Troy DeJoode
@tecumseh71
several have asked if this was me. So yes this was me. it simply is a way for me to remember my 5 year old son Carson who died in May 2010. In October 2010 I was wrestling with the deaths of Carson and his 5 mth old sister Claire.
Troy DeJoode
@tecumseh71
·
Oct 20
given the teams all black uniforms and the unofficial black out. I’d decorate my old helmet with iowa state logos, add a few to the costume and hang out at the tailgate. We thought it might be fun in the “you never know what you’ll see at a tailgate” sense.
Troy DeJoode
@tecumseh71
·
Oct 20
I never thought it would be anything more than, at most, me standing there waving the black I-State flag as the team bus drove by. Costume on and off. But then Saturday happened and as soon I picked up the flag outside our tailgate in the most Iowa State way people
Troy DeJoode
@tecumseh71
·
Oct 20
kept asking me to take pictures and I found myself two lots away from our spot in D3. After 45 minutes I made my way back to be there when the team bus went by to hopefully bring some Sith Lord energy to the boys of fall.
Troy DeJoode
@tecumseh71
·
Oct 20
After they passed I was just getting ready to put it away certain that Carson would have loved it when my wife, who is a professional tailgater, the biggest Iowa state fan and just the coolest wife ever basically said “You can’t be done. You need to walk around some more.”
Troy DeJoode
@tecumseh71
·
Oct 20
That’s how I found myself wandering randomly around the donor lots for almost another 2 hours waving an Iowa State flag, playing catch with the football, peppering a volleyball, and talking to fans enjoying everything that is Cyclone tailgating.
Troy DeJoode
@tecumseh71
·
Oct 20
Oh yeah there were a lot of Jell-O shots, fireball and Busch light offered (and some accepted). Mostly though there I was taking pictures with people. Kids and adults. Men and women. Cyclones and Knights. The Firetruck. Famous people like Keith Murphy
Troy DeJoode
@tecumseh71
·
Oct 20
and the life size bobble head of Brent Blum. I must have taken a hundred pictures or more. All the time all I could think of was how much Carson would have loved it. As I was walking into the stadium afterwards still in full costume a woman asked…
Troy DeJoode
@tecumseh71
·
Oct 20
what inspired the outfit. I asked if she really wanted to know. My wife said to her “you don’t want to.” But she said yes so I told her the story of Carson’s love for Star Wars, Halloween & all things I-State & how that all ended with me walking in the parking lot as Darth Vader.
Troy DeJoode
@tecumseh71
·
Oct 20
It made my eyes water and I realized that nothing I could have done, even if I had spent months planning it, could have better honored the memory of that five year boy who loved Star Wars and Iowa State most in life.
Troy DeJoode
@tecumseh71
·
Oct 20
Carson thought he was a Jedi night in the way only a 5 year old can. He thought the reason he couldn’t make the lightsaber jump across the room into his hand was because he didn’t believe enough.
Troy DeJoode
@tecumseh71
·
Oct 20
That if he just believed a little bit more in himself he could make it happen. “Just believe,” he would whisper. And then he would smile that huge vivacious smile.
Troy DeJoode
@tecumseh71
·
Oct 20
Carson would have loved Saturday afternoon roaming the lots, taking pictures, cheering on the Cyclones and most of all making people smile. He would have loved it almost as much as he would have loved the I-State victory later that night.
Troy DeJoode
@tecumseh71
·
Oct 20
I’d like to think that Carson whispered “Just Believe” into the team huddle before that last drive and maybe gave a little Force push to Rocco on that last touchdown.
Troy DeJoode
@tecumseh71
·
Oct 20
After I got home I wished I could see those pictures. Then I opened twitter (always twitter) IG & FB and I saw so many. I realized how many pictures were taken without me knowing. Of some crazy dude dressed like an evil villain with nothing particularly in common with football.
Troy DeJoode
@tecumseh71
·
Oct 20
So many pics. So if you have them keep posting them. Carson would have loved it. As I saw them I realized again how much Carson there was in that experience. It made me smile. If you said hello, offered me a drink, waved, shouted go Clones, or took a picture thank you.
Troy DeJoode
@tecumseh71
·
Oct 20
Carson would have loved every minute of it. He would have loved this season. He would have loved this team. And when things looked down like they did Saturday night he would have no doubt whispered “Just Believe…” And given a little force push. Go Clones!
www.kcci.com
