When my fiance suggested that I attend the inaugural Auburn Women's Football camp, I wasn't exactly on board from the get-go.
I couldn't think of anything more intimidating than surrounding myself with diehard Auburn football fans for a whole day while trying to learn the technicalities of football, a subject that has never been my strong suit.
I've lived in Alabama my entire life, but football was never a part of my upbringing.
I understood the game at its most basic level.
I knew the positions and the faces of the big-name player for each team.
I knew what a fumble was.
I knew what calls the refs were making at least half of the time.
But as far as Auburn-specific football, I was a rookie.
But then, I took a deep breath and decided to attend the camp with my future mother-in-law, Martha.
I was expecting to enjoy a fun day with Martha, while Nate spent the day hanging around Auburn with his dad.
I thought, at the most, I'd get a few autographs.
However, what I got out of this experience was much more.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me.
I graduated from Auburn in May and have since moved to Birmingham. Throughout my four years on the Plains, I never went on the field or in the locker room.
I had never seen the new athletic facilities, including the new indoor football field.
I didn't understand the key components to our Hurry-Up, No-Huddle offense or our defense.
And I never knew how much creativity, patience and skill it took to be the Tiger's equipment manager.
However, after eight hours of intense lectures, tours, meet-and-greets and videos, I feel like I'm up to speed.
I even got to meet Gus Malzahn, spend time with his coaching staff and eat lunch with Travis Williams, current defensive analyst, former Auburn linebacker and rapper who created the "Tiger Walk" song.
Even though I enjoyed everything offered to us at this day camp, my favorite segment, by far, was the presentation by Dana Marquez, the equipment manager of the only certified equipment staff in the SEC.
Marquez patented a shoulder pad, both the soft and hard shells, that only weighs 3.8 pounds when dry or wet. Most shoulder pads weigh between 15 and 20 pounds by the end of a game.
Not only that, he also put himself through culinary school while working for several teams in various sports across the country before his arrival at Auburn.
Marquez was funny, well spoken and charming, so much so that one of the attendees asked if he was interested in "older women."
Needless to say, the entire room erupted in laughter.
I couldn't have asked for a more immersive way to wrap my head around something that for so long was completely foreign to me, and for this being the first year the University has hosted a football camp exclusively for women, I applaud it for an invaluable experience that I'll always cherish, along with all of the other memories I made at Auburn.
I am excited to see how next year's camp unfolds.
I'm sure it will be an even greater success than this year's.
I also couldn't have asked to spend the day with more inspirational women.
These women are at the heart of the Auburn family.
They're the great-grandmothers, grandmothers and mothers of current students.
They're the alumnae who helped make the University and the football program what it is today.
I can only hope to be as dedicated, loud and loyal as these women are by the time I'm their age.
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