Missouri Fan Already Planning Road Trip Next Year....

[Mosnowman]

Greetings from Mizzou....

I know I'm about 9 months early but am psyched to come to your area for our game with you! I was hoping to get a few answers about the area and traditions.....We are staying at the Holiday Inn in the downtown area. Can you guys give me what I shouldn't miss in terms of restaurants, bars that are friendly to opponents wearing their colors, and anything else a first timer needs to be aware of to take in Knoxville? Thanks in advance!

[KingsportVol88]

We have the classiest fans in the SEC. Wear your Mizzou colors loud and proud. You will not catch any slack. Avoid the restaurants & the bars. We tailgate like no other and party with pretty much everyone except Bammers & Gators. Welcome to the board!

[Oskie Volum]

Of course like any other fan base we have a few jack wagons, so just ignore them. We don't have as many as most but of course there a few here and there. Wear ur mizzou stuff and just don't be obnoxious about it and you'll be welcomed with open arms anywhere you go. Dont walk around cocky like u r gonna come in and beat us. That'll turn bad in a heart beat. If y'all do win then be gracious about it, and celebrate it when u get back home.

There are a lot of things to do on game day. All bars and restaurants will be friendly to y'all as long as u r in return. Just make sure ur in ur seat in time to see the team come in. I may a homer but there is nothing more amazing than when the band starts to form the power T, opens it up and the team runs out. I know ur a mizzou fan but it's an experience you'll enjoy. Vol walk is a tradition most like, especially for families with kids, but may not interest u as a mizzou fan. Like everywhere else lots of tailgating going on. On the strip, parking garages, fraternity park, VolNavy is the coolest and one different than anywhere else.

Hope we r having a good season next yr cause that'll make it even better. There's a top recruits dad that said that our stadiums experience will be hard to top, and that's when we r losing. He was left wondering how'd it be when we r winning.

To end, welcome to the SEC family. I have y'all on my travel list when we go up there in a few yrs. I grew up in the heart of big 12 country so as long as you don't bring that annoying cockiness that utx and ou have then y'all be fine. Good luck to y'all...other than the wknd y'all play the Big Orange.


Ps if u want to get on our good side here on VN...start to collect pics of pretty girls in Mizzou gear. The week we play a team a "Girls of ...." thread starts. TN has some of the prettest girls in the SEC so make sure u represent well.

[cbbowlingmd]

Originally Posted by Mosnowman

Greetings from Mizzou....

I know I'm about 9 months early but am psyched to come to your area for our game with you! I was hoping to get a few answers about the area and traditions.....We are staying at the Holiday Inn in the downtown area. Can you guys give me what I shouldn't miss in terms of restaurants, bars that are friendly to opponents wearing their colors, and anything else a first timer needs to be aware of to take in Knoxville? Thanks in advance!

I have to agree with KingsportVol on this one. If you want the true experience here in Knoxville, avoid the restaurants on gameday and hit a tailgate. Hell, hit mine. The ribs will knock your Mizzou socks off. We may even sneak a little moonshine to you. Shoot me your email if you're interested. I'll get you some contact info and we'll make sure you're well taken care of when you come.

[cbbowlingmd]

Originally Posted by Oskie Volum

Of course like any other fan base we have a few jack wagons, so just ignore them. We don't have as many as most but of course there a few here and there. Wear ur mizzou stuff and just don't be obnoxious about it and you'll be welcomed with open arms anywhere you go. Dont walk around cocky like u r gonna come in and beat us. That'll turn bad in a heart beat. If y'all do win then be gracious about it, and celebrate it when u get back home.

There are a lot of things to do on game day. All bars and restaurants will be friendly to y'all as long as u r in return. Just make sure ur in ur seat in time to see the team come in. I may a homer but there is nothing more amazing than when the band starts to form the power T, opens it up and the team runs out. I know ur a mizzou fan but it's an experience you'll enjoy. Vol walk is a tradition most like, especially for families with kids, but may not interest u as a mizzou fan. Like everywhere else lots of tailgating going on. On the strip, parking garages, fraternity park, VolNavy is the coolest and one different than anywhere else.

Hope we r having a good season next yr cause that'll make it even better. There's a top recruits dad that said that our stadiums experience will be hard to top, and that's when we r losing. He was left wondering how'd it be when we r winning.

To end, welcome to the SEC family. I have y'all on my travel list when we go up there in a few yrs. I grew up in the heart of big 12 country so as long as you don't bring that annoying cockiness that utx and ou have then y'all be fine. Good luck to y'all...other than the wknd y'all play the Big Orange.


Ps if u want to get on our good side here on VN...start to collect pics of pretty girls in Mizzou gear. The week we play a team a "Girls of ...." thread starts. TN has some of the prettest girls in the SEC so make sure u represent well.

Good call Oskie.

[Oskie Volum]

Originally Posted by cbbowlingmd

Good call Oskie.

yeah I'm a big fan of that thread. I also agree restaurants and bars prior to the game is not a good call. Tailgates for sure.

[largent47]

I am a big college football fan from the northeast and have to say the our first trip to Knoxville last year for the LSU game was perfect. We are already talking about where to go this year and we are not sure it can be topped, and here is why.

Everything is walking distance. Pay the extra bucks to say downtown, we stayed at the Hilton (seems to be the visitors hotel). Dont rent a car-just take the $20 cab ride from the airport. The bars on the strip, bars & restaurants in Old City, Neyland, Calhouns are all a short walk. The gameday setting on the river is great and the city is much more than a college town. Good Luck

[vollygirl]

I"m really excited about this game. Love the games with OoC teams cause they aren't the usual. This is going to be an in-conference game that isn't the usual! A first for me!! Can't wait.

Welcome to Volnation.

[Thrasher865]

Originally Posted by vollygirl

I"m really excited about this game. Love the games with OoC teams cause they aren't the usual. This is going to be an in-conference game that isn't the usual! A first for me!! Can't wait.

Welcome to Volnation.

Tell me about it. It's going to be a game with a strang team I've never seen us play, but for conference standings... Weird.

It will be fun, though. At first I was dreading the re-alignment, but now I'm embracing it.

[Thrasher865]

Originally Posted by Oskie Volum

Ps if u want to get on our good side here on VN...start to collect pics of pretty girls in Mizzou gear. The week we play a team a "Girls of ...." thread starts. TN has some of the prettest girls in the SEC so make sure u represent well.

Also, you need fair warning. If you don't come back to VN until the week of the Mizzou game, you will see a "Make Fun of Missouri" thread. Don't take it personal. Every team we play gets a "make fun of..." and "girls of..." thread.

[punkcat]

I can't believe ya'll didn't tell him about the beatdown that's coming.

[C1Vol1]

Originally Posted by Mosnowman

Greetings from Mizzou....

I know I'm about 9 months early but am psyched to come to your area for our game with you! I was hoping to get a few answers about the area and traditions.....We are staying at the Holiday Inn in the downtown area. Can you guys give me what I shouldn't miss in terms of restaurants, bars that are friendly to opponents wearing their colors, and anything else a first timer needs to be aware of to take in Knoxville? Thanks in advance!

There are a lot of good restaraunts on the strip (Cumberland avenue) and I would recommend Copper Cellar. Down by the river are Ruth's Chris (excellent) and Calhoun's (also excellent). The tailgating is obviously second-to-none but Calhouns is actually a phenomenal alternative especially if you can get a spot outside overlooking the Tennessee River.

The city has also done a remarkable job of redoing downtown and old city--there are a few good options and even a lounge or two worth trying.

In terms of traditions and what to see there is so much to say I could probably write a book. In a sense, UT is like the catholic church in that so much of every game is the same way it was the game before--tradition is paramount.

The traditions and pageantry at a Tennessee home game are unrivaled in college football and nothing like anything I've ever seen anywhere else in the country. Why is this? It's hard to say exactly but my thesis is that it is rooted in the heritage of East Tennessee and in the history of the state itself. People from Tennessee, generally speaking, are incredibly proud of the state's history of sacrifice and service and view the idea of "The Volunteer State", and what that means, as a greater embodiment and representation of what it means to be an American. Culturally, Tennesseans view Tennessee football as an extension and representation of that history which is why I believe the template has developed and lasted over time. My experience, like most Tennesseans, is rooted in the history and tradition of our family which includes several dozen UT graduates over three generations. Tennessee football is something we've always done as a family--traveling from points all over the United States to be a part of on Saturday's in the fall--and so it holds so much more meaning than a simple 60 minute game with a resultant win or loss.

What not to miss on gameday:
*Salute to the Hill

*The Pride of the Southland pre-game

*Running through the T

People in Knoxville are friendly and the businesses even friendlier to out-of-town guests. I would recommend taking a full, long, weekend to enjoy all of it. There's a reason SI and Sporting News have both rated Tennessee the #1 gameday experience in college football. Enjoy and good luck!

[82_VOL_83]

Bring some Mizzu stuff to trade, you will find plenty of folks here willing to swap with you. You guys will find you are welcome at 99.9% of the tailgates. Just walk up and say hey! You are going to love it.....Just be good foreigners and go back home!!! ROFL Just kidding!

P.S. To add to what C1 was saying about the restaurants, if you get a chance to go to Connors out west, it beats just about everybody hands down in my opine!!! Their lobster bisque is so good you will cry. The "Salute to the Hill" that C1 mentioned is 1:40 before game time I think. It is at the corner of Phil Fulmer and Andy Holt. Someone please correct me if my too old memory is shot.

[82_VOL_83]

Originally Posted by punkcat

I can't believe ya'll didn't tell him about the beatdown that's coming.

Hey we want them to visit!!! Be quiet!

[Gcrop]

Ye Olde Steakhouse the Friday night before the game (or Sat night if it is a noon game). Get there early or be prepared to wait. It is worth that wait. Typically has a good share of opposing fans in there too.