SDV
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- Dec 15, 2008
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If you are a friend, a co-worker or the boss to a Tennessee fan, you must
forgive them these days. You have to ignore the extra pep in their step, the
smile on their face, and the fact that as the week progresses, the work
volume getting completed greatly reduces. You see, this week is different.
It is not about predicting wins and losses yet and it is not about talking
about how their team should play. It is the fact that their team is finally
playing. It is the equivalent to riding a roller coaster. Who knows if it is
going to be a good ride or a bad ride, you just know you have been standing
in line a heck of a long time to ride it and it is time to ride. Sure if the
offense opens up with too many men on the field or jumps offside on the
first play there might be a mutiny in the stadium, but right now, that does
not matter.
What does matter is that in just a handful of days the Tennessee football
team will be making their walk from Gibbs Hall to Neyland Stadium through
the droves of orange clad fans singing Rocky Top at the top of their lungs.
What does matter is that thousands of fans will be tailgating and sharing
stories of season openers gone by. What does matter is that the Cumberland
Avenue strip will be buzzing with fans and cars with more car flags then
they have windows. What matters is seeing the fleet of boats lined along the
banks of the Tennessee River forming the Vol Navy.
Who starts the game is not important and which tailback gets the most
carries is not an issue at this point. What is important is being in your
seat in time to see the entire Pride of the Southland pre-game routine.
What matters is that you are one of the one hundred seven thousand fans
standing with your heart pounding as the band forms the power "T" creating
the corridor for the football team to race out of the locker room and onto
the field. It is hearing Bobby Denton say "please pay these prices and
please pay no more." It is hearing Denton announce "It is football time in
Tennessee!" or "scores of interest." It is just Tennessee and it is college
football the way you expect it to be.
You see, for those who have never been entrenched in the game day experience
at Neyland Stadium, Saturday is a good day because college football is
starting throughout the country, but for those who have been through the
game day experience in Knoxville, the anticipation is great and words can't
really describe what the Saturday ritual is like. It is like an old glove
that feels right and fits perfectly when you drive onto campus or walk to
your tailgating spot somewhere on campus whether it is circle park or over
on the Hill. It is just a natural feeling to smell the food in the air or
hear someone shout "line-ups!" It is granddads taking their grandson to his
first game or dads and sons making the first of many trips to their Saturday
playground. You can pick them out anywhere. The young boy or girl's eyes are
wide open. They point and they ask every question under the sun.
College football has great traditions around the country from Boomer Sooner
to Toomer's Corner, but for the Vol Nation, no one has what they have along
the banks of the Tennessee River. So whether you are just now tall enough to
ride the roller coaster for the first time or this is you 200th trip, the
anticipation is high. You have been standing in line for a long summer and
regardless of what the ride is like this season, there is no better
anticipation than the week leading up the first roller coaster hill which
symbols the start of the 2009 season. So bosses, forgive your workers and
co-workers and get out of the way because the Big Orange Nation is giddy.
Giddy because simply put, it's time.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
forgive them these days. You have to ignore the extra pep in their step, the
smile on their face, and the fact that as the week progresses, the work
volume getting completed greatly reduces. You see, this week is different.
It is not about predicting wins and losses yet and it is not about talking
about how their team should play. It is the fact that their team is finally
playing. It is the equivalent to riding a roller coaster. Who knows if it is
going to be a good ride or a bad ride, you just know you have been standing
in line a heck of a long time to ride it and it is time to ride. Sure if the
offense opens up with too many men on the field or jumps offside on the
first play there might be a mutiny in the stadium, but right now, that does
not matter.
What does matter is that in just a handful of days the Tennessee football
team will be making their walk from Gibbs Hall to Neyland Stadium through
the droves of orange clad fans singing Rocky Top at the top of their lungs.
What does matter is that thousands of fans will be tailgating and sharing
stories of season openers gone by. What does matter is that the Cumberland
Avenue strip will be buzzing with fans and cars with more car flags then
they have windows. What matters is seeing the fleet of boats lined along the
banks of the Tennessee River forming the Vol Navy.
Who starts the game is not important and which tailback gets the most
carries is not an issue at this point. What is important is being in your
seat in time to see the entire Pride of the Southland pre-game routine.
What matters is that you are one of the one hundred seven thousand fans
standing with your heart pounding as the band forms the power "T" creating
the corridor for the football team to race out of the locker room and onto
the field. It is hearing Bobby Denton say "please pay these prices and
please pay no more." It is hearing Denton announce "It is football time in
Tennessee!" or "scores of interest." It is just Tennessee and it is college
football the way you expect it to be.
You see, for those who have never been entrenched in the game day experience
at Neyland Stadium, Saturday is a good day because college football is
starting throughout the country, but for those who have been through the
game day experience in Knoxville, the anticipation is great and words can't
really describe what the Saturday ritual is like. It is like an old glove
that feels right and fits perfectly when you drive onto campus or walk to
your tailgating spot somewhere on campus whether it is circle park or over
on the Hill. It is just a natural feeling to smell the food in the air or
hear someone shout "line-ups!" It is granddads taking their grandson to his
first game or dads and sons making the first of many trips to their Saturday
playground. You can pick them out anywhere. The young boy or girl's eyes are
wide open. They point and they ask every question under the sun.
College football has great traditions around the country from Boomer Sooner
to Toomer's Corner, but for the Vol Nation, no one has what they have along
the banks of the Tennessee River. So whether you are just now tall enough to
ride the roller coaster for the first time or this is you 200th trip, the
anticipation is high. You have been standing in line for a long summer and
regardless of what the ride is like this season, there is no better
anticipation than the week leading up the first roller coaster hill which
symbols the start of the 2009 season. So bosses, forgive your workers and
co-workers and get out of the way because the Big Orange Nation is giddy.
Giddy because simply put, it's time.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
epper:
