Email sent 29 August 2018

Greetings ’85,

I am writing this looking at surfers on Waikiki Beach and getting ready for the morning walk with my wiife Sherry towards Diamond Head all because Navy is playing U of Hawaii Saturday at 1700 local Hawaii time. We have a GREAT crowd from our Class in attendance; as usual, the most of any individual graduating class (115 tickets sold). Thanks to those who made the trip and I will see you all this week if I have not seen you already. Check out our Class of ’85 Facebook group for the pictures we will post as we cheer the Mids to their first win of the season. So, let’s talk about our first home game. Charlie Smith and the crew in Annapolis have sent me this to attach:

****************  Home Tailgate Information  ************************************

I hope everyone is looking forward to another fantastic season of Navy Football. Navy hosts Memphis for the home opener at 3:30 on Sept 8th and our tailgate crew is already working on another great season of tailgating to complement our Midshipmen’s glory on the field.

With last year’s investments in the tent, trailer and gear, we have all the ingredients in place for an excellent tailgating experience. We are using the sign up page again this year and you can find the signup for the Memphis game here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A48ABAB28AAF49-memphis

The theme for the first game is Memphis BBQ. Charlie and Bill have agreed to cook ribs to get things kicked off. We will have cold beer on tap and other beverages to keep you cool. Please sign up so we can get a good count and plan to bring something to share with Classmates.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to Charlie @ Charles.M.Smith@gmail.com if you have suggestions or questions. Your feedback is welcome.

Go Navy – Beat Memphis

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Home tailgates will follow the same theme as last year, we have the Class of ’85 Tent, trailer and tailgate site ready to roll out next weekend. Last year everyone pitched in to make this new and improved tailgate site possible. Those who came to any home saw just how nice it is to have such a quality tailgate each and every game. In order to help me fund class tailgating again this year, I will ask that anyone interested in a one time contribution to our Class tailgate fund ($25, $50 or $100) please send it via Paypal or Venmo to: MD11driver85@gmail.com and PLEASE indicate it is for the Class of ’85 Tailgate Fund being sent to friends or family. This will allow me to budget for catering and for beer and wine, as well as continued improvements to our Class of ’85 tailgate experience both at home and away games. We will still have our “Honor box” at tailgates, these donations will help add to the things we can do and will keep the food hot and the beer  and wine flowing.

Next week,  I will be sending out an email dedicated to our Class of ’85 trip to San Diego for the Notre Dame game on October 27th. I have all the events planned out, so it is time to start collecting money and finalizing my head counts at all the events. There is still plenty of openings to join us on this trip, the hotel block has a few rooms and the Friday night party and tailgate is WIDE OPEN. You can still get tickets to the game from local sources. We are over 100 people signed up for this weekend and I would love to see us reach 150 or more. Stay tuned next week as I roll out the schedule of events and payment information. For now, enjoy the Navy game late Saturday on CBS Sports Network at 2300 EST and look for the Class of ’85 about the 20 yard line on the Navy side in rows 6-10. Get signed up for Memphis if you are going on September 8th and help Charlie out AND, donate a few dollars to our class tailgate fund if you will.

Thanks and BEAT HAWAII!!

Bob Smith ’85

PS: Please see the USNA ’85 website for details on all upcoming class events: http://1985.usnaclasses.net

Email sent 4 Aug 2018

Greetings Class of ’85,

It’s time for an update on things as we are about to begin the 2018 Football Season. First off, I am proud to say we are taking nearly 100 Classmates and families/friends to Honolulu for the opening game of the 2018 Navy Season on September 1st against the U of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. There is still availability for this weekend if you want to join us. I am finalizing my ticket, tailgate and Class dinner numbers on August 15th. So, be like a few others who just said: “What the H… We are going to Hawaii”. Airfares seem to be pretty reasonable and I can still get you the Class group rate at the Marriott Waikiki Beach. If you are interested, contact me ASAP. If anyone who thought they had signed up for this trip and you have not been receiving our small group emails and texts, you NEED to contact me ASAP. Next, I am finalizing plans for the October 27th game against Notre Dame in San Diego. Although our class block of tickets is sold out, you can get them from other sources and still join us in San Diego for the weekend. That schedule of events will be published in the next few weeks and I will start collecting money for the tailgate and Friday night cocktail reception. We will be over 170 strong in San Diego or more likely over 200, so why not get on board NOW with this trip?? We will have a Thursday night kickoff happy hour in the Gas Lamp district, Friday night cocktail party, Saturday pre and post game indoor tailgate at the Quad Pub in the Gas Lamp quarter and of course the game. I am looking for someone who lives in San Diego who might like to organize a golf outing for Thursday or Friday morning in San Diego. Classmate Jim Berdeguez and I are designing an ’85 Special Edition Football Jersey for sale starting that weekend to commemorate this event.

Our normal Class of ’85 Tailgate parties will be on for all home games this season. That information will be provided as we get closer to our first home game. If you are coming to a Navy game, you know that ’85 will always have a great tailgate. I am working on events for the Army/Navy weekend, so if you happen to live in Philly and want to help me out, I am appreciative of some help for this year’s game on December 8th. Also, if you live in a city where there is a Navy away game and want to put a class event together, I welcome anyone doing that. Now that Navy plays in the AAC, we play in some fun places. Also, I have started working our 35th Reunion in September of 2020. This is tentative and based on Navy finalizing the 2020 football schedule, BUT, I am looking at a home game now scheduled for September 12, 2020 (Hint: Save the date UFN). Westin Hotel reserved and exploring great options for all events. I will be starting a committee next year for help with all major events of our reunion. (I am getting too old to do all this stuff solo any more).

Enjoy the remainder of your summer and start thinking about Navy football and joining your classmates in Hawaii, San Diego, Annapolis or Philadelphia this season.

As always, Go Navy…. Beat Army! (and everyone else)

Regards,

Bob Smith ’85