Thoughts From Being At the Game Last Night

[VolGirlinMaryvill]

I don't have the technical prowess or strategic insight that many of those on this board do. So I may not have much to offer, especially to the arguments going on right now. But I was at the game, so I humbly offer this eye-witness perspective, from someone without a y chromosome....


1) It was so awesome to get to cheer for my vols in person. First game I've been to this year. Even in a loss, I cheered for them the whole game!

2) The vols came out inspired. There was an electricity in the air, and the vols had ALL of the early enthusiasm. The fake punt, the interception -- it all seemed to be playing out so well. The Bama fans around me weren't enjoying themselves much in the first half

3) As we all know, the 2nd half was so very, very different. Beyond the results on the field -- you could tell from the stands that the vols were all flat. Even their sidelines looked different. From the body language, it just seemed that all the UT team expected things to fall apart.

4) The Bama fans around me were great. Into the game, of course, but completely polite. None of the behavior you sometimes hear about. But they never seemed worried at all, even when the game was 6-6. See point #3, I guess.

5) There were very few UT fans there. I know it's a long way, but I expected UT to travel better.

Finally: I have nothing to offer in the QB and coaching debate. But several of the Bama fans around me were pointing out that a) UT's players were often out of position and taking bad angles. The Bama fans said that was lack of coaching adjustments. And b) They said that Sims was completely overwhelmed and that no one was afraid of him.


So, it was a bad night on the scoreboard, but I had a blast in the stands and was proud, and will always be proud, to represent for my Volunteers!

 

[utalumn2004]

You were luckier than I was. I'm female and a male Alabama fan threw food at me while I was walking to the game. It was completely unprovoked, and while I don't think their entire fanbase is that trashy, I was very disappointed.

 

[SDV]

You were luckier than I was. I'm female and a male Alabama fan threw food at me while I was walking to the game. It was completely unprovoked, and while I don't think their entire fanbase is that trashy, I was very disappointed.

That's how they pick up women in bama, throw food at them. Consider it a compliment

 

[TreeGreen]

5) There were very few UT fans there. I know it's a long way, but I expected UT to travel better.

Finally: I have nothing to offer in the QB and coaching debate. But several of the Bama fans around me were pointing out that a) UT's players were often out of position and taking bad angles. The Bama fans said that was lack of coaching adjustments. And b) They said that Sims was completely overwhelmed and that no one was afraid of him.

Good post. Glad you enjoyed the game! I think fans are just beat down at this point and attendance at home and away is going to be poor for a while. I've also never had a bad experience with Bama fans, but then I have a whole side of my family who went there.

I'm a bit ambivalent about their coaching comments though because I feel like for the most part our coaches are doing the best job they can with the hand they've been dealt. They were, however, totally correct about Matt Simms being awful. When your best wide receiver is shaking his head because the ball zoomed 4 yards past him while he was wide open you know things are bad.

 

[VolGirlinMaryvill]

You were luckier than I was. I'm female and a male Alabama fan threw food at me while I was walking to the game. It was completely unprovoked, and while I don't think their entire fanbase is that trashy, I was very disappointed.

YUCK! I didn't have anything like that. There's always some jerks in any crowd. I was there with a group of friends, so maybe there was safety in the group, even though I was wearing UT orange proudly :rock:

 

[utalumn2004]

Once we got into the stadium and to our seats, everyone was very nice. There's just always a few jerks who make every fanbase look bad.

 

[VolThis]

Was in the stadium last night as well! Finally made it back to Knoxville just now. Felt like Simms was doing what Simms does best. Nothing.

 

[Vols4us]

Was in the stadium last night as well! Finally made it back to Knoxville just now. Felt like Simms was doing what Simms does best. Nothing.

This.

So why waste two games in which Worley could be gaining experience? Afraid he would get killed? Nah, design the offense for a 3 step drop and throw. But as CDD and CJC said two weeks ago - we will not be changing the offense for a different QB. Great. Do you want to send the opponents copies of our plays while you are at it?

 

[vol_in_ar]

I don't have the technical prowess or strategic insight that many of those on this board do. So I may not have much to offer, especially to the arguments going on right now. But I was at the game, so I humbly offer this eye-witness perspective, from someone without a y chromosome....


1) It was so awesome to get to cheer for my vols in person. First game I've been to this year. Even in a loss, I cheered for them the whole game!

2) The vols came out inspired. There was an electricity in the air, and the vols had ALL of the early enthusiasm. The fake punt, the interception -- it all seemed to be playing out so well. The Bama fans around me weren't enjoying themselves much in the first half

3) As we all know, the 2nd half was so very, very different. Beyond the results on the field -- you could tell from the stands that the vols were all flat. Even their sidelines looked different. From the body language, it just seemed that all the UT team expected things to fall apart.

4) The Bama fans around me were great. Into the game, of course, but completely polite. None of the behavior you sometimes hear about. But they never seemed worried at all, even when the game was 6-6. See point #3, I guess.

5) There were very few UT fans there. I know it's a long way, but I expected UT to travel better.

Finally: I have nothing to offer in the QB and coaching debate. But several of the Bama fans around me were pointing out that a) UT's players were often out of position and taking bad angles. The Bama fans said that was lack of coaching adjustments. And b) They said that Sims was completely overwhelmed and that no one was afraid of him.


So, it was a bad night on the scoreboard, but I had a blast in the stands and was proud, and will always be proud, to represent for my Volunteers!

good post

 

[Sgt_Nick_Fury]

There's some very decent people down at Bama...and the people who were around me were very polite, or at least to my face.....(people tend to be polite to me to my face) Though I heard plenty of stuff yelled at us from 3-5 rows back. But all in all there's still an incredible amount of classless behavior...I will say the better Bama fans are ashamed of it themselves....but even though I can say I sometimes see that behavior in Knoxville, it's just NEVER at that level Bama fans are definately filled with some people who were raised without the rod. I would not even THINK to act like some of them or treat a woman that way. Wether someone is from your team or the other team.....did basic manors fly out the window?

Even to the more polite Bama fans I still say if you sing Rammer Jammer your low class. That is the absolute worst tradition of lack of sportsmanship in college football. Even the older Alabama fans who I respect don't like it and shake their heads...granted not many of that generation left anymore.

Also don't get me wrong, some of them are nice to look at, however are ALL Bama Coeds required to dress like Bear Bryant/ prostitute street walkers? Somehow gonna guess that's not how he wanted to be remembered. Houndstooth hats or jackets does not upgrade your Hollywood and Vine attire.

All that said, there is nothing any Bama fan did or said that upset me more then what I DID not see from Vol fans. That was absolutely the worst showing in fan support I have seen in 35+ years....and it may be longer then that I just haven't been watching before that. There was almost NO TURN OUT. It was the most shameful Tennessee turn out for a Bama game ever. There were huge sections of EMPTY SEATS from tickets they gave to Tennessee.....even Bama fans were like "where are the Tennessee fans?" "Even Vanderbilt brings more then this".... All I know is we got a bunch of fair weather, limp wristed fan support right now. Kudos to all my fellow Vols that showed up for the game. I was completely surrunded By wanna be Crimson more like Maroon and houndstooth till some fellow Vols did come sit beside me.....but there was no other orange in the entire section. (granted it was Tide pride area)

If you consider yourself a VOL fan but decide whether to go or stay based on chance of winning....you're no fan. The Tickets were SOLD.......people just didn't come. If you are one of those Vols, who had tickets but did not show, you should turn in your Orange, and buy some bandwagon maroon while your at it.


GO VOLS!!!!