Are you excited yet?

by rustytanton on Sep 16, 2008 11:58 AM EDT

Despite being concerned that the opening line on this game should have been 49 instead of 7, I still got goosebumps when my tickets for Tennessee-Florida arrived from FedEx today.

I've been to more UT games in Neyland Stadium than I can reasonably count. I'd peg a conservative guess at 40, but it's probably more. I've also been to several games in Sanford Stadium, an SEC Championship Game in the Georgia Dome, and I watched UT win its national championship in Tempe.

But I've never been able to go a Tennessee-Florida game.

In the 1990s when my UT education (football and otherwise) began, these contests were epic. People just coming around to SEC football this century watch Steve Spurrier and wonder what all the hype is about, but I'm telling you this: there may never again be a college football program as feared as Steve Spurrier's Florida program was in the 1990s. They didn't just beat you, they humiliated you, whether verbally or by hanging half a hundred on any defense, any time, including some very talented John Chavis defenses.

The lottery for student tickets started while I was in school, and it never went my way for this game. I certainly couldn't afford to buy tickets scalped or through a broker. So I never got to witness one of these historic contests in person.

I'll be attempting to make up for lost time by attending this year's game. And I'm trying to keep my hopes up against all evidence that I should temper my expectations. If the outcome of these games was certain heading into them, they wouldn't have to bother playing them.

So I'll be there, a little drunk and yelling my butt off. If it's possible for you to be there, I recommend you do the same.

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Nice!

Have fun while you’re there, win or lose. And be loud. Lotsa loud.

I’d love to see the UT fans be nothing but noise from the moment Florida gains possession to the moment they relenquish it. Noise before, during and after each play. Noise during timeouts. Noise during the commercial breaks. Noise during breaks between quarters, if applicable. Noise no matter how the plays go. Noise even if Florida scores. Unrelenting, incessant noise at all times for all Florida possessions.

My ideal would be to have a chant of “Rocky Top!” in a rhythmic cadence screamed out at all times Florida has the ball. Like the rowing drums on the old Roman galleys. Steady rhythm, never ending. Even if Chavis throws the Mustang Package at ’em for the whole game.

That would be exciting.

by David Hooper on Sep 16, 2008 2:25 PM EDT reply actions

CONGRATS!!!

I hope your 1st UT-UF game at Neyland is as special as mine was (1998)! The atmosphere is unlike for any other game (not UGA, not Bama, not Auburn, nor LSU)…at least until we get down by 14 early in the 1st quarter.

In all seriousness, enjoy the game! I’ll be watching on the tube during my last week in wonderful Montgomery!

by Aerobab on Sep 16, 2008 2:28 PM EDT reply actions

Congrats

But let’s pray to God you have a reason to stick around for all 4 quarters. I just have a bad feeling about this one. Miami gave them some trouble and got Urban all pissy during the bye week in which they got to fine tune every aspect of their game while we had to play. Still, I wish I was there cuz HATE the Gay-tors.

Bringing Back the EBMCC! (Eric Berry Man Crush Club)

by Volorado on Sep 16, 2008 2:34 PM EDT reply actions