He tosses a few short throws, just to test out the wind. I take what pictures I can, running down the field, trying to get different angles of the catches and runs. Then it comes time for the big throws; Zeke maxes out at around 35 yards. Jim asks me, as a student, if I think that would look good. I try to retain a sense of journalistic integrity, but I tell him that Zeke looks great, and that the students will love him.

Jim notices that Boo Coo needs to go to the bathroom, so we gather up the Frisbees and head out of the stadium. Terry takes the dog, and a woman approaches Jim and me, warning us to stay off of the painted letters on the field. We say we will try to be more careful in the future. As she walks away, Jim asks me what her name was. I say I have no clue.

We both laugh as we walk out the tunnel, and Jim hands me one of the Official Zeke the Wonder Dog Frisbees. To keep. I am awestruck, grateful. It isn't until the game when I realize they throw many of the discs into the crowd, but at the time I feel honored. At that point, I feel that the day has been a complete loss. But now I am ready to tackle this awful day and make something good out of what I have.

When Zeke III finishes his business, we walk back towards the tunnel. The cheerleaders are sitting outside, and they get all excited when they see the new Zeke. He stops and pants, basking in his newfound fame. I snap a few pictures, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I take advantage of the situation and hit on a couple cheerleaders.

We stroll back into the tunnel, walking through the same entrance that the MSU football team, the marching band, and the mascot Sparty come through every game. How many students get to do this, if they're not part of the team or band or cheerleading squad? Very few, I would imagine, and I am going to rub it in all my friends' faces when I get back.

I take a few more pictures, and even attempt a video of a run and catch. Jim feels like Zeke is getting the hang of it, when he turns to me and says, "Do you want me to throw one to you?"

Words can not describe how excited I am. He is offering me an amazing shot, on a silver platter, and I snatch it up almost before the words leave his mouth. I bolt to the other side of the field, being careful not to step on any of the painted lines, and brace for the throw. Jim yells to me, asking if I'm ready, and I give him a thumb's up.

The Frisbee flies from his fingers in a perfectly straight line, aimed right at my head. Zeke III springs into action, zooming after it with all his might. Boo Coo was nervous and jittery, but when he becomes ZIII going for the Frisbees, he is all business, pounding down the field like a horse on the last stretch. He jumps and snatches it out of the air just as the shutter snaps on my camera. I got the shot.

I run back to Jim and Terry, and thank them so much for letting me come out here. They say it isn't a problem, and if I need anything else to just give them a call. With that, I say goodbye to the new Zeke, and walk back to my dorm to eat breakfast and meet my friends before the game.

10 AM. I decide to take a quick glance at the pictures I have taken. I had been too busy on the field to look at them, and thought this would be a good time to check out which ones were good and could be sent in. I start at the beginning, and there are a few decent shots. Many are blurry, unfocused messes, but some look all right. I skip ahead to the last shot, the one with Zeke running straight at me, and I finally let the heavens, fate, and anyone else responsible for this day have it:

"GODDAMNFUCKINGCHRIST!!!" Do I need to say more?

Previous-1-2