Last year I attended the first game of the season, even though less than three months earlier I had undergone a 4 vessel cardiac artery bypass grafting (quadruple heart bypass surgery, where they saw your sternum - breastbone - in half) I am not "middle-aged". I was 63 years old at the time. We sat in the nosebleed section and my son was very concerned that I not "over-do" it. He actually escorted me out of the stands a couple of times because I insisted on going to the concession stand and I HAD to go to the restroom.
1.) I stood when everybody else did and cheered for my vols (3rd down on defense or whatever.)
2.) I also stood and cheered on the rare occassion when WKU scored, because I graduated from there 40 years ago. I wore one of my many Vol t-shirts and carried two hats - one red one orange - and donned each at different points in the game. We had fun and nobody around us complained about anything.
3.) When the Pride of the Southland band played Western's fight song, I sang along. By the way their fight song is "STAND UP and cheer" same as Ohio U, another game I saw last year. Kind of ironic. I love "Rocky Top" but perhaps the substance of their fight song should be reviewed for some of the uninformed ushers at Neyland.
4.) I attended 4 games at Neyland last year, after my heart surgery. I stood and cheered throughout most of the game at all 4. And I didn't leave until I sang the Tennessee Walze with the band at the end.
5.) The OP in the current scenario is my son, he is an adult, he was sitting with a guy he has been buddys with since elementary school, he is married, he is a college graduate and currently working on a graduate degree. He is 6'5" and muscular, but has never been a bully. He is not perfect, but I have never seen or heard of him disrespecting an "older person", even in his rebel years which have long passed. He's a "yes sir, no mam" kind of guy. He normally respects anyone in authority, though he is man enough to question stupidity. If he says the ushers turned their name badges around, cussed them and refused to identify themselves, you can take it to the bank. The usher may have been having a bad. Sorry, old fellow, you have to learn to act and speak in a professional manner - even when you don't feel like it.
6.) Which is worse - paid employees of the university breaking stated rules (language) and acting immature or fans doing what fans do . . . and within the rules. The ushers and the cop should have been kicked out.
7.) I'm not JUST taking up for "m'boy". He is plenty capable of doing that...and from reading this thread (or whatever you call it - at my age I just discovered that a "post" can be something besides what holds up a fence OR a pass pattern in football) I believe he has done a darn good job of stating his case. (In a very respectful way, he'll probably say, "Dad. Why'd you do that?" when he reads this.)
I'm done. Have fun! Y'all are free to roast this Senior Citizen who is a huge VOLS fan. Maybe more than most of y'all. Especially considering I grew up in KY and did not attend UT, except for a continuing education class or two. Just be respectful. I'm probably much older than the couple who couldn't see because some folks a few rows in front of them were standing at the 'bama game... and I AM a heart patient!
OF COURSE I'm biased. I wasn't there. I may not really be my son's father, but he does look like me. I could be a Alabubba fan or a Vandy grad or a high school sophomore...so you don't have to post any of those possible senarios now. Besides, if you burn me I probably won't read it anyway - at my age I'll probably forget how to get on this dadgum contraption by the time you reply.
NOW I'm done!
lol::rock::dance2::clapping::salute::thumbsup::rock::dance::dance::dance:
