[obrats]

Hello Vol fans.

A friend a I are taking a trip to see Vols vs Ala this weekend. We are getting into town Friday and leaving Sunday. Was wondering if anyone can recommend "got to do things in Knoxville". Also if anyone is willing to have two stragglers at their tailgate that would be great also. Just so you know a little about us. We are both married guys mid 30's and just fans of college football that take trips like this when the wives let us out.

Thank you in advance.

I can be reached by private message here or please reply in this thread.

Thanks again

Dan (we are from South Jersey and will be cheering for Vols)

[rmjvol]

Hi Dan, welcome to GoTeamsGo

Is this your 1st trip to Knoxville? to Neyland Stadium?

Things that quickly come to mind if this is your one & only trip to Neyland:

• Vol Walk - the players walk to the stadium a couple hours before the game, the band comes along the same route about an hour before the game
• Vol Navy - the Tennessee River is right next to the stadium and alot of Vol fans come to the game by boat, you've got to at least see the Vol Navy
• Running thru the T - a tradition unrivaled in college football, there is no more more electrifying entrance by any team into their home stadium. It will be one of the loudest, most emotion packed points of the gameday experience in Knoxville.

I'm not going to be at the game so can't help on the tailgating. Any other specific questions? How long are you in Knoxville?

Thanks, Ross

[obrats]

Hello Ross,

Thanks for the list of things to do. Yes this is our first and probably only trip to Knoxville / Neyland. We are trying to get to a few of the must see stadiums so this was on our list of course. We are not fans of either team but will be pulling for the home team (we will even buy some T wear for the game. We are in from Friday early evening and leaving Sunday afternoon. So not a ton of time but hope to see some of the city. Thanks for your help and if any one else would like to add please do.

Dan

[rmjvol]

From the Vols website:

Things To Do On Game Day

Volunteer Village
Open three and one half hours prior to all home football games, Volunteer Village offers a host of pre-game festivities for fans of all ages including interactive inflatable games, food, live bands and WNOX's Sportstalk "Game Day All Day."

I've never done Volunteer Village. We usually end up on the far side of the stadium tailgating.

Vol Walk
Before each game, the football team and coaches make the Vol Walk 2 hours and 15 minutes before kick-off. The walks runs from the Neyland Thompson Sports Center on Johnny Majors Dr., turns north up Lake Loudon Blvd., east on Volunteer Blvd., cuts in front of Circle Park, goes east on Peyton Manning Place, and north on Phillip Fulmer Way and into the stadium.

Don't miss the Vol Walk.

Pride of the Southland Band
The Pride of the Southland Band marches from the Music Building on Pat Head Summit Dr, turns east on Volunteer Blvd., turns right onto Andy Holt, and south onto Phillip Fulmer Way and into the stadium 1 hour and 40 minutes before kick-off. The band stops at the corner of Andy Holt and Phillip Fulmer Way to pay tribute to "the hill".

Another don't miss. I think the best spot is near the corner, kinda towards the wall of ATM's that you'll see.

Pre-Game Faculty Showcase
Celebrating its 16th year, the Pre-Game Faculty Showcase will offer something for everyone in its fall 2006 edition. The Faculty Showcase is held 2 hours before each home football game and features thirty-minute presentations by outstanding faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences. The presentations are held in the University Center Ballroom and are free and open to the public, and complimentary refreshments are provided.

Never done this.

Vol Navy
The Vol Navy is a floating tailgate party consisting of approximately 200 boats that was started by former UT broadcaster George Mooney in 1962, as a faster route to the stadium. The Vol Navy docks along the river between the boathouse and Calhoun's.

Try to swing by before the game to see it up close. During the game, walk to the top of the south upper deck to see it from the stadium.

Kickoff Call-In Show
The Tennessee football kickoff call-in show hosted by Bob Kesling, Tim Priest and Jeff Francis will begin at 1 ½ hours before kick-off. The on-campus location will be at the northwest corner of Phillip Fulmer Drive and Andy Holt Boulevard.

Alot of people like to hang out & listen/watch. We're usually tailgating so we miss most of this.

[rmjvol]

Would be awesome if you'd come back & give us your impression of game day at Neyland. What other games/stadiums have you been to?

[Cardinal Vol]

Originally Posted by rmjvol

Would be awesome if you'd come back & give us your impression of game day at Neyland.

I was wondering that to. How was your stay in Knoxville? hope it was a good one

[obrats]

Ross thanks again for the suggestions.

Friday

The trip didn't start so good thanks to US Air cancelling our flight when we got to the airport. So we had to wait 6 hours and fly to Nashville and then rent a car and drive to Knoxville. So we should have got to Knoxville at 4 pm Friday but instead when all was said and done it was 3am. So one day shot.

Saturday

Got a few hours sleep and woke up to go to the campus to shop at the bookstore and just walk around a little to check out the University (This is what we planned on doing Friday). It was about 10 am and people were already starting to tailgate (that is great in my book). Dropped a couple of bucks on some Orange to wear at the game and back to the hotel to get ready for the pre-game.

We headed out and decided to check out the Vols Navy which was very cool. I can't believe the size of some of those boats ($$$$$). Calhons looked like it was hoping so we decided rather than looking to crash a tailgate to just hang out there for a few hours before the game. That was fun all the fans were great (Tn and Al). About 45 minutes before kick off we started over to the stadium since we didn't want to miss any of the on field pre-game.

It was an incredible sight walking to our seats and just seeing this big of a stadium. Previously Notre Dame was the biggest either of us had seen and that holds I think about 85K or somewhere around that. We were in the lower level but the last row in the lower level. That would have been good if it was raining but since it was good weather I think I would have preferred the upper level to not have any blocking of view (I saw the game fine but would have liked to see the whole stadium). Band came out and it was everything that I was told it would be. It was great and they put on a excellent show. Saw TN run through the "T" and the place erupted. By far the loudest stadium I have been to.

And at times in the 4th quarter I actually had to cover my ears it was so loud.

TN won so fans were happy as heck and we went back to Calhouns after the game with some people we met at the game. We closed that place and walked to hotel. Got up next day and went to? You guessed it Calhouns for BBQ. After that headed to the Airport and watched some NFL before our flight home. Flight was very smooth coming home.

Bottom line we had a great time, people were very nice, and the game day experience was 2nd to none. Not sure if I would like Knoxville as much if it wasn't a game weekend. Looks like it is a quiet town for this guy from NJ.

Dan

[rmjvol]

Great update for us, Dan!

Glad it turned out so well despite the Friday air problems. I should have told you more about tickets, could have steered you to some prime spots. Did you get your tickets before the trip or at the game?

Knoxville is a typical Southern college town. Pretty much a small town atmosphere except on gameday. And I'll guarantee there were some Vol fans tailgating when you drove into Knoxvilee at 3am

What's your next trip you've got planned?

[obrats]

I had got the tickets from E-Bay a few weeks before (actually about 6 weeks) the game. We figured we could buy them their (scalp) but we like to have in hand before the game. Next big game we are planning is 2 years at the Horseshoe to see Ohio St. vs. Michigan. We will see some others before that but that is the next trip. We always go to Army vs. Navy, since it is usually played in Philly. That pre-game is tops of all. You have to be in about 1 1/2 hours before the game to see the cadets march in. Then the sky divers come and the F-14 do a fly over. Again taking nothing away from Vols but the Army Navy is the best pre game. It is a shame the teams are not two power houses.

And I usually try to get to a Rutgers game or two during the year. That ticket is starting to get a little harder to get now. I might have to shell out and start buying the season tickets again (love the coach and hope he stays and doesn't go back to Miami).

I did get a call to go to the ND vs. Navy game this weekend but the wife will only bend so far, and I didn't even ask her about that one.

Best of luck to the Vols. They are now on my list of teams to follow. As long as they are not playing ND or Rutgers I can cheer for them.

Dan