Stadiums on a football Saturday have a special sound of their own; noisy and exciting. This particular Saturday, Kenan stadium seemed less noisy than usual. My husband and I walked up the hill through the woods to the stadium. I was in a nostalgic mood, remembering the many times we had attended games here in the last fifty years since we were students.

Many things have changed in the fifty years since we walked the same path as two young excited students, feeling that a Carolina win was by far the most important happening in our world that day. It was perfect Carolina football weather; briskly cool, the sun shining, a slight breeze! The weather hadn't changed nor had the leaves; as they drifted slowly to the ground, gold and red beneath our feet. The trees smelled the same as always.

My mind slipped back to those post "choo-choo" days when for a football weekend, a girl wore her best tweed suit with a carnation on the lapel, a small hat (called a tam), high heels and had a "Vivian Leigh" haircut. The boys wore suits or soft grey sport coats with navy pants and sported "G.I." haircuts. "A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation." I had to admit that the Reebocks I was wearing today were more comfortable.

Back to my memories: I don't hear or see a small plane flying overhead with a sign trailing proclaiming "Eat at the Pines" or "Drink Pepsi". We always had a plane in the fifties. I don't believe there's quite as much drinking of alcohol, or at least not during the game. I don't see those little monogrammed flasks that the "Sunday best dressed" students used to carry in their pockets. In those days, I think we were more pretentious.The smell of food is the same but the foods have changed . What are those "soft pretzels" or "blooming onions?" We had cokes and peanuts which were actually hawked inside the seated area.

Who is that little man standing on the field with his hands crossed and why is everyone waiting? I'm told that he is the TV Time Out man. Everything, even the time the games are played, is now set for the convenience of TV's "pocketbook." Fifty years ago two p.m. on Saturday afternoon was always "kick off time."

There are some things I really miss at the "space age" Carolina games. The CARDBOARD is one of them. Everyone flipping the cards in unison; spelling Go Carolina, etc.. I especially remember James Gordon Stegall; small in stature, tall when directing the CARDBOARD, mike in hand, yelling at the top of his voice - "Go Carolina!" He's gone now. Never was there a more enthusiastic Carolina fan. I miss the "moooos" and "cow college" calls from the Carolina sections when N.C. State scored a touchdown. And the groans when Wake Forest "College" managed to beat Carolina no matter how many other games Wake Forest lost that season.

That afternoon as we left the game a little early to avoid last minute traffic; strains of "Wheel of Fortune" and "I've Forgot More" sang in my head. My husband commented, "The win today makes the loss last week easier to live with." I'm thinking "Some things never change."