Labor Day Weekend

Football Time in Tennessee

Saturday morning, September 4th, was the first game day of the year for the Volunteers.  Of course all of campus was excitedly anticipating the start of this season, but as freshmen, we were particularly antsy.  Laura (my roommate whom I love and adore) and I awoke to a phone call from Cole (my best friend).

Cole: "Laura! You guys need to get up! It is football time in Tennessee! It is game day and it is beautiful weather out here, so get y'all's butts outta' bed!"

She looked at the clock. It was 12pm. Laura started yelling for me to get up, that we were missing everything! It was our first UT football game and we were MISSING it!!  We hurriedly got ready, she showered quickly, jumping out and leaving the water running for me to get in. 

The guys (Cole and his suitemates) came to our room and watched The Soup as Laura and I finished putting on our make-up.  Just as Laura and I were finishing up, Stephanie (Laura's best friend) and her roommate, Maria, came to our room to head out with us.

The first thing we did was take our picture at The Rock which had been painted appropriately for the game, and we walked down Volunteer Boulevard, checking out all of the games of cornhole and bratts and tailgating tents.

We went to PCB (Presidential Court Buffet) for breakfast.  We ran into an old friend of mine that I haven't seen in years.  She and her boyfriend ended up eating with us and spending the rest of game day with us.
We called Matt and Alex and told them to get out of bed and come eat with us because IT'S GAME DAY!!  They joined us later and we finished breakfast so that we could walk around campus.

We also enjoyed ice cream afterwards :)

After eating, we strolled around campus, past every tailgating tent and family. 

On the way to Circle Park and The Torch, it was so hot that Sarah and I cooled off in the fountain

Right next to the fountain were many booths and activities and organiztions set up.  One of which included a free inflatable obstacle course.  Enough said.

And there were $1 snowcones

And then we went to a shady spot to wait on some friends to go grab some lunch on The Strip.

And when everyone arrived, we went to Wendy's on The Strip, where this crazy old man with a long grey ponytail was walking around with a prescription pill bottle in his hand and waving at random strangers with the other as he shouted at them and sang along to the music on the street.  I decided that I MUST have my picture taken with this man.  And much to everyone else's disapproval and embarrasment, I asked Mr. Peanut for his picture with me.

(Don't you love the bright red shoes?)

(Yes, those ARE two pigs on top of each other

with the tag line "Makin' Bacon."  He also has a picture of Mr. Peanut on his left bicep. A little difficult to make out in this picture, but that's where he gets his "name" I suppose. Nice guy.)

AND THEN WE WENT TO THE GAME!!!

Before 5:30 Saturday evening, I thought that I could not be any more in love with UT.  Well, I was wrong.  The Pride of the Southland Marching Band was amazing.  They performed on the way into the stadium.

And in the stadium they formed the infamous "T"

It was beautiful.

They played fight songs and classics in between plays, such as "Rocky Top" (of course) and "Livin' on a Prayer" and "Sweet Caroline" to which the entire stadium sang along.  The singing of the UT fans was so loud that you could barely hear the music.

The entire stadium did "the wave" which circled around and around the stadium for minutes.  It even continued during game-play..

Our group's seats were on the second row of the second tier (EE) and sometime during the second half, a random drunk guy fell on us from about four rows up.  Fortunately, we were all sitting down or we would have been pitched over the rail.  Then the idiot climbs back up to his seat, apologizing to all of the people ABOVE him, instead of those of us he actually hit.  Then he asked why we were all f-ing staring at him.

The nerve.

And I can't forget to mention the actual football of course!!  The UT-Martin game was incredible to watch.  We were able to enjoy a shut-out for our first UT game as college students.  The crowd was loud and wild, and we were all connected in our spirit and excitement.  I've never been more excited to be a Tennessee Vol.

And for Mr. Gary, this is my proof.

A picture of God shining his love and approval onto Neyland.

Boomsday

On Sunday night, one of UT's most renowned events took place:  Boomsday.  It's a huge fireworks show that takes place on the river every year on the Sunday night before Labor Day. 

We did not get down there early enough to get a good seat for the show.  Everyone in our group left for the show just a little before Kelby and I did, so we couldn't find each other.  There were hundreds and hundreds of people crowding the vendor-lined street, pushing and shoving.  With poor reception, we tried to call the others to find out were they were sitting.

We found Matt and Maria just as the show was starting, and we stood in the middle of the street and watched the fireworks.  I love fireworks, and this was an exceptionally good show. 

We just stood in awe, with Kelby's arms around me, listening to everyone singing along to popular music and  "I'm Proud to be an American" and "Don't Stop Believin'."

At the very end of the show, they played a beautiful version of Amazing Grace.  I've never been so touched.  There were no shouts of protest, no rude and obnoxious movement; just silent, respectful reverence.  It was amazing that such a large university school in this day and age would be willing to play such a "controversial" song.  I've never been more proud to be a member of the University of Tennessee.

Labor Day

On Labor Day, Monday morning, Kelby and I headed back to Wartburg to spend the day with Mom and Nana and Pappy.  When we got home, we went down to Nemo (the river) and spent the rest of the day playing in the water and relaxing watching baseball and football.

The closest to my heart.  Saying goodbye was miserable.

I can't wait to see them again.