FAIR GAME:

Saturday night’s a big night. San Diego State vs. the Cincinnati Bearcats in college football.

As an alumnus, I’ll be in attendance.

What’s unusual, though, is with whom I’ll be watching the game.

Several weeks ago I received an invitation from Stephen Weber, the president of SDSU, inviting me and the wife to join him in the presidential suite for the evening.

Now with the Aztecs recent success, or lack thereof, on the football field over the past number of years, my guess is he couldn’t get anyone else to go with him.

After all, the invite certainly couldn’t be as a result of my stellar academic performance there several decades ago.

And then you get your hopes up, maybe, just maybe, he wants to talk to me about an honorary doctorate. Dr. Johnson?

Not a chance in well, you get my point.

In any case, I’m honored.

So in preparation for the evening, I went to the website to read Weber’s bio.

Or Steve as I’ll probably call him. Or maybe Doc? Stevie?

Anyway, I’ll figure that one out before I get there.

I see where he received his Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame, which tells me he’ll be comfortable watching lousy football.

That’s good, no pressure.

I also found out he’s done some pretty impressive things over the years at the old school, including strengthening the academic requirements to get in in the first place.

Back in my day, if you had a heartbeat, could drink beer from a keg and liked the beach, SDSU was for you.

Forget the books. And most often, I did. It should be fun. But I’m leaving the checkbook home, just in case.

And if you’re looking for something to do this weekend closer to home, consider the 4th Annual Orange County Children’s Book Festival this weekend at Orange Coast College.

It’s two, pretty much jammed-packed days of fun, books and entertainment, all on the campus of OCC from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Face painting, balloons, a contest for grandparents to enter their favorite pictures of their grandchild or grandchildren, a variety of entertainment acts, including the Fantasy in Magic, the Claddagh Dancers, J Comedy, Hollywood Hits, and Ballet Folklorico, to name just a few of the activities planned.

They’ll be performing on the main stage roughly every half-hour throughout the event.

The colorful OCC train will also be in action with rides across the campus. There will be storytellers, authors signing books, a crafts corner and more.

Still not enough you say, then visit the wild animal arena, the super heroes stage or see the costume book characters.

As always, there’s plenty of good stuff happening around town. Get out and enjoy yourself.

TOM JOHNSON is the publisher. Readers may leave a message for him on the Daily Pilot hotline at (714) 966-4664 or send story ideas to [email protected].