Photo Credit: Erika Pinkley

On a Saturday morning, I woke up at 8:30am and left my house around 9:30am. It’s about a four-hour drive from my hometown to San Antonio, Texas. However it took about 5 ½ hours instead because I stopped for lunch, the traffic entering San Antonio was horrible, literally bummer-to-bummer traffic and drove 20 mph on the expressway. I guess everyone was going to San Antonio for the Easter holiday weekend.

Around 3pm I arrived to the JW Marriot Resort (where the premiere took place) and it was beautiful. I literally said, “I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore,” to my little brother as we walked in. It was gorgeous and enormous. The resort was just outside of San Antonio with a lot of acres of beautiful land. The service was great. There were fun events going on every hour for both adults and kids around the resort and had everything you can image; gym, game room, day care, multiple different bars with different kinds of food, both Starbucks and FedEx had a shop inside the resort. They also had a couple of different stores, and had a water park resort going around the resort that included a water slide, a kids water playground, a kids pool, and an adult pool. I highly recommend the resort, especially for family vacations. Yes it’s a little pricey but trust me it was well worth it.

I was smart enough to wear my East Dillon Lions football shirt incase while walking around the resort a cast member (or members) will see it and say something. Guess what? It worked! I was waiting on my dad just outside before entering the pool area to have lunch at the bar and some guy with a fro was standing next to me and noticed my shirt.

“Cool shirt! You here for the event tonight?” he asked.

“Thanks! Actually yes I am.”

His phone started ringing and told me “excuse me” as he walked away to take the call. As he walked away I couldn’t help but think he looked really familiar and I couldn’t put my finger on it. Then BAM! Ten seconds later, it hit me. It was Ernest James who played Calvin Brown in season 4. I didn’t recognize him without the cornrows. I was upset that I didn’t recognize him and asked for a picture. I had told my dad, and he told me not to worry about it that I’ll get my chance tonight.

Five minutes later Brad Leland (Buddy Garrity) was walking towards the same Bar and Grill I was headed towards.

“Look Amy! It’s Buddy Garrity!” my dad said, “give me your camera and I’ll take a picture for you.

I was completely star struck. I couldn’t believe Brad Leland was walking my way. I didn’t want to miss my chance like I had with Ernest James, therefore I quickly jumped at my chance before it was too late.

“Excuse me! Aren’t you Buddy Garrity?” I asked.

“Uh… yes?” he laughed. “Hey! You’re wearing an East Lions shirt!”

“Yes I am! Can I take a picture with you?”

“Of course!”

Brad Leland was with Blue Deckert (Coach Mac Macgill) who I didn’t recognized either. Brad told him I was wearing a East Dillon Lion shirt and then told him to join in the picture.

After we both walked to the bar, I was such a fan girl. Inside I was freaking out, and too nervous. Leland sat a few tables away from me. At one point I overheard him having a phone conversation with Kyle Chandler. I couldn’t help but eye him every other ten seconds, making sure this was reality and I wasn’t dreaming.

“Dad, did I really call him Buddy instead of Brad?” I asked.

I couldn’t believe I did that. I was so used to seeing them on TV and by their character names. I had forgotten for a moment they were actors with real names. Something I had to remind myself throughout the day.

After I got my meal, I headed to my room and got the paper work I needed to get my tickets for the event. As I was going down the escalators I sort of leaned forward and looked to the right to see if maybe there’s someone there, and I didn’t even bother to look at who was going up the escalators when I should have. By the time I reached the bottom, I heard someone shout from the top floor, “East Dillon Lions! YYEEEAHHHH!!!” I turned around and looked up to see Lamarcus Tinker!

Again, I had such a fan girl moment and couldn’t help but say to myself, “OMG Tinker!” Then again I was too late to ask for a picture as he started to walk away. I reminded myself, “I’ll get a chance to meet him later.”

To Be Continued… 

Tune in next week as I continue to share my Friday Night Lights Season 5 Premiere journey and encounter stories with Enrest James, Lamarcus Tinker, Angela Rawna and Madison Burge during the VIP Party.