September 15, 2009

• Rocky Top-pled the Wigsphere

  

  What a trip.

  

  Fernando and I took a trip to Tennessee to see our precious UCLA Bruins play the University of Tennessee Volenteers.  They even gave us a True Blue car!

  

  The first evening (Friday), after meeting in the airport, was spent walking the sights in Nashville.  In the background is the Titan’s stadium.

  

  The evening was slightly dampened (pun intended) by torrential rain… it was insane.  Even the locals said this was a lot of rain.

  Here’s the video diary of the night.

  

  On Saturday, we drove the 2.5 hours to Knoxville and Neyland Stadium.

  

  On the drive, we saw many a Vol fan.

  

  But we also saw this: a state of TN license plate with a U of Alabama logo on it…. wtf?

  

  Knoxville is a very nice town, but there is one thing about it that is unmistakable…

  

  The wigsphere, I mean, Sunsphere!

  

  Right away, Fernando and I knew we had seen this thing before.  It turns out that in an episode of the Simpsons, the one where Bart gets a fake ID and takes Milhouse, Nelson, and Martin on a road trip, they go to Knoxville to see the World’s Fair, only to find out that it happened before they were born.  I never thought, in my wildest dreams, that it was a real thing.

  

  Two quick stories that intertwined: Fernando left the tix in the hotel in Nashville, so while we waited in line to ask, whimsically, if we could get a replacement, we met Kyle and Alan. They came to Knoxville with a backpack and nothing else, and needed to ask about getting their bags into Neyland. We offered to hold their bags in our car, and when the cop wouldn’t even let them past him, we just had to talk to the UCLA ticket person. It was actually much, much easier than we thought, and it allowed us to help a fellow Bruin or two! After a quick jaunt to the car, we were ready for the game!

  The stadium (102k in attendance)  and the atmosphere was unreal.  The crowd was super loud, in sync, and smart.  The band was great (even with 100 Rocky Tops), and even played our fight song in the opening!

  

  The lines that were drawn in the crowd were sharp!

  

  If you did not see the game, it was quite dramatic.  Crazy turnovers and penalties, goal-line stands, and back and forth all game.  UCLA won and played better, I think most Vol fans would admit that, and in fact, did.  the fans, before and after, were incredibly nice and polite.  They would call us over just to talk and bs.  I can only hope that all fans would act like that, though I know they would not.

  

  After the game, we were pumped!  I can honestly say, however, that the fans made it such an experience that would’ve liked the game regardless of outcome.

  

  After the game, we hit the town to cheer on the Buckeyes.  So, they just  passed a state law saying that you are allowed to bring in a handgun to a bar if 1) the bar does NOT post a sign forbidding it 2) you declare it 3) you do not drink.  Gotta love gun nuts, or else they will shoot you.

  

  This is the random car of women that stopped and had to thank us for beating the Vols.  It was… yeah…

  

  Sunday morning was great… ate the best meal of the trip at Bar-B-Cuties (that’s a lot of sauses) and went to Ruby Tuesdays to watch football and the crazy end of the Bungles vs. Donkey game.

  Fern and I parted ways at the airport, and things were fine… until my first flight was delayed, I missed my connection in Houston (last flight of day), and had to sleep at Terminal 39C in the Bush airport.  Yuck.  It really, really, sucked.  Got to the SLC 13 hours late.

  

  I was a little sheepish about this trip initially, but now, I want this to be a tradition.  Who’s up for Austin in 2010?

  • 6:56 pm
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