When deciding whether to travel to Pullman, Wash., to watch our beloved UCLA Bruins, or visit a friend in Knoxville, Tenn., last weekend for a chance to watch some Southeastern Conference football, I’m grateful I chose the latter.
Sure I love the home team as much as anyone else, but after Saturday’s performance, I might start flying out weekly.
Now I know you’re thinking Knoxville is a pretty random place to visit, but I’m a random guy, who also happens to enjoy good college football. So why not?
Plus Tennessee was playing South Carolina, and missing two national championship coaches go head to head was too good to pass up.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had awesome times being an avid Rose Bowl tailgater. But I’d always hoped there was more out there; more football tradition, louder fans and an on-campus stadium are what I desired.
Tennessee tailgating did not disappoint. With an on-campus stadium I didn’t have to worry about finding a ride to the game, and having no shame I didn’t even buy much more than a 40 ounce of some of the best Olde English malt beverage available.
I simply roamed through different tailgates, pillaging through food and begging for beverages. Tennessee fans were eager to oblige, many showing the same excitement they must have had during their first Volunteer game.
A couple hours before game time the team took a stroll in their suits ““ such Southern gentlemen ““ down “Vol Walk,” where they were paraded with high fives and support from the orange faithful. The band played “Rocky Top” over and over (and over) as their version of a spirit squad pumped up the crowd as the team entered the stadium.
I was loaned a football player’s Tennessee ID to enter the student section, and fortunately they don’t check the picture because I don’t look much like a huge, black lineman. Upon entering the stadium, the crowd was going crazy. The band was equally impressive with its marching, creating swirls and stars that eventually formed into “UT.”
The bright orange in the stadium swallowed me. I was always told the Rose Bowl held a large capacity but Neyland Stadium holds 10,000 more fans, bringing Saturday’s attendance to 105,962.
In the stadium, the red of the Gamecocks could only be seen in the top 10 rows along one side of the stadium; how kind of the home team to give up such great seats.
As the game began I saw signs playing off the acronym ESPN and was immediately jealous that we have to put up with Versus and FSN televising our games. I always found it silly that a UCLA game had to be seen in between ultimate fighting and bull riding.
Back to the game: Tennessee scored fairly quickly and the crowd erupted. Fireworks went off and the spirit squad commenced in push-ups for each point scored. South Carolina’s quarterback Chris Smelley lived up to his name in the first quarter, throwing a pick leading to Volunteer points.
With Tennessee up 7-0 in the second quarter the Vols did something I hadn’t seen live in a while. From the Gamecock’s 36 they went for it on fourth and one, and guess what happened. The Vols got the 1st down, scoring a touchdown a few plays later. Compare that with a similar situation: When UCLA was on Cal’s 37 a couple weeks ago, down 21-20, we punted ““ not exactly as exciting.
By halftime the score was 21-0 Tennessee and I was thinking, “This is going to be a blow-out.” I enjoy close games, but for the sake of after-parties I figured a blowout would be more suitable to my needs.
As the second half commenced, Tennessee came out flat and the crowd got angry. This led to a female student behind me yelling at the defense, “Get some pressure on that quarterback! He can’t throw when his (freaking butt) is on the ground!” I smiled as I remembered why I was visiting.
Skimming ahead ““ because play-by-play action doesn’t excite all readers ““ the Gamecocks went on a 24-0 run, ending with a 48-yard field goal to take the lead in the fourth quarter. I started to get nervous about my party plans.
Luckily, Tennessee matched South Carolina’s field goal, and scored the only points in overtime to seal the win.
As more fireworks went off and after-parties commenced, Tennessee went on to win my award for “wettest dry campus” with students drinking all the way back to their dorms, uninterrupted by enthused Vol-loving law enforcement.
And as parties exploded everywhere and giggly Southern belles stumbled home past their bedtimes, I was again reminded just how happy I was not to be in Pullman.
Contact Reed at sreed@media.ucla.edu if you want to go to an away game this weekend that’s not in Tucson, Ariz.