...because I love food....c'mon people College Football, Food, Love what else is there....alot actually and that's what makes life so special there is so much to learn and to do...that's why I love to travel because you get the chance to meet other people and see other part's of the Country or World and in that discovery you get the chance to see yourself in different way's that if you where at home you wouldn't get the chance....by far one of the great aspects of the journey across America has been the last few weeks seeing the tree's change colors in the fall setting ....West Virginina, Pennslyvania, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia the foliage setting was Incredible....that being said! Colors of the teams...each town, each College has it's color and each week we've been apart of that school spirit and we've been wrapped up in the colors of each place...this week it's Red and the mascot is the Bulldog...named UGA! ....speaking of colors ....being in Nebraska and being surrounded by the sea of Red and at Penn State in the stadium being eating alive by the famous "White Out". The entire student section was white and they where 35,000 plus, it was an amazing spectacle of team and school spirit that day for Penn State vs. Ohio State and being last week up in Blacksburg, Va for the Virginia Tech/Miami game and seeing the colors of the Hokies and looking out at the mountains and trees and the team colors where almost identical to the fall colors....that was really cool to experience! But back to food....on Friday night we got Invited to go to a Fish Fry...(Southern Style) cole slaw, hush puppies, sweet tea and a juke box in the corner and you know I'll be wearing my dancing shoes because I love to get down to the funky groove and that's what's so cool about life and traveling....they're are alot of good times to happen and be apart and I gotta tell ya.....America...we've got a lot of wonderful people in our country....and we should be proud because I certainly am......Let go of politics they get in the way of being real....how can we be set in our way's when life is constantly changing...look at the tree's everyday is different...look at your team every season is different but one thing remains the same we're American so let's be proud and be true fans of our country and the great and diverse group of people that our us.....AMERICANS!

Entry 11/03/2005 We've made it to Blacksburg and the place has that special buzz associated with A BIG TIME COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME…and guess what! I've hit the wall and I'm laughing at myself because I'm completely exhausted from the trip (I've been in bed…I mean blow up mattress for about 3 hours…I slept through my alarm…and I just looked through the 1206 pictures that we've taken on the trip…. so many moments in the last 2 months and now is the home stretch of the trip…the season has different levels of turning it on and off and Tony Milano has hit the sense overload…It's like you're a sponge and the sponge has been filled up! What a great problem to have! I'm human football fan sponge? I'm not sure if there are to many people that have used that term but I'm sure someone out there can relate? I remember reading a story about Barry Alvarez (Wisconsin Coach) and him saying that in a season you can only let your team peak about 3 times a season before your team gets overloaded with too much emotion. I can understand Coach right know because I feel like I can't just turn off! I'm a month from being home and a month from seeing Reggie Bush explode in the Coliseum…can that kid shape shift an experience? There has not been to many kids like him in the history of modern College Football…. I remember shape shifter's 1. Barry Sanders. …Scoot, jive and gone! 2. Marshall Faulk…glide, stick and bye! 3. Reggie Bush…. line, accelerate and see ya! But back to my sense overload experience…. I had the privilege last night at the West Virginia/UConn game to meet and Interview the Papa and Sister of one of my favorite College Football Players right now Safety Mike Lorello of West Virginia and when I talked to Papa Ray Lorello…. we talked about intensity and we talked about passion and we talked about his family and in seating in the stands for 30 minutes I learned a lot and I got the chance to see my Dad in Ray's eye's…I got the chance to see my dad again and that broke me down somewhere because that's why I created this experience to be close to my dad again and to be close to something that I haven't felt in the last 20 years since I really decided not to play football anymore? To love and to live at your highest possible point and be a true human being at the end of the day…I'm trying. On the lighter side of the Lorello Family Interview we talked about the fragrance of fried garlic in olive oil and how the olfactory glands perk up and in Lindsay Lorello's case (Lindsay is perhaps the prettiest Italian Girl in America) sums up a big part of her childhood and I can relate with my Dad (Papa Marko) chopping away on the Big Chopping Block that filled a big section of the kitchen…Daddy Marko in deep concentration preparing another feast for the family…my Dad was the cook and the bitch of the family he gave you everything …..The good and the confusing! And years later as a man…I get the chance to make a movie about football and being a fan…. and guess what keeps coming up…my dad in the kitchen, my dad in me watching sportscenter, my dad in me watching CNN, my dad in me tossing a football, my dad taking me to breakfast and my dad tucking me in at night regardless of my age and telling me how special I am and how special everyone is and most important that god love's me…I have a lot of anger about my dad dying and I miss him terribly…I miss my friend and I think that's what sometimes makes me so sad about life…we've all got to go our own way and make our path. I just cried (I've cried 3 times on this trip) I haven't cried 3 times in 10 years since my Dad's accident. Emotion, emotion and when you do something so close to your identify…it all comes out in those quiet moments of being…life is good and so far after shooting 74 hours of film and taking over 1200 pictures…. guess what folks! There's a lot of people that love College Football and there's a lot of people that really love…. and I love the smell of frying garlic.

Entry 11/02/2005 Last NIght Big Cat and Rob took care of us .......Rob thank you for putting together the benefit for America's Greatest Fan.....Awesome!!!!!!!!!! It is much appreciated and all the money that was raised will be used to help complete the project......Big Thanks to West Virginia and I think Aaron, Mark and Myself have each gained about 10lbs each just in Morgantown!!!!!!! Thank You John Fleming of Book Exchange!!!!! and Thank You Buffalo Wild Wings (Rob, Jeff, Amelia, Julie and Staff)..........Big Hug's and Thanks.........for helping us with AMERICA'S GREATEST FAN!!!!!.........and Happy Birthday Rob!!!!! and how fitting was it to have our last raffle winner (Who won and Interview with us for the film) Thomas Skaff was also the first winner of the entire raffle!!!!! It was fitting because Thomas Skaff is a great fan and I want to thank you Thomas for a great Interview!!!!!!!!!Everything is working out.......I looking forward to tonight's game.....I think UConn will come to play so I expect a fun game from the standpoint as a fan!!!! plus I get the chance to see Mike Lorello again!!!! Owen "I Ate 60 WIngs" Schmitt and Stevie "6 Touchdown" Slayton!!!!!!! and Pat White's first start at QB!!!! Again Thank You West Virginia........for your support and hospitality!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Entry 11/02/2005 One of the great things about making the film is finally putting faces to the voice or the email's! I've been researching this project for over 3 years and in some cases i've been in contact with people (Fan's) for that long and to meet them after that period of several conversations it's very satisfying to finally connect in person......I had that honor this past weekend in Knoxville meeting up with Nate Jarpe from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Nate and I have been talking this last year about finally meeting and we got the chance and one of the things we did was film in the car.....actually I was driving my jeep and we filmed eachother talking about being a fan....driving through the country outside beautiful Knoxville!!!!!! Football is family and football runs deep for so many of us and since my Dad died (10 years ago in December) I've been searching for my family and what i've gotten from putting this project together is a since of sharing and being with family.........Football people...........that's what we are ...............people all across America sharing the passion of College Football!!!! from Father's and Son's to Mother's and Daughter's to Grandpa's and Grandson's we share the bond of our team our stadium our love for competition and celebration and the agony of defeat.......thank you Family.....thank you Football.......thank you America.

Entry 11/01/2005 Good Morning from West Virginia................................... We drove yesterday from Knoxville, Tennessee to come back to beautiful Morgantown!.......................................................... Where do I start from how about eating all those Almond Joy candy bars yesterday driving up from Knoxville Happy Halloween... (even grown men believe in Halloween)................................................ Tennessee was a blessing! (I feel sorry for their loss) but the fans of Tennessee took care of us...I want to thank Mike Todd and his family for their hospitality and opening their hearts and home for us!!!!! We had our first BBQ that took us to the moon in Knoxville we went to this place called Calhoun's and I'm telling you folks the BBQ was Scrumptious!!!! Neyland Stadium was very impressive and gigantic (When Tennessee is winning I can't see them not getting the best recruits that place has a buzz about it!)...Meeting Peyton Manning was cool (He's a big guy) One of the highlights was driving on Friday with Cy Simon (Kevin Simon's Dad) and filming him as he drove all around Tennessee about 7 hours picking up people at the airport and going to a High School Game (We watched Knoxville Catholic destroy Scott High in Huntsville)...I think the best tailgate I've been to this year was the Knoxville Catholic Spread Uncle Mike (John) and his wife and the parents of KC put on a big time food event fit for a KING!!!!!!!.............................We went down the river with the famous Vol Navy and I got the pleasure of jumping out of the boat going 30mph baby...just having some fun in the country folks and it was great and the water was warm and that boat ride up to Neyland Stadium there is nothing like it? A great trip and we ate these Buffalo wings from Mike Todd's buddy Jay...he cooks the wings in butter, spices and homemade hot sauce. Wow!!!! I got to tell you being from Californian I've never really got into eating Chicken Wings but the last 6 weeks on our trip across America we've been eating and meeting a steady diet of the famous wing and Jay The Friend Of Mike "The Big Spirit" Todd has to be the best!!!!!! As you can see food was a big part of the Tennessee trip but in football seriousness Neyland Stadium was magnificent and the people of Tennessee where as sweet as pie!!!! We went to this great Barbershop at the Western Plaza Mall and Junior the owner of the place has been a barber for over 40 years and his wife Phyllis makes the best Banana Pudding in the world...I'm not a big sweet fan (Well maybe this week I was!!!!) but she took me to the back where the fridge was and I basically stayed in the back of the barbershop and ate 3 bowls of PUDDING and it was a little piece of Nirvana!!!!!!! I love food and this is our second tour of Morgantown and the boy's and our superfan Big Cat are thinking about hitting up the local Chinese Buffet today? Being a diehard Football Fan? Why is food such a part of football? Why is tailgating such an important part of the whole event? Last week in Tennessee was alot of sitting around the table (Eating of course) and talking about Football! Seeing Cy Simon and locking in with him and talking about the SEC Conference and switching it up and talking Pac Ten and High School Football! Talking about Maurice Drew (Star Tailback at UCLA) and talking about his Junior year in High School when he took on Long Beach Poly (25 kids went to Div.1 from Poly from that team four years ago!) and little Mo Drew scored 4 touchdowns against Long Beach Poly but what was so incredible about the game was his extra gear and not necessarily his physical body but his spirit that came through him and four years later ..........I think people all across America that really follow College Football know about Maurice Drew and see that the kid has a spirit that doesn't quit! You've got to put him away because he's going to come after you like a pit bull in heat...Maurice Drew Running Back at UCLA I love this kid! And I love these kids from previous weeks Brian Calhoun Running Back at Wisconsin, Mike Lorello Safety at West Virginia, Paul Poszluny Linebacker at Penn State and Mike Hart Running Back at Michigan...I love his intensity he's the heart and soul of that Michigan team as a true Sophomore!!!!!!...I'm going on a limb but I think Michigan has a better year if Matt Gutierrez gets a chance to play at Quarterback and you watch 5 years from know he'll be a decent QB in the Pro's!.................................I'm looking forward to seeing a defensive chess match on Saturday against Virginia Tech and Miami both teams our ranked #2 and #1 in total defensive and the Defensive Backs of Virginia Tech our huge linebackers playing safety and corner with Jimmy Williams pushing 215! It will be great to see Daryl Tapp in person I just want to see his effort (Mr. Lunch pail...D. Tapp has won the hardest working Hokie award (The Lunch pail award!!!!) Tomorrow we get the chance to see West Virginia again and I'm looking forward to seeing Owen Schmitt again (I really like this kid...I think he'll be an NFL Player in 3 year's and any guy that goes from Div.3 ball in Wisconsin and has the dream to play with the big boy's and walks on and has the ability to eat 60 wing's in one sitting.........I Love This Kid and he's an Aquarius like Michael Jordan! Let's Get Fired Up People it's week 9 on our road trip across America and sometimes I got to tell you it seems like a blur.........so many different things to take in and trying to keep with the story and being honest with the documentation of what is being witnessed...........My Body is sore and I have been bruised on this trip in many ways but I got to tell you...I'm still smiling deeply and I feel that we're getting some great stories about College Football and that's what makes it special when I close my eyes at night (There is the sense of a dream being recognized)................It's good to be alive!!!! I just have to watch the food!!!!!! The next few week's it's getting into serious BBQ country...I can't wait to go to Weaver's in Athens.

Entry 10/25/2005 Good Morning America!!!!! We just surfed Hurricane Wilma down here in Wilmington, NC and I got to tell you that I'm so out of shape and that I absolutely love surfing and that is how I came up with the idea of America's Greatest Fan.......I went traveling about 4 years ago to India and Indonesia for a year trip and when I was in Bali surfing with 2 months left on the trip......after really soul searching what was important to me and it came down to people, traveling, food and College Football and who knows what will happen with America's Greatest Fan but their is one thing I can tell you it's been amazing to see America and to document the life of the fan from all these different and amazing perspectives of what makes College Football such an incredible experience for so many different fan's all across America.........back to surfing for a second. The sun was coming up and the wind was off shore and the waves where pumping 4-6 feet and I caught one beauty that was so special!!! Holding the rail as the tube of the wave was pitching over my shoulder.....a few guy's surfing where howling lettting me know ......."Man you got a good one" and I got to tell you catching waves for me has brought back that feeling of being a kid again! I started 6 years ago and I've surfed all over the world and being an athlete and a lover of nature has been one of the great surprises of my life. This morning was my first time in the water in 45 day's! On the road again headed to Knoxville!

Entry 10/24/2005 Fully Exhausted......The kinda of tired that when you put your head down....all you remember is waking up the next morning. This last week was about family for me and seeing my two little brothers and step mom in North Carolina was very special for me. The NC State/Wake Forest game was nice to sit on the grass on the hill and observe the families sitting on blankets and cheering on their schools. I saw alot young children playing with their parents and siblings and I got to tell you .......I'm starting to feel like it's time to have a Milano family....I want to have a family of my own and make a house......being on the road has taught me and forced me to see what is important to me as I get older.....What is Tony's next chapter in his life as a person? ...................................................Looking forward to Tennessee this week! Looking forward to singing Rocky Top! Looking forward to eating some great BBQ! Looking forward to seeing Orange! Looking forward to SEC FOOTBALL! How about those two games last week LSU/Auburn what a slugfest down in Bayou country and Tennessee losing a heartbreaker to Alabama both teams playing with so much heart....It hurts to have a loser when both teams play their guts out......there is no loser when you play that hard......when you look at yourself and you know that you gave everything you had.....that's winning! So I disagree with Charlie Weiss when he says there is nothing to take from losing.......Notre Dame is back and their recruting will skyrocket again! Did anybody else see what I saw with the recruiting video they put on NBC.....Charlie with Playstaion's....etc! It's all about marketing and Notre Dame is hot again and the kid's will flock to Touchdown Jesus......VInce Young is amazing.....I love Reggie Bush but so far I would have to go with Young as my Heisman. Of to bed....In Wilmington, NC.

Entry 10/21/2005 Entry 10/21/2005 Its 4:45 in the morning...staying with my younger brother Aaron in the dorms of NC State.... We've stayed in Mansions, Frats and Hidalgo (My jeep Cherokee named after the movie starring Viggio Mortensen) Aaron is sleeping underneath the bed frame on the floor and Mark from Wisconsin aka Steve McQueen is sleeping on the floor and brother Aaron is on the couch...he gave me his bed. Yesterday I saw my 15-year brother Michael and step mom Mo and today 19-year-old brother Aaron...I'm so happy I can't sleep. What a joy to comeback to North Carolina...last time I was here was right before my Dad died in a car crash 10 years ago this month...life goes by so fast and the older I get the more it seems to just go...that is why I had to make this movie.... I always wanted to travel across America and see all these great College Football Venues and meet all the great people along the way and see our Beautiful country and we're doing it! Back to family for a minute being away for 10 years and going into the house and seeing all the pictures from the past, seeing the old fashion cutting block in the kitchen...I knew I was home.... I had that feeling of deep peace and to hold my brothers and see them grow and become the unique people that they are...I feel blessed and a one of the great things about College Football is Family.... the deep bonds that our created or several generations.... Father and Sons. That's what got me started on this beautiful love affair was my Father Marko.... Big Daddy Marko...a very passionate man that cared for people, food and sports...I miss my sports partner, I miss our phone conversations across the country, I miss his advice at 5 in the morning, I miss my Dad............................I want to have kid's and I want to teach them to have fun and to play with wild anticipation... one of the great player's that I've seen on this trip was Safety Mike Lorello of West Virginia and what I liked so much about Lorello #23 was his anticipation...the kid flat out filled his space.....always anticipating, darting and weaving into the backfield a great player with intensity and heart.....Thank you Mike Lorello for your gift to play at that special level!!!! That is what I miss about playing football being in the Zone of total commitment...almost no thought or reaction...the feeling of my feet tapping on the ground barely feeling the earth.... a feeling of being in the play before it happens...that's the nirvana of contact and the deep pleasure of being fully committed to want you love. I loved playing linebacker.... (Guy's I loved to lock on to) Mike Singletary, Lawrence Taylor, Jack Lambert and seeing Mike Lorello at Safety seeing his anticipation...just brings back those body memories that are so apart of me but only come out when it's FOOTBALL SEASON..........Good Night America. Good Morning North Carolina.

Entry 10/18/2005 We're still in beautiful West Virginia. I want to thank the great people of this great state! Thank Susie of Archie's for a great lunch and thank you Rob at BW3's.....(Rob you're a great fan and a great person...thank you bro!)...............Today I got the privilege to Interview....the West Virginia Rivals. com writer Jim Laise....thank you Jim for a great Interview on life and football and some of your great Insight's on Humanity and Jack Kerouac! I want to thank John Fleming of Book Exchange....for listening to me about my father and thank you for the gift's for my two brother's and sister....West Virginia will represented by the Milano Family all across the country! I want to thank Shona Jose and her family for singing traditional music for us and Shona you're an amazing talent.....................................................West Virginia I've gained about 10 lbs in a 8 day's ....I've got to get back on the road to lose some more weight!!!!..............and special thanks goes to BIG CAT for taking us in and sharing his story, his life and his passion for WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS FOOTBALL PERIOD!!!!!!!THANK YOU BIG CAT....and thank you to your family...........I've gotten attached to Big Cat as a person and this is the hard part when you get to know someone's story and feel their heart......I've really enjoyed myself and that's want makes it tick for me .....is when I get the chance to really hear someone's story and that is the goal.......and real purpose of America's Greatest Fan......to share the life of the fan. Thank You America for your support in this journey across America !!!! Here we come North Carolina for week 7.....going to one of the prettiest campuses in the US....Wake Forest! and going to see my two little brother's and Mom and visit where my Dad passed on.

Entry 10/16/2005 Wow! ............where does one begin. How about my body is sore from walking up and down the stairs to get to the student section at WVU! It's Sunday beautiful morning....I can hear the am radio in the next bedroom and I just got to say what a game and what an experience......the last 12 minutes of the fourth quarter....West Virginia was down 24-7 and about 20,000 of their fans left the Stadium and I went up to see Big Cat in the Student section because I promised I would film him in the second half and I debated on not going because the game was not a pretty site....but I went and I'm so thankful I did and after I went up to the bleacher's we saw West Virginia history in the making ......what I filmed was magical....I saw prayer's answered......I saw grown men crying ........I witnessed a beautiful experience.......called the ROLLER COASTER OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL BABY!!!!!! ........................West Virginia the cardiac kid's beat Louisville in triple OT!!!!! and the thing is for the first 3 quarters and 3 minutes of the 4th quarter Lousiville dominated and then WHAMMO .....MAGIC HIT IN MORGANTOWN BABY.....MAGIC! How about the Fullback Owen Schmitt!!!!!!......was he posessed by the spirit.....In the end he would not go down.....literally would not go down!!!!!The kid was a Manchild......wow!!!!!.....I love that kid!!!!!Great football player! and How about Mike Lorello....that first half he kept West Virginia in the game it could have easily been 31-0 zip without Lorello in the first half that kid has great anticipation and drive a special Safety for the Mountaineers and one more shout out............KID SLAYTON HE HAS THAT EYE OF THE TIGER.....A TRUE FRESHMEN.....WITH A HEART AS BIG AS AMERICA......WHAT A GAME AND WHEN THE GAME WAS ON THE LINE.....HE ROSE UP AND PLAYED AT THAT SPECIAL LEVEL THAT FEW DO!!!!!!

Entry 10/16/2005 How about these games yesterday.......are you kidding me! (not in this order because there all special)...............................1. USC vs. Notre Dame.....went to the last second. 2. Wisconsin vs. Minnesota.....the block punt with 30 seconds left...wow! 3. Penn State vs. Michigan......last play! Mario Manningham is the next great Michigan Receiver...he's got it!!!! 4. UCLA over Washington State in OT......Imagine how Los Angeles feels after both teams winning in close fashion ans being both undefeated at this stage of the year. 5. Alabama over Mississippi on a last second field goal and lastly but certainly not last....especially too for being here in person.......6. West Virginia thriller......3 OVERTIME WIN over Louisville...............College Football the heartbreak....win or lose you love your team. I had a great experience yesterday witnessing a different part of the country and seeing the agony and ecstasy of sports......I love competition and yesterday was so exhausting and flat out fanstatic.....the game was not a great game it was a real bummer for the first 3 quarters and 3 minutes and then the lightining hit......the full moon opened and then wham......I got the lucky chance to film and see something I've never witnessed....I saw a team possessed with the will to win and I got to say it again.....that fullback Schmitt....would not go down....he was so impressive to me that I wanted to run threw a brick wall for him......a great spirit in that kid........His effort was something to honor.

Entry 10/15/2005 The trip has been very emotional. I'm thankful to be able to get the opportunity to do and be this experience......I'm thankful for all the people we've met and all the great conversations about being alive and sharing those experiences through a game called College Football. It was my mom's birthday this week....thanks Mom for having me and America's Greatest Fan is dedicated to my Dad who passed away 10 years ago in a car accident.....he was a big gabba soon......(A funny man with alot of heart and emotional outburst....sometimes you didn't know where they where coming from but one thing Dad taught me was to love people.......thank you Dad!!!! I love you and I know your with us on this journey across America meeting these great people and amazing fan's).........From BIg Town to Small Town...................................College Football Baby!!!!!.................Where about 10 minutes from leaving BIg Cat's house....he's a great fan that has so much heart and deep feelings for being a West Virginian. I want to thank Big Cat for sharing and taking care of us the last week......truly a gem and we've had an amazing week going deeper into the town of Morgantown by being shown all the places to go and see and experience........thank you Morgantown for showing us alot spirit!!!! .........................Tony

Entry 10/13/2005 Special Thanks to Mark Beuhller...avid Fishermen, Sportsmen and World Traveler. For taking the plunge into documentary filmmaking...the remarkable thing about Mark, Aaron and I is that we're separated by 3 months.....We're all the same age and going through some very similar experiences as men and as young adults trying to make their dreams come true. Alot of times the story is really about us going from town to town...the crew is very different but we're all good people....trying to get the best stories. Thank You Mark......... Tony

Entry 10/13/2005 I miss Surfing.................had a great Interview with Coach Rich Rodriguez today.....alot stood out but one of the things I appreciated about the talk was his humour....Rich is a funny guy and a great guy...that cares about his players, family and state........................................Tony Carridi was of the hook...Tony is the Voice of West Virginia Sports and Tony you got heart my man and a gift and love for what you do. We talked about Tony Robbins, Beano Cooke, Brent Musburger, NC State 1983 NCAA Champs team, Edward Clinton....the announcer of High School Football's greatest game and player's becoming Doctor's and player's becoming Bank Robber's .....the choice's we make in our life's and realizing that we can make our dreams into realities.........I'm learning alot about staying in the light....(Being close to God) there are alot of choices....constantly saying which way to go......I'm really trying to choose the heart in every decision I make....I'm not alway's succesful but I'm trying and I realize what I'm doing and even more importantly....I feel like I'm making something special that will transcend into something more..................I love being a fan....................and I love telling people's stories and AMERICA'S GREATEST FAN IS ABOUT PEOPLE'S STORIES!!!!!!!!!!...........PS. I'm no angel! I'm as human as human can be.........and I had my first Pepperoni Roll today....a West Virginia Delicacy that was created by the coal miner's because they needed something to eat for lunch but eating off a plate and being so dirty from the Coal the created a baked Sandwich roll.....that is absolutely Delicious....(Tony Carridi gave me the history lesson and thanks Big Cat for the hospitality and the food.......I love food!!!! I can't wait to do my next project it's about America and Food!!!!! Watch Out People here come's America's Greatest Fan eating tour!!!!!

Entry 10/11/2005 Penn State shouting on the streets.14 police with horses…we're in the middle of the ruckus.people on Beaver Avenue where going off…shouting “Fuck Ohio! Fuck Ohio”…I came up with a serious twist on my life…as long as I'm creative, I feel alive and available to be myself.

Entry 10/11/2005 I'm here in West Virginia with one of America's Greatest College Football Fan's. “Big Cat” Where at the West Virginia Brewery having some great beer and talking football and beautiful women. Why do men love Football so much? Is it the animal instinct of contact? Is it the group bonding of a stadium? Is it the emotional investment of identifying with something more then self? I think it's all of these and many more? What's been consistent on this trip is that if you're a rich man or poor man and you really love football. …There's a bond and a deep bond it's a language that true fans understand all across America. It's a bond that is passed on and I've learned that from this trip that we football madmen our going to be okay with the new bloods coming up …I've met the 19 and 21 year old's the last few weeks and we've got some great fans that care about their team as much as we cared about our team's when we we're in College (Or that age) Penn State was beautiful. Last Friday seeing the Rec Hall fill up with rabid fans…singing there Fight Song…walking behind the band on the way…feeling the rain hitting our face's seeing families and college students converging into the Rec Hall to see there guru Joe Pa…..Papa Joe the Italian. Imagine if Joe Pa went Mafia and I wonder if there is any Mafia's guy's that love Joe because he's an Italian. It was amazing to see his spirit in person that little amazing man looked like he was 7 feet tall last Friday night, leading us in cheers and dancing the two step. Thank you Joe Pa for your gift as a human being to give to teach and to do your passion. To the kid's at KA Frat in Penn State…. I thank you for being great kids and I look forward to you going for your dreams. Cheech I hope you open that Restaurant. Fitz…I wonder what you'll be like when you slow down? (You Shine Brother) Ruiz…The comic genius. You remind me off Seinfeld but much deeper and cooler Sean. …With the tough guy attitude…you gave me one of the best talks on this trip. (You are something else kid!) Dan…the man. 19 going on going thanks for being a great person and a great fan Thanks KA! And to the other guy's you rock!!!!!! Go for your dreams ….go for things that don't seem perfect but what makes you feel perfect…keep thinking outside the box And lastly the game itself Number #31 PAUL POSZLUNY (I THINK I'M CLOSE) Did that kid show up our what? He was flying all over the field…. I mean that kid was a cat in a human body exploding across the field showing AJ Hawk and the Ohio kids ….that the Penn State kid's still have some great linebackers and they certainly rose to the occasion and the Student section at Penn State was surreal seriously a throwback in time it reminded me a lot of being at a big High School game …but instead of 5,000 fans there where 110,000 and it felt like High School and the crowd was so intense people where getting moved through the stands not by the aisle's but by being carried by the crowd it was a zoo and the place had a pulse that makes u still high on a Tuesday in Morgantown, West Virginia talking about it. I've created something pretty special. I hope that I can share this beautiful experience on film…the goal is to film 120 hours of film and cut it down to 2 hours. We're up to 46 hours and we've got along way to go still and a lot of places to see…I'm looking forward this week to going to the Children's Hospital here in Morgantown and meeting some of the kid's with the Mountaineer Mascot…We saw Coach Rich Rodriquez today at his press conference and I was really impressed at his humble character…a very straight up guy with a lot of honor and pride…. what a joy to meet this great Coaches…I've been blessed to meet and talk to these guy's and each one has said very different things but all of them have said the same in the respect that they wish they where coming with us on this ultimate road trip across America….sharing the season with America and all the different great people associated with College Football. God Bless College Football Tony

Entry 10/07/2005 Made it to Penn State....and what a great place for football....this town is bumping and hungry for Saturday's game...You can feel it in the air....(Even if raining) Staying a the KA Frat....super cool guy's The KA Crew (Fitz, Dan, Cheech The President and everyone else at Fraternity made us a room and took us ...Room 211 ) Independent film making to the bone....Honestly it feels like we've been gone for over 6 months and it's been only a month...each day is filled with so much...the senses are all working..being on the road seeing America and seeing the different aspects of it through the life of traveling on the road.....and of course.....IT"S A PASSION PROJECT.....and everyone we're meeting, time and time again it's about the samething.....the spritit of College Football. It's so cool that we're staying with the fan's in Mansion's, Frat's and Trailer Parks and talking to Head Coaches to Old Woman in the middle of Nebraska.....it's all about the love of the greatest game 1. Thank You Phil Steele for your passion and having the best Football magazine on the market ....I loved going into your office and seeing the 12 TV's right in your face....Phil Steele not only are you a great fan....I thank you for being a really cool guy and all the people at your company treated us like Gem's (Thank You Debbie) I think the neat thing about Phil is his work schedule 18 hours a day every day in the Football Season.....We interviewed Phil for 53 minutes on the game of College Football .....(Wow ....we got some good stuff and you know Phil said was...."Hey, could I go with you guy's" and I said to Phil you are Phil you are and I picked up his Magazine....I have 6 of them for the season and I said Phil you're with me all the time....It's my bible for Football Magazine''s At Penn State Slept at the KA Frat and it was quite a night ....the house didn't sleep...doors where moving, voices shouting, a fight song at 3 in the morning......KA you guy's are great fan's! some of my best football talks on the trip came yesterday with these 20 year old kid's that love College Football it's good to know that the next generation of fans are like these guy's in Penn State.....Big Time Fans!!!!

Entry 10/02/2005 Lansing, Michigan Oct. 2nd, 2005 6am on Sunday…I can hear the guy's down stairs partying…I'm not much of a partier I've never been really…I remember in High School everybody going out and I would go to the market and rent 2 or 3 movies. Things don't really change do they. I was surprised today how Alabama took it to Florida….that's one tough Defense and Brodie Croyle is playing well (Good for him) Could Alabama be the sleeper team in the SEC. Could Wisconsin be the sleeper in the Big Ten..they've got a huge heart but can they win on the brutal road. Next week another great match up for us Ohio State vs. Penn State…did anybody see that hit the Quarterback of Penn State put on the DB for Minnesota (WOW!!) I've never been to Happy Valley…I've always dreamed of going to Penn State. I played Linebacker in High School and seeing there simple jerseys and straight up toughness always appealed to me. On the way to Penn State, we're stopping in Logan, Ohio to meet two different fans that I met over the last year…one guy is possibly Notre Dame's greatest fan..Kevin Dunigan. I'm looking forward to meeting Kevin, father of 5, local radio guy and Friday night high school football announcer and the other guy is a guy named Boonie Whyckle a diehard Ohio State fan that has a Goal Post in his front yard. I've discovered Custard (Ice Cream) on my trip. Culver's is a big chain and the Custard is good stuff…I love food. I had a great Brat's (Sausage/Hot Dog) today from some Michigan tailgater's at the end of the game. A very sad feeling today in Lansing so much energy one hour before kick off…the place was pumping with energy and the girls of Michigan are so beautiful. The Tailgate seemed more about drinking then food…a little different then Nebraska and Oregon State more similar to Wisconsin. Back to the sadness…picture this at 11am thousands of people several rows deep with pumping music from all angles and people chatting away and at 3:30 pm in the tailgate area….a few fan's here and there barely a whisper and strews of bud light containers everywhere…like a ghost town and two people picking up the cans and looking for odd stuff left over…..one trash can was on fire…all by itself no one around it reminded me of the movie American Beauty…where the camera just focuses on the plastic bag swirling around dancing by itself….there was the trash can in the middle of this ghost town tailgating section smoking away….amazing feeling today to feel the agony of the home school losing ….all four of our games that we've covered have gone done to the last minute…. 1. Sept 11th: Oregon State vs. Boise State….The Beaver's scored with 1:04 left to win 30-27 2. Sept 17th: Pittsburg vs. Nebraska…Nebraska blocks a field goal with 6 seconds left to win 7-6 3. Sept 24th: Michigan vs. Wisconsin….Wisconsin scores with 24 seconds left to win 31-28 ( I think that's the right score?) 4. 14 hours ago Oct. 1st: Michigan vs. Michigan State……Wolverines pull it out in Overtime 34-31. Michael Hart is the heart and spirit for Michigan…..I remember watching him on the sidelines at Wisconsin (He was injured with a bum hamstring) getting the guy's to focus and what a joy yesterday to watch him shine ….he really took it to another level. Same with Brian Calhoun of Wisconsin a few weeks ago….he put the game on his shoulders and went shopping…..by far the best game by an individual I've seen in person…a true warrior (A very special game for CALHOUN!!!) I'm tired I woke up to the noise downstairs a few hour ago and now I must sleep. I look forward to fishing tomorrow...we're staying on a beautiful river and they have fishing poles ….i'm not much of a fishermen but I'll give it a shot. Happy Sunday to ya! I'm looking forward to hopefully meeting my favorite Football Analyst and College Football Guru Phil Steele on Tuesday and the game next Saturday in State College ....Ohio State vs. Penn State should be a slugfest and I have a feeling we're going to bring our luck of close games....good for Penn State this will be one of the bigger games for them since joining the Big Ten. Tony