Sunday, October 14, 2007

A first time for everything.


Remember the old adage "I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out." I can do you one better. I went to tailgate at an SEC football game, deep in the south at an Agricultural school, and a Cricket Match broke out. Was stirring my Cauldron of Chili that I had made at 1:00 am Saturday morning, watching the new friends I had made from Chattanooga trying out a three way beer bong, (sight to see in itself) when I look across the street to the soccer fields and see a group of people I assumed were playing soccer, until I saw the wind up and delivery to the batter. I was introduced to cricket on my honeymoon to the Island of Antigua, where the World Cup was played this year. So imagine my surprise to see it in the land of cowbells. Seemed out of place, but at the same time there were about twenty people over there participating. And they were still going strong well after the ballgame and into the evening as we made our departure. SEC, land of diversity.


You know "The Grove" in Oxford gets a lot of publicity as the coolest tailgate community in the nation. MSU fans in Stark-Vegas are making a push to contend for that title. They have established their own close knit community of tailgating right outside the gates of the stadium. Was hundreds and hundreds of tents side by side by side to make up its own little city. But what made this different than what I have been a part of at other schools, is that for the most part it was all segregated by teams. The outer lots away from the stadium were full to the edges with Orange Clad tents and tailgates. But no Maroon. You would see an occasional truck load of people ringing cowbells come driving by, but no intermingling of fans. Was beginning to wonder if there were fans here at all until we began to walk to the stadium and saw the village of maroon outside the stadium. But there was no talking to each other, or sharing of food, or drink, they had their own friends and were not looking to make any more. And seemed to be even more fans and partying after the game. But still no hospitality seen by any of the people I talked with. Was truly a strange feeling. Maybe we should have went and played Cricket.


As we made our way into Davis Wade Stadium and Scott field, couple of things I noticed, one no security whatsoever. I saw people walk in drinks in hand, and no one ever looked at us, checked bags or looked into camera cases. Nothing. Well we made the four mile trip up the spiral concourse to the upper deck of the stadium. 21 rows up in an upper deck that has probably 25 or thirty total rows to the top. But I honestly do not think there is a bad seat in the house. There is one strange thing. The sun is on your face all day, no matter what side of the stadium you are on. The jumbotron is not very big, and with the glare of the sun, It was really a non-factor. Second thing that stuck out like a sore thumb. No concession vendors!!!! None. Nowhere. No cokes, no popcorn, hot dogs, water......you get the picture? Don't put a fan that has been tailgating to an all-SEC level in the upper deck of the stadium, only to tell him he has to walk all the way back down to get a beverage. And the concourse is totally enclosed, with no TVs, No radio pumping in, once again.... Nothing! I looked around and never could spot the first vendor anywhere in the stadium. I was very well behaved, but was still told by a student that now that we had won the game "We could get back to inbreeding." what the??? Classy. Almost as classy as Georgia stomping the "V" Stupid guys.


Ok lets talk about the stats. Here is one that is astounding. Helmet sticker to the O Line. They have not allowed a sack in over 218 passing attempts. Great stat to have. Lets start with Mr. Erik Ainge. He was not perfect did throw a long INT on a 3rd and 11. He finished up 22 of 36 for 259 yds with 2 TDs and the one int. Of those 259 yards, 186 of them went to his new favorite target Lucas Taylor. and he only needed 11 catches to get those almost 200 yds. Four others also recorded catches to reach that total. On the other side of the offensive numbers the backs had 211 yds rushing on 42 carries, with Arian Foster leading the way with 139 yds on 21 attempts. That gave the Vols 470 yards of total offense. MSU managed 338 yds total offense with 203 coming in the air and only 135 coming on the ground. Probably just the opposite of what most would have expected going into the game. Carroll finished 18-33 on the day with no turnovers and two touchdowns. Tennessee place kicker Daniel Lincoln, at times the only bright spot of the team, was 4/5 on field goals missing his first field goal of the year early in the second quarter. Next up for the Vols is the Bammers and the Bionic Coach. It is an 11:30 Lincoln Financial broadcast. Thanks a lot. LF this is UT BAMA???? WTH!!!!! This is a new low! Will share a few entries on this weeks game in the days to come. Look for them!