To me there is nothing better than a Saturday spent at Neyland Stadium. I know it sounds cliche. But I drove 12 hours in one day within 5 days of returning from Iraq to watch the UT-Bama game last year. There is nothing I'd rather do than be in Knoxville for a game. It's like nothing else matters for those 3 hours. I live for that. It's hard to describe.
Before one of my deployments, I drove from Lejeune to Knoxville for the UNLV game in 2004. Had no cash, but was supposed to meet up with my old roommate, but he abandoned me. Had a few beers at Calhouns, then about 2nd quarter, walked up to one of the ticket booths. Told the old man working what was going on, and asked if he'd let me in, and he did. Spent the rest of the game in the student section. Unfortunately at the top, but eh, better than nothing. Haven't been able to make it back to a game since. Hoping to get up for the Alabama game next year, though.
Distance isn't an issue as of today. Timing has been the biggest problem. Anytime I get free time, the friggen woman wants me to paint something, plant something, fix something or cook something. I'm trying to indoctrinate her, and thus am picking next year's Bama game for the excitement and intensity. Maybe then the fact that the bathroom vanity hasn't been caulked down and bolted in won't seem so damn pressing.
They are bad for those types of things. I've learned that the Vols are my non-negotiable thing, i.e. nothing gets in the way of Vol hoops or football. The other six days I'll change diapers, mow yards, pull weeds, etc. But I never treat the Big Orange as a negotiation. See how that works for you. If she gives you the walking papers, at least you'll get to go to more games.
AMEN! But did it make you mad that there were more alabama fans than tn fans there. Maybe I'm wrong but that's what the announcers on tv said and they showed it was mostly alabama. I just threw up in my mouth.
My first game was UCLA. It was 120 degrees on the field back when we still had artificial turf. Smokey got heat exhaustion and died. Fun day. Remember I was lobster red the next day. Fun times.
