1) an AJs biscuit
2) Krispy Kreme donut as I set up tailgate at 7 am
3) watching UGAs finest ride around on new ATVs in the am hours just looking for tailgaters acting up or parking in wrong place
4) eating boiled peanuts while we watch early tv games
5) Fresh Air BBQ
6) cheering the kicker van going down east campus at 1 hr and 45 min prior to kickoff (its a plain white university van)
7) getting into the stadium early to watch dawg walk from inside the stadium
8) tear in the eye during battle hymn

Since moving to New York, here’s a regular Saturday when an Ole Miss game IS on television:

10:00 AM – Roll out of bed, turn on ESPN College Game Day, mix together a little breakfast cocktail and cook up some sausage and eggs.

10:15 AM – Review the TV schedule and plan out the day. It will take about a half an hour to get to the bar where the Alumni Association will be watching the game, so if the Rebs play at 3:30, I need to find out which noon game I will be watching the first half of.

10:45 AM – Refresh beverage.

11:00 AM – Field a couple of phone calls from friends discussing a wide range of topics, including (but not limited to):
- WHY the Rebels will win today
- HOW the Rebels will win today
- WHY/HOW the shirt I’m wearing will help the team
- What the weather looks like in Oxford (or the site of a road game)
- NOSTALGIA – If we were in Oxford right this minute, exactly where in the Grove would we be standing, what would we be drinking, what would we have eaten for breakfast, etc.
- WHY did Jonathan Nichols miss those two field goals against LSU in ‘03 because we totally would have won an SEC title that year and remember how the center accidentally tripped Eli during the snap on fourth down and how Chris Collins didn’t really step out of bounds on that touchdown pass that was called back AAAARRRGGHHH!

11:15 AM – Refresh beverage.

12:00 PM to 2:30 PM – Watch a game between two Big 10 teams that AREN’T Ohio State or Michigan (i.e. Purdue Vs. Wisconsin, Michigan State vs. Wisconsin, etc.) and swear on all that is holy that I already watched these exact teams play this exact game LAST WEEK at noon.

2:30 PM – Make my way to the subway near my apartment in Queens, where I wll meet up with my college roommate who also now lives in Queens.

2:45 PM – 3:15 PM – Subway ride into Manhattan, listening to The Pride of the Southland Ole Miss Marching Band playing “From Dixie With Love” on repeat on our iPods

3:25 PM – Walk into the bar where we’re watching the game, give a hearty “Hotty Toddy” and feel the excitement building

3:35 PM – Disappointment / Reality setting in. As the game develops, we remember that we went to Ole Miss, and if we’re playing a team good enough to get the game on the CBS 3:30 slot, we will probably lose.

4:15 PM – Angry Drunkenness. Profanity-laden rants hurled at the television screens are directed at referees, coaches, God, etc.

4:45 PM – The Rebs Scored! Hotty Toddy! Mounting a second half comeback? Rally caps!

4:55 PM – Rebs give up a score, game is not out of reach but seems like it to us.

5:05 PM – Philosophical Drunkenness. We begin to discuss the possibility that, given the fact that the Rebs haven’t really been that great at football since the early 60’s, perhaps we are cursed because of our racist past and the riots during James Meredith’s admittance to the school. Quiet reflection on the complexities of the Old South. Finally, acknowledgement that, while we have come a long way, there’s more to be done.

5:10 PM – Touchdown Rebs! Not over yet?!? Endorphins seem to be speeding the flow of alchohol coursing through our veins.

5:40 PM – Rebs give up the score that we know, deep in our hearts, puts the game out of reach. We scold ourselves for ever having hope.

5:45 PM – Someone in our group begins screaming vicious things about LSU, even if LSU was not the opponent in that day’s game.

6:00 PM – Uh-oh. The bartender went to LSU. We get kicked out of the bar and miss the final minutes of the game.

6:10 PM – Get a slice of pizza and some kind of meat on a stick from a street vendor who speaks absolutely not one word of English.

6:30 PM until around 1:00 AM – Arrive at another bar where we know a guy who can get us cheap drinks. Discuss a wide range of topics including (but not limited to):
- WHY the Rebels suck
- HOW the Rebels will not win another game all season
- WHY I must now burn the shirt I’m wearing
- WHAT IF Deuce McAllister had been born a few years later and Patrick Willis had been born a few years earlier and both of them were seniors on that ‘03 team? And what if Archie Manning had suited up on the sidelines for the ‘03 LSU game and came in for one heroic fourth quarter play like Burt Reynolds in that crappy remake of “The Longest Yard”?

1:00 AM – In the cab ride home, make a list of people I need to apologize to for the day’s childish behavior, including (but not limited to):
- My wife
- The bartender from LSU
- James Meredith
- God

We all have our traditions, but one thing we can all agree on – there isn’t anything like game day in the SEC. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit 8 of the 12 SEC stadiums for games (still need to make it to Fayetteville, Starkville, Lexington and Nashville). Every single one of them has been fantastic. Despite the bad raps we like to give each other for having unruly fans, who really wears jorts, etc., I have had great experiences at every SEC venue I have been to so far.

Here’s some highlights starting with your campus:

UGA – North Campus quadrangle is spectacular – one of the prettiest sections of any campus. I was fortunate enough to attend law school at UGA and spent a lot of time in that area of campus. Also, the victory bell and arches are pretty cool traditions. By the way, great post by NCT above – I am guessing that is the same Allen’s Bar that served the ”.25 cent beers” in the REM song (Deadbeat Club)?!

Ole Miss – The Grove is second to none for tailgating both pre and post game. The southern belles are abundant and stunning in their game day best. The tailgating is first class and despite our orange and blue colors, we were welcomed into many grove tailgates to share in the Ole Miss tradition. The Hotty Totty cheer and “hotty totty potty” (think 5-star porta potty) were also unique. Finally, it was interesting seeing cars just pull into the median and sides of an interstate to walk the rest of the way to the campus exit. The cars sting for miles – but I guess it beats the total gridlock alternative.

Alabama – Unfotunately, we visited Tuscaloosa for an early game and didn’t have much time to walk around campus and socialize. Our experience was limited to the quad and Denny Chimes, which was pretty nice. The plaid Bear Bryant style hats are a cool tradition and the “Roll Tide” cheer, especially coming from really old people. Finally, the dance girls in the Million Dollar Band are top notch.

Auburn – Despite the hate Auburn receives on this site, a visit to Jordan Hare is pretty memorable. No current pre-game is complete without swinging by the amphitheatre to see what the current students are up to. The scene is pretty wild – right out of the Animal House era. We saw a random grocery cart in the middle of the amphitheatre area with one of thoe dry-erase boards on it, with the message “Gator girls got the clap.” Nice. Also, I have never seen more beer pong games in one area before. The library area is pretty cool too, it looks like a shanty-town with hundreds of Auburn canopy tents squeezed in the area for tailgating.

LSU – Despite the Bengal Tigers’ reputation for having disorderly fans, we found them to be quite accomodating. There seemed to be very few ways into campus, so the line of cars was amazing. Also amazing, was the amount of outstanding tailgate food we were offered as we crept along in the traffic. “Can I paint a tiger paw on yall’s car?” sure – it’s a rental. The best part about visting LSU is the food – those folkds can cook. Mike the live Tiger is a pretty special mascot too. It’s intimidating to see him do his thing pre-game with the roaring.

Florida – Gainesville has not followed Athens’ model for eliminating all parking on campus, which in my opinion, hurts the tailgating experience. In Gainesville, if you can find a patch of grass or a curb, you have a parking and tailgating spot. The chiming of the bells at Century Tower sort of sets the mood for game day, and although UF no longer has a live Gator mascot, there are plenty of live Gators to check out on campus in Lake Alice. The “We are the Boys” cheer is probably the best (and only really unique) cheer. It is cool to see 90k+ swaying back and forth to start the 4th quarter singing the way outdated song. That is what traditions are all about.

South Carolina – Three things really stand out for me at USC. First, the stadium is not on campus, but at the fairgrounds. This is kind of cool because there are 90,000 people all tailgating in one spot – right in front of the stadium. They have roped off areas for those with parking passes to pull right into their “post.” Second is the Cockabooses – which are condos made out of old cabooses that sit on abandoned train tracks beside the stadium. Some of the alumni were more than willing to show off their Cockaboose interiors which are quite impressive- hardwood floors, kitchens, bathroom, flat screens, etc. Finally, while a bit annoying, the rooster call over the P.A. system during the game is pretty great. Oh yeah, UGA totally stole the “blackout” from USC.

Tennessee – Most of us have a rough story involving a trip to Knoxville. My first visit was as a student in 1990 – Spurrier’s first season. At halftime it was 7-3 Tennessee. They ran back the 2nd half kickoff for a TD, intercepted our first play from scrimmage for another and didn’t stop until the final 45-3 (I believe) final score. I have had some successful trips there – of course what makes UT special is the size of the stadium. It is enormous. If you sit up high (not recommended) you can actually feel the bleachers sway. The “Vol Navy” is also a great tradtion – where people anchor their boats side by side from the edge of the Tennessee River which is right next to the stadium. They end of going 6, 7 or more boats across and everyone walks across each other’s boats and party together. It is a neat tradition. As much as I hate the Purina checkerboard end zone, I will have to admit that it is unique. I refuse to say anything positive about Rocky Top.

I’m looking forward to this season in a big way…..the cocktail party is going to be ridiculous this year!