When was your first UT football game?

#1
KoachKrab127

KoachKrab127

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2009
Messages
4,876
Likes
5,716
#1
Ok, everyone. I want to know about your first Neyland Stadium experience. I'll start off with mine.

My first UT football game was the '99 Notre Dame game. I was 14 years old. My dad and I went together. We bought tickets from a scalper in section ZZ. They're great seats, the actual chairs, not bleachers. You can see the whole field easily, and the jumbo-tron (this was the first year of the jumbo-tron).

It was also the first game of the '99 season when UT allowed a rushing TD. And on that play, the ND RB was pushed out of bounds at the 2 yard line, and the ref gave him a TD (this was before replay, remember). The crowd was FURIOUS. Everyone around me was SCREAMING at the refs. Haha. Funny thing is, we were up like 31-14 at the time, but everyone was still REALLY mad they gave them the bogus TD. On the next ND offensive play, the guy ran for about 1 yard from like the 30 to the 31, and the crazy lady in front of me yelled at the ref, "Are ya gonna rule that a touchdown?!" And she threw her arms into the airm signalling TD. I couldn't stop laughing.

After the game, when we were walking back to the car, these drunk college students were chanting, "F--- the luck! Irish SUCK!" Also something my dad and I couldn't stop laughing at.

It was a great experience. Something I'll never forget.

Ok, who else wants to discuss?
 
#2
#2
I think it was in 1968, I can't remember the team but I remember we sat in the horseshoe. I was so young at the time I was in awe of the size of the crowd. It seems like a dream now that I'm 50!
 
#3
#3
First game i saw i was 8 years old. . it was tennessee vs georgia in 1968. . my dad took me and what i remember most was the tartan turf / georigia ran a punt back for a touchdown / we scored at the end to tie it. also it was getting dark as there were no lights at neyland then. it might have been a tv game, im not sure about that one.
 
#4
#4
My first game was in 1982 vs Kentucky...UT won 28-7...My lasting impression from that first time at Neyland was all that orange....Beautiful !!...I went with my brother and my dad...Dad got the tix from Col. Tom Elam....My two favorite games were probably the 85 home opener vs UCLA it ended in a tie 26 all but I still had fun and the second was probably the 84 game with Alabama that UT won 28-27....I remember it rained right before half and stopped at the start of the 3rd qtr...We got tix at the game from some scalpers and sat in two different sections..My dad and brother sat up under the stands and didn't get wet...I sat out in the open and got soaked...We won so I didn't really care....
 
#6
#6
98' ark game half the people left in the third. the weather suxed. but the fumble and travis henery made up for that. and al wilson seemed to be the fastest man on the field
 
#8
#8
Koachkrab i was at the same game you were at my second game and the crowd went crazy for allowing that touchdown it was unforgettable :rock:
my first game was when i was 5 and it was peyton mannings first game i believe against alabama...too bad i dont remember any of it :dunno:
 
#10
#10
Mine first experience came late. For me, it was the Cal game in 2006. We just came off a 5-7 year, David Cutcliff was back, and the crowd wanted something to cheer about. Good God did they give it to us. That and the Florida game that year had to be the loudest atmospheres I've ever been in. It was unbelievable.
 
#11
#11
2001 Georgia game...last second TD by Georgia wins the game. It was also Richt's first away game as Georgia's coach and their first win against us at Neyland Stadium since 1980. This game is one reason why I hate Jawja so much today.
 
Last edited:
#12
#12
UGA..I believe in either 93' or 94'. It was a great game, I coudnt talk at all the next day. :rock:
 
Last edited:
#13
#13
My first game was UTEP 1986. My step-dad, mom, brother and myself. I was 12. We bought tickets off the street "on the 50 yard line." Absolutely, very top row, lol. My brother and I spent as much time spitting over the top of the stadium down onto the street as we did watching the football game what seemed like 2 miles straight down. I can remember being amazed at everything that takes place around the game. We payed to park in a yard. Due to the spirits consumed by our gaurdians, we were still on the hunt way after midnight. I vivdly remember sitting on a bench outside a building that band members kept coming out of way after the game. LOL

Had the opportunity to take in numerous games since that evening and look forward to every time the future allows me to be on th hill. I have always loved UT football and am as excited as ever right now. Gonna take my first O & W game in a couple of weeks with my 6 yea old little man and can't wait. I will and have since always known where I was parked. LOL

GO VOLS!!!!! Back to the top!!!!!!!
 
#14
#14
The 1973 Vanderbilt game in Neyland...Was amazing, I still remember UT running the old wishbone offense back then and UT won 20-17...We sat in the north end zone bleachers which back then were wooden and if you were not careful you could get a splinter in your butt...Great memories
 
#16
#16
Long time reader, first time poster! Thought I would share some neyland memories, good post idea.

My first game ever at Neyland was with my dad when I was very young. I believe it was against Vanderbilt, b/c we were in town for thanksgiving visiting the grandparents. Fight broke out before game even started! Back then, the vols would warm up on one side of the field...and then walk around...or thru...the other team's warm up to get to the locker room. I believe this was early 90's...the game was never close.

I also remember the first game I went to with a buddy, without parents. We live in Indiana....but when I turned 16 parents let me drive down to Knoxville with a buddy for the UT vs Bama game. I believe this was 1996. Manning was the QB....and the vols sealed the deal with a 75 yrd touchdown run. I think it was Jay Graham. I'm not sure on that, b/c I think Jay Graham had a HUGE run when we played @ Alabama. But I think he had a huge run in this game as well. I'm guessing someone else on here remembers this game?

Anyhow, it's started a great tradition. Although I live in Indiana (from knoxville) I've gone to a game every year since 1996, with only 2 exceptions. I've brought many non vols fans to knoxville....many "big ten faithful"....who finally admitted SEC football...Neyland Stadium and Rocky Top is better than anything the Big Ten can offer!

Go Vols!! (future posts won't be so long!)
 
#17
#17
RockyTopHoosier said:
Long time reader, first time poster! Thought I would share some neyland memories, good post idea.

My first game ever at Neyland was with my dad when I was very young. I believe it was against Vanderbilt, b/c we were in town for thanksgiving visiting the grandparents. Fight broke out before game even started! Back then, the vols would warm up on one side of the field...and then walk around...or thru...the other team's warm up to get to the locker room. I believe this was early 90's...the game was never close.

I also remember the first game I went to with a buddy, without parents. We live in Indiana....but when I turned 16 parents let me drive down to Knoxville with a buddy for the UT vs Bama game. I believe this was 1996. Manning was the QB....and the vols sealed the deal with a 75 yrd touchdown run. I think it was Jay Graham. I'm not sure on that, b/c I think Jay Graham had a HUGE run when we played @ Alabama. But I think he had a huge run in this game as well. I'm guessing someone else on here remembers this game?

Anyhow, it's started a great tradition. Although I live in Indiana (from knoxville) I've gone to a game every year since 1996, with only 2 exceptions. I've brought many non vols fans to knoxville....many "big ten faithful"....who finally admitted SEC football...Neyland Stadium and Rocky Top is better than anything the Big Ten can offer!

Go Vols!! (future posts won't be so long!)
Click to expand...

Welcome! Good first post.:eek:k:
 
#18
#18
The multiple overtimes when Matt Jones was quarterback at Arkansas. Although it wasn't my first game, it was my first memorable game.
 
#19
#19
2002 vs Vanderbilt at L.P. Field. I was 13 at the time. It was just me and my brother. The Vols won 24-0, on that cold sunny day. Right after the game we headed back home to Murfreesboro and I had my mom drop me of in front of Floyd Stadium, so I could catch the 2nd half of the MTSU/UNT game. MT lost that game....Back to the Vols game. It was my 1st and last Tennessee football game that I've been to. I still remember hearing the band playing Rocky Top when walking into the stadium. That was the first time I had heard it live. Vanderbilt was the home team but the orange & white doubled the amount of black & gold in the stands. I've never been to a UT home game but I WILL someday. It might not be anytime soon, but I will guarantee that before I die, I will have attended a Vols home game and felt the "Neyland Experience".
 
#21
#21
My first time to Neyland was 2002 against Rutgers. I was only in the 5th grade, it was awsome seeing the stadium, can't beat going to Neyland for the first time.
 
#22
#22
my first game was the '84 army game, a 24-24 tie. my second ever game was later that year when kentucky came in an beat the vols. as you all know, that was the last time they have done that. I was 10 and I already believed in jinxes.ha!
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top