This is kind of a long post, but I wanted to share one of my favorite articles ever written about football. And no, its not because of the fact that I went to Auburn and the article is about Auburn football (even though if you ever visited Auburn you would know its true). Its because I feel like this article encompasses the excitement of SEC football, or any football for that matter. It embraces the true meaning of southern hospitality and what the sport of football is all about. Since college football is kicking off this weekend I found it appropriate to share this
"Imagine you have been married to the same woman for more than 30 years, you
love her more than anything - nothing could ever change that. You have
shared many of your best memories with her and would never leave her under
any circumstances. Then you spend a day with a woman who in some ways is
more beautiful than your wife...you may never see her again...but you won't
forget her for a while either.
Maryland is my wife...Auburn is " the other woman ".
If you all love college sports - and I assume you do - you really need to
see a game there. I have been lucky to see a lot of places, I have not seen
a lot of places like that. It's an amazing scene in every respect.
Granted, I was there for # 3 vs. # 5...Auburn was 9-0 so it was bound to be
good.
Some highlights:
I arrived at night with the stadium lit up like a Christmas tree. It sits
dead in the middle of campus. A shrine...literally their church - only
services are held on Saturday. Made me say....hmmmm...this is promising.
Gameday scene - tailgating in every available space...and not like some!
field full of RV's - though they had that too. But literally people grilling
and drinking in every available spot for as far as the eye could see. I lost
count of the number of bands and stages and this was at 9 AM.
The Fans - I knew I was in a " red state " from all the Suburbans with W
stickers but the truth of it is, this part of Alabama is an orange state.
Every man woman and child is in the same shade of orange. Not unusual I know
...but THIS was...they are nice, friendly, and polite - to GEORGIA FANS.
Nobody called anyone in Black and Red Faggot or *sshole...nobody told them
they sucked.... These people are your friends, you don't know it yet because
you haven't met them
- but when you do - you have met a friend. you want a beer ? some bar- B - Q
? grab some. Let's talk for a while....war eagle...let's have a good game. I
saw this at tailgate after tailgate. Stragglers who wander by are offered
anything that's available - didn't matter what color they were wearing. This
is the oldest rivalry in the South - they call it Brother vs. Brother and
they mean it. Now there are certainly cliche's about down home country
sensibilities - but these folks embodied the best part of the notion of
southern hospitality. Though many did admit it's a tad LESS civil for the
Iron Bowl.
Tiger Walk :
Impossible to describe. Im - possible. A human welcome mat for the team. The
team walks through several blocks to Jordan-Hare through a sea of people. I
asked somebody how many folks were there and was told they could never come
up with an accurate head count but that they were certain it was "well in
excess of 25,000 people." That looked a little light to me...I would have
bought 40 grand. 2 hours before kick the streets in all directions were
completely - and I mean COMPLETELY jammed. It was like a religious
experience. If you can be in the middle of this - and I was lucky enough to
get to walk through it - and not be overwhelmed, you are dead my friend. (I
just went Larry King on your asses - sorry) I was honestly in awe.
Gametime :
The eagle circles as 87,521 people ( less the UGA fans ) cheer
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar EAGLE HEY!!! The eagle pounces on some meat
product and the hair on the back of your neck stands up...then if you are
still unimpressed you get an F-16 flyover and were off and running. Auburn
dominates, the band plays, the fans hoot and holler louder than anywhere I
have ever been (and go Spinal tap and take it to volume 11 when UGa tries to
audible) ... 24 - 6 and it's time for more food and drink...but before
that...
Toomer's corner :
Everyone converges on the intersection of college st and whatever the other
road is and they toilet paper every tree in sight. By the time it's over, it
looks like a blizzard has rolled through Alabama. There are no riots, no
police, no cars set on fire. There are families from grandparents to infants
chucking rolls of toilet paper all over the place. Again, i just shake my
head at a loss...and maybe a little jealous.
It's a special place, the best scene I have ever seen for college football.
I have ZERO doubt "our" TEAM could someday be as good. As fans though,
perhaps we should aspire to be as classy as those I was hosted by. The type
of hostile, vile garbage we are subjected to on the road and are certainly
guilty of at home is just embarrassing when you see how they do it
elsewhere."
