My First Visit to Bryant-Denny Stadium

Author’s Note: I believe this is the first post I’ve ever written about a sporting event, and I know that I’m no sports writer. So, count this as more for my personal reflection rather than for your sporting edification. That being said, your comments are welcome.

This past Saturday evening, I attended the University of Tennessee’s home football game against arch SEC rival Alabama. Although this game was supposedly played in Neyland Stadium, there were several times when my eyes and ears told me otherwise. The large gathering of opposing fans along with the poor performance of my beloved Volunteers had me thinking I was due for a long post-game drive north from Tuscaloosa to Knoxville.

Pregame – Low Expectations Make for an Enjoyable Evening
Given UT’s inconsistent performance this decade, I’ve learned to temper my expectations. Growing up, I remember how a visit to Neyland Stadium was preceeded by pre-game gitters. In the days leading up to the game, I would eagerly anticipate sitting in my family’s long-held season ticket seats in the South Endzone. We would park in the lot next to Baptist hospital and make our way across the Henley Street Bridge arriving fifteen or twenty minutes before kickoff. The band would march onto the field, George Beatsus (sp?) would sing the national anthem, and the captains would gather at mid-field for the coin toss while the rest of the team ran through the “T”. By kickoff, my heart would be pounding.

Fortunately, for the most part my family has always had a good perspective on football. It was a fun Saturday diversion without being the total focus of our lives. We would cheer for the Vols, and even suffer disappointment with a loss. However, we wouldn’t let this carry over into the rest of the week.

In recent years, this balanced, heretitary perspective has allowed me to gain even more enjoyment from my visits to Neyland. Rather than arriving shortly before kickoff, my wife and I have learned to arrive several hours early. Some of my favorite memories are night games when we park downtown, eat dinner at The Tomato Head and stop to take in the view from the Sunsphere before heading into the stadium. While watching the games, I’ve come to have a greater appreciation for the athletes on the field. There is the speed of the game, the competitve fire and all the drama that are the hallmarks of college football.

The pacing of my pregame ritual was no different this past Saturday night. Beth didn’t join me this time as she was visiting with a friend. So, I took my friend Bart.

We parked in the free garage behind Regal Cinemas. On our way to the stadium, we stopped by Coffee and Chocolate for some lattes and hot chocolate. We sat down and talked for a while before heading out.

In Game – My Wish is Granted
Leading up to the game, my only wish was for UT to be in it at halftime. With the score Alabama 13, UT 3, that was close enough to qualify in my book. Keep in mind, the way UT has played this year, calling 13 to 3 close is tenious at best; however, we’ve also seen that it could have been much worse.

Third Quarter Fantasies
During the opening minutes of the third quarter, a strange realization occured to me. After watching the offence go three-and-out on their first two possessions, I was looking forward to Alabama having the ball. “At least there’s a chance that something good might happen,” I thought. “Maybe Eric Berry will return an interception for a touchdown. Maybe he’ll cause a fumble. Maybe he’ll knock the whole offence back into the endzone for a safety…Then he could return the kickoff for a touchdown! Maybe…”

Alas, my fantasies never materialized. Alabama kept driving the ball down the field, UT kept amassing penalties and the score kept getting evermore insurmountable.

4th Quarter – Welcome to Bryant Denny Stadium
Sometime deep in the fourth quarter I remember a penalty getting called on Alabama. I turned to make a comment to Bart while they were sorting things out on the field. Next thing I know, the result of the penalty is announced, and I hear a loud smattering of boos. “There’s no way that could have gone against us!” I thought. Looking at the field, I saw that the call was against Alabama, but I still couldn’t figure out why everyone was so upset. Then it dawns on me…

With the early exodus of many Vol fans, the majority of fans were wearing crimson and rooting for the Tide. Having been to many games, I’m used to seeing visiting fans sitting behind the opposing band in the north endzone. I’ve even occassionally seen fans seated in the upper deck behind the student section. However, as I scanned the stadium, I saw that Alabama fans were everywhere. Despite the fact that I was in downtown Knoxville, I had somehow found myself at an Alabama home game.

We waited until the clock hit 0:00, and we walked out as the Pride of the Southland was playing the Tennessee Waltz.

Did I Just Go to a UT Football Game?
Fortunately, I wasn’t in Alabama, and it didn’t take too long to get back home. Along the way, Bart and I got into a couple of good discussions, none of which were about football. It certainly didn’t feel as though I’d been to a UT football game.