Neyland Experiences (Share Your Story)

#1
duckman398686

duckman398686

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#1
Post the best and worst seats you've ever had at Neyland Stadium. When coming up with your answers, it doesn't necessarily have to be all about the view. It can be a combination of the people you sat by, the general atmosphere, and the overall experience you had at the game. Crazy experiences you had are welcome too. I'll go first

Best:

From 2001-2004 me and my family had great seats in section S about 50 rows up. Had a great view of all the action and could see everything that was happening on the field. The people that sat around us were up there with the best.

A distant second is the '98 Bama game. We had 3rd row seats in section Q. We were up close to all the action when it was down on our end, but when the ball was on the other side of the field it was hard to see what was going on....


Worst:

The '06 Bama game. Not only was I in the nosebleed section(Section KK, about 18 rows from the top of the stadium), but I was also in the middle of the entire bama fan section. At first, I thought this was going to be the worst part of the game but a UT fan came up and had seats right next to us. Good right? However, it turned out that this guy (not the bammers) was the worst thing that could have shown up that evening. He was your typical loud obnxious drunk and wouldn't shut up the entire game. He finally left late in the 2nd half but i'm still puzzled about how, out of all that crimson, the most annoying guy there could have been a brethren.:no: Other than the final score, I'll have to say that I didn't have that great of a time at that one.
 
#2
#2
I do not know about worst but best seats were definitely when I used to work in Neyland as a kid. I was thirteen and would sell hot dogs. In the second half I would go all the way down and sit on my cooler wherever I liked. Still remember Garner running all over Florida in the rain.
 
#3
#3
Got two that stand out but will reveal one since I'm tired and the other one takes too long. First experience at Neyland circa 1972. Walked from the concourse into the seating area to soak in the field. About 10 rows down, in the aisle were two of Knoxville's finest. They proceeded up the steps, (I was just in awe of the stadium) and as they got ready to pass me I stepped aside to let them pass one of them grabbed my arm and said "you're coming with us" to which I responded "why". He said "you're drunk" (mind you it was a 1:00 PM game and I hadn't had a drop to drink). Didn't get to see the game and spent 8 hours in the drunk tank. Maybe my longer than the average bears hair had something to do with it. Second story with news at nine..
 
#4
#4
My 1st trip to Neyland was to take in the Tennessee / UCLA game in the mid 70's. I remember how awestruck I was walking out of the tunnel entrance and seeing the stadium open up before me. I was almost breathless at how beautiful it was...empty and serene long before kickoff.
 
#5
#5
hmanvolfan said:
Got two that stand out but will reveal one since I'm tired and the other one takes too long. First experience at Neyland circa 1972. Walked from the concourse into the seating area to soak in the field. About 10 rows down, in the aisle were two of Knoxville's finest. They proceeded up the steps, (I was just in awe of the stadium) and as they got ready to pass me I stepped aside to let them pass one of them grabbed my arm and said "you're coming with us" to which I responded "why". He said "you're drunk" (mind you it was a 1:00 PM game and I hadn't had a drop to drink). Didn't get to see the game and spent 8 hours in the drunk tank. Maybe my longer than the average bears hair had something to do with it. Second story with news at nine..
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:eek:hmy:
 
#6
#6
Worst Experience:

My 1st experience. 1996 UT/Florida. Do I need to go into a detailed description? haha When Spurrier went for it on 4th and long on the opening drive and it ended up as a TD, I knew we were doomed. However it wasn't completely a wash because I DID catch a Jeff Hall kick in the endzone, for which I sheepishly managed to tuck away and keep. I now how Peyton and Archie's autographs on it.


Best Experience:

1998 Arkansas....Billy Ratliff pounces on Clint Stoerner's fumble.

2001 Georgia....despite the loss, this game was a rollercoaster of excitement and emotions.
 
#7
#7
Best - Tie between the 1982 Bama game where we intercepted them in the last 30 seconds or so in our end zone and the Stoener fumble. For the '82 Bama game, I was sitting in section Y, right behind where the interception took place....That ended years of frustration of Bama beating us..Also, of course, it was Bear's last Vol game...I've never seen or felt such emotion in a football stadium before or since...I have the game's video produced by the UT Athletic dept. (I don't think it was on TV)...To watch and enjoy the total pandemonium that day still is one of my greatest memories.

Worst: Same game - A couple of old drunks - a man and woman (Bama fans) were staggering out of the stadium and the woman who could hardly talk, said in a slurred Ala. drawl upon seeing me all in orange, "I'm gonna spit on you!" My wife, who had to sit in another part of the stadium that day, said, "I wish I had been there with you to claw her eyes out!" Now, that would have been fun to watch because she could have done it....
 
#8
#8
Best - Many great times at Neyland. However, Ill say the 2000 Arkansas game. After a subpar start to the season, Tennessee was kicking it in high gear. Watching a freshman QB throw 5 TD passes and torching the hog offense for 60+ points. At that moment in time.. I thought the biggest of big things was on its way for UT football.

Worst - Easy pick for me. 2002 Florida. National Title hopes were in full swing for the Vols and the Volunteer faithful. In a downpour of rain, I watched Tennessee fall apart with 6 minutes left in the 1st half. What was a 0-0 game with 6 minutes to go in the 1st half with turned into a 24-0 Florida lead in the final 6 minutes of the half. Although Tennessee closed the gap to 24-13 at the end of the 3rd quarter... things never got very close, as the Gators won 30-13.
 
#9
#9
best seats ever were in section D row 11 or 12 at the Bama game in 1992 (student at the time). There was this huge woman sitting behind me and when it looked like we might just be making a comeback she grabbed me, picked me up and just started squeezing me and basically throwing me around.
if my memory is correct i think johnny majors punted on 3rd down that day (not necessarily a bad call, just something i remember).

worst seats were 1991 UCLA. but every seat in the stadium was horrible since i think it was 220 degrees. i saw more than 4 or 5 people pass out
 
#10
#10
tennessee98 said:
Worst - Easy pick for me. 2002 Florida. National Title hopes were in full swing for the Vols and the Volunteer faithful. In a downpour of rain, I watched Tennessee fall apart with 6 minutes left in the 1st half. What was a 0-0 game with 6 minutes to go in the 1st half with turned into a 24-0 Florida lead in the final 6 minutes of the half. Although Tennessee closed the gap to 24-13 at the end of the 3rd quarter... things never got very close, as the Gators won 30-13.
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Thats up there on my bad list too. I was sitting under the covered part of the stadium and water still leaked through. I still remember this little kid that I was sitting by getting soaked from this massive leak over his head. Watching Tennessee fall apart was hard to see as well. Wasn't that the game where the offense fumbled like 3 or 4 straight plays in a row?
 
#11
#11
My only trip to Neyland was the year that UT beat SC in overtime a few years ago. It was a nice trip I loved the atmosphere and the town. And for the most part UT fans were very nice. It may have had somthing to do with the outcome of the game but I can understand that. The only thing that I can say I didnt enjoy too much was the seating is really cramped. We actually bought an extra seat to help but it didnt. A nice atmosphere overall.
 
#12
#12
duckman398686 said:
Thats up there on my bad list too. I was sitting under the covered part of the stadium and water still leaked through. I still remember this little kid that I was sitting by getting soaked from this massive leak over his head. Watching Tennessee fall apart was hard to see as well. Wasn't that the game where the offense fumbled like 3 or 4 straight plays in a row?
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That was a wet one indeed. My cell phone was ruined throughout the day. I shoulda left it in the hotel.

Yes, that is the game where they fumbled 3 or 4 times in a row. Casey Clausen and center Scott Wells couldn't get it together. The downpour obviously did not help. If I not mistaken, I'm pretty sure UT either tied or set a school record that day for fumbles in a game.
 
#13
#13
My best day at Neyland was last years C al game. It was my sons first ever trip to Neyland. The look of awe on his face when the Vols ran through the "T" was priceless. One of my best days ever with him. He was hooked from that day on. To all dads on VolNation, make that first game special for them. What they give in return can't be matched.
 
#15
#15
orange4ever said:
My best day at Neyland was last years C al game. It was my sons first ever trip to Neyland. The look of awe on his face when the Vols ran through the "T" was priceless. One of my best days ever with him. He was hooked from that day on. To all dads on VolNation, make that first game special for them. What they give in return can't be matched.
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At his first game my little brother plugged his ears and cried because it was so loud. And yes it was priceless.:)
 
#16
#16
lacrossepro70 said:
At his first game my little brother plugged his ears and cried because it was so loud. And yes it was priceless.:)
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I hope this years team will have the fans so crazy little kids will be putting their fingers in their ears.... :yes:
 
#17
#17
My favorite experience in Neyland happened last year, and didn't even have anything to do with the game. I was in the band, full uniform, up using the bathroom in the concourse...you know, the troughs. Well, here I am wool head to toe, spats, and a hat doing my thing, and in walks a lady. I, looking to have a laugh, simply said "hey! what's up?!" She, however, wasn't in the mood for laughter. She screamed like someone had shot her and ran straight out. I finished up, grabbed a Coke, and headed back down to enjoy the game.
 
#18
#18
Best seats ever was the 1985 Vandy game...I sat 4 seats from the UT bench (which is now the visiting teams bench). Got to see former VOL Bill Bates walk the sideline...got to hear every pad pop on every play...I remember a man and his wife holding up a bowl with a bag of DIXIE CRYSTALS sugar in it for the TV camera right in front of me...a win and we were in...but bama lost to Auburn that day and it made it extra special.

Ive never really had a bad seat at Neyland. I guess Ive been very lucky.
 
#19
#19
I've been to every home loss in the last 5 years, but by far the worst game for me was last year's Florida game.

I am a grad student at UT, and so I get "free" tickets. Of course, the demand for the 10,000 or whatever Florida tickets allotted to us 27,000 + students is just crazy. People who have no idea how football is played, let alone ever been to a game, jump in line with their clinicly blind friends to catch the game.

When I get my ticket, it says "standing room only." Huh. I remember when I was a kid the standing section was right behind the end zones. That'd be cool. Turns out, as I discover to my horror on game day, it is now located at the very top of the upper deck on the South side, making a thin crust of orange in a sea of THOUSANDS of Florida fans. It felt like I was at an away game. I had gator chomps in my face two inches from my nose. I am relatively tall, and was careful not to get too comfortable leaning on the back fence, which only came to my waist to seperate me from a lethal fall.

Leaving at the end of the game to jeers and chants from thousands of fans in my own stadium, whom I had to walk through, was ridiculous. If you ever get standing room only, find a friend to sit with or consider getting some scalped tickets.
 
#20
#20
Best: 1997 was my first trip to Neyland and I got to watch Peyton Manning's last home game for the Vols. I'll admit, I had high hopes of a blowout since we were playing Vandy but the game was actually a close one. Before the game, they honored the seniors. Manning, Little, and a few others were honored as they ran out of the tunnel. We won the game by a few and clinched the SEC East. The festivities before and after the game left me wondering why I had waited so long to make that trip.

Worst: In 2002, I watched Rex Grossman and the Gators hand it to my Vols in a monsoon. It was raining so hard at one time that I had trouble seeing the players on the field. I remember Clausen fumbling the ball on our own 5 yard line like 2 or 3 times before halftime. Florida scored two or three touchdowns right before the half and we never could catch up. I sat near the Florida band and had to hear that whole Gator chomp song all day long. I nearly got into a fight with a couple of Gator fans and had to walk a mile after the game to get to my vehicle. That was rough with a pair of wet jeans on that nearly rubbed me raw between my legs. I'll never forget that day.
 
#21
#21
NationofVols said:
Worst Experience:

My 1st experience. 1996 UT/Florida. Do I need to go into a detailed description? haha When Spurrier went for it on 4th and long on the opening drive and it ended up as a TD, I knew we were doomed. However it wasn't completely a wash because I DID catch a Jeff Hall kick in the endzone, for which I sheepishly managed to tuck away and keep. I now how Peyton and Archie's autographs on it.
Click to expand...

Funny...I was at that game too and had a very interesting experience at half time....

I went to use the bathroom and while I was in there a UF fan smarted off to a UT fan about how the game was going and the UT fan knocked him out cold...it was the highlight of an awful day...:)
 
#22
#22
So many great experiences the first I stepped into the stadium I can still remeber the smell the sounds everything it was the greatest thing I had ever seen this was in 1986 vs Ga Tech. I still feel the same way everytime I step into the stadium it truly is heaven on earth. The best seats would have to be sky box for the south carolina game in 05 even though we lost I stil loved the boxes they are top notch. I can't remember ever having a bad seat because I've never had to sit with a bunch of visiting fans, on occassion I have set near one of those obnoxious fans but very rarely.
 
#23
#23
BEST: October 1,2005....Got married on a mountain top at around 8:30 am went with the family for a nice breakfast around 10ish done eating at 11ish changed into orange drove from Gatlinburg to Kville,parked, found a scalper,ran to the stadium found our seats in the shade and still got to see the Power T, as the Vols beat Ole miss, glad we got to see a W since there weren't many that year

Worst:UGA game in '02 or 03 when ever we got spanked, I drank too much, lost my friends in the crowd, (i did share my whiskey with a bunch of nice looking ladies though) I threw my visor down to the lower level, my friend found me and turns out they were sitting about 5 rows behind me, after the game I lost them again, then lost the car and began drunk dialing back home to see if anyone knew where I parked. Apparently I found both and woke up at around 5:30 am in the passenger seat of my car with all of the windows down and it about 40 degrees, went into my friends apartment and found both my friends naked in different beds with some attractive members of the opposite sex, and just think could have been me if only I hadn't started drinking at 9 am for 6pm kick off, thank god I quit and have my life in moderately good order now.
 
#24
#24
I remember the 87 Vandy game. We had to make a comeback and I remember this crazy dude running around our section just screaming at everyone to make some noise.
we of course made the comeback.
 
#25
#25
on pure seats alone and not anything to do with the game...

Best - looking at my Cal ticket from last year (only game I made it to in '06), I was at Sec. E, Row 51. Generally, my seats are in that vicinity. I've had an aisle seat once or twice, a rare luxury for a 6ft+ person at Neyland.

Worst - '04 Bama. Had to buy off ebay and I was pretty much in the visitors' section around the 25-30 yl. I wasn't decked out so I did not get any individual harassment but there there was a lot of unncessary vulgar language and taunting. I guess the Bama students thought they were close enough to the UTK bench that the players could hear them?
 
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