What's your funniest/most memorable experience at Neyland Stadium?

#1

Voluntarius

Voluntarius ad vitum
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#1
Now that we have some down time to relax and wait for our CFP draw, I've personally been reflecting on all the great experiences I've had as a die-hard Vol fan. There is one experience however, that I will never forget--and I would like to share it with you. I still laugh until my side hurts when I think about it. It happened against Louisville in '93, a game that we dominated to the tune of 45-10. It was Fulmer's 2nd yr as coach, and we were off to a great start. We finished 10-2 that year with Heisman Trophy candidate Heath Shuler at QB. Louisville came in highly regarded and ranked with a 41-10 victory over Texas in the books, and a standout QB of their own in Jeff Brohm. They would go on to finish 9-3 that year.

I had met several Louisville fans prior to the game, and they were generally more "polished" than typical UK fans when they come to town, by comparison. Many of them were wealthy alums, I'm sure. The men were mostly over-dressed, while many of the ladies looked as though they were going to the Kentucky Derby. I remember it being an absolutely gorgeous Fall Day, and the game could not have gone better for us. We would go on to win in a rout 45-10 while Brohm spent most of the afternoon on his back, or running for his life.

Early in the game I had noticed one of the Louisville "ladies" a couple of rows below me. She was pleasantly plump (fat, actually) and kept a monstrous handbag on her right arm. This is back when those were allowed, of course. I'm sure she wasn't taking a chance on one of the hillbillies snatching her purse if she set it down. Louisville didn't have much to cheer about that day, but that didn't stop the fat lady from jumping up and wildly throwing her arms in the air at any sign of life from the Cards. I couldn't help but notice the interactions she was having with the very drunk Vol fan seated in front of her. The first time she threw her arms up and slapped the back of his head with her purse in the process, he just looked back, rubbed his head and laughed. All was good., we thought. A few plays later, she jumps up, and sure enough, "BAM" with the pocketbook to the back of his head AGAIN! This time he turned around and glared, but she was oblivious. Just a few plays later, she jumps up and-- you got it..."BAM" AGAIN and his hat went flying off his head. I was watching this intently as I knew something big was about to happen. He didn't say a word...... he just calmly turned around, yanked the pocketbook off her arm, recoiled like an Olympic discus thrower, and heaved it as far and high into the air as he could, and sat back down. I estimated that it eventually landed 30-40 rows down. I can still see it spinning through the air with all the contents flying out in every direction. Hairspray, lipstick, wallet, loose change, God knows what else was raining down on the crowd as it spun its way down. She was shrieking at the top her lungs while everyone in that section was standing up, turning around, covering their head from flying debris and trying to figure out what the hell was happening.

Needless to say, the drunk vol fan was quickly escorted out by security but he was wildly cheered by all of us on his way out! What's your best story?
 
#3
#3
Not my story and I only heard it.... Notre Dame playing Vols in Neyland. I think 1990. Apparently, a smaller guy dressed up as a leprechaun came into one of our bathrooms running his mouth and a really large East Tennessee Volfan picked him up by his feet and dunked his head in the toilet. I found the story to be hilarious.
If someone has more information please share.
 
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#4
#4
I was a kid walking in the stadium with a balloon with my father. We got to the ramp to go to the upper deck and I saw cotton candy. I walked away from my father and he kept moving up the ramp. Let's just say, I didn't get any cotton candy and my father to this day tells everyone that the only way he found me was my balloon. (It wasn't orange) I had just came from a birthday party. I remember it because I was a terrified little fella and my father told that story until his passing about me.
 
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#5
#5
Now that we have some down time to relax and wait for our CFP draw, I've personally been reflecting on all the great experiences I've had as a die-hard Vol fan. There is one experience however, that I will never forget--and I would like to share it with you. I still laugh until my side hurts when I think about it. It happened against Louisville in '93, a game that we dominated to the tune of 45-10. It was Fulmer's 2nd yr as coach, and we were off to a great start. We finished 10-2 that year with Heisman Trophy candidate Heath Shuler at QB. Louisville came in highly regarded and ranked with a 41-10 victory over Texas in the books, and a standout QB of their own in Jeff Brohm. They would go on to finish 9-3 that year.

I had met several Louisville fans prior to the game, and they were generally more "polished" than typical UK fans when they come to town, by comparison. Many of them were wealthy alums, I'm sure. The men were mostly over-dressed, while many of the ladies looked as though they were going to the Kentucky Derby. I remember it being an absolutely gorgeous Fall Day, and the game could not have gone better for us. We would go on to win in a rout 45-10 while Brohm spent most of the afternoon on his back, or running for his life.

Early in the game I had noticed one of the Louisville "ladies" a couple of rows below me. She was pleasantly plump (fat, actually) and kept a monstrous handbag on her right arm. This is back when those were allowed, of course. I'm sure she wasn't taking a chance on one of the hillbillies snatching her purse if she set it down. Louisville didn't have much to cheer about that day, but that didn't stop the fat lady from jumping up and wildly throwing her arms in the air at any sign of life from the Cards. I couldn't help but notice the interactions she was having with the very drunk Vol fan seated in front of her. The first time she threw her arms up and slapped the back of his head with her purse in the process, he just looked back, rubbed his head and laughed. All was good., we thought. A few plays later, she jumps up, and sure enough, "BAM" with the pocketbook to the back of his head AGAIN! This time he turned around and glared, but she was oblivious. Just a few plays later, she jumps up and-- you got it..."BAM" AGAIN and his hat went flying off his head. I was watching this intently as I knew something big was about to happen. He didn't say a word...... he just calmly turned around, yanked the pocketbook off her arm, recoiled like an Olympic discus thrower, and heaved it as far and high into the air as he could, and sat back down. I estimated that it eventually landed 30-40 rows down. I can still see it spinning through the air with all the contents flying out in every direction. Hairspray, lipstick, wallet, loose change, God knows what else was raining down on the crowd as it spun its way down. She was shrieking at the top her lungs while everyone in that section was standing up, turning around, covering their head from flying debris and trying to figure out what the hell was happening.

Needless to say, the drunk vol fan was quickly escorted out by security but he was wildly cheered by all of us on his way out! What's your best story?
tenor.gif
 
#6
#6
JJ McCleskey grabbing his crotch at the UF section in the northeast corner in 1992. I was the first row behind those pukes and they were NOT amused.

Instantly my favorite player
 
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#7
#7
My first full game in Neyland was as a freshman in 1985 for the Bo Jackson led no.1 Auburn. Before the game, several balloons were floated out of the stadium with lynched rubber chickens for the benefit of the "war chicken" fans. The game was great. T Rob had an amazing day, we shut down Bo (he pulled himself from the game in the 3rd quarter!) and I had an amazing time. I think we won 31 to 19 in a huge upset.

I say my first full game, because the previous year as a HS senior my father and I had been allowed in without tickets for the 4th quarter of the vandy game, but that doesn't really count. That was basically my first game.

I thought the "war chicken" props were really funny. Not sure why we dont still do stuff like that.
 
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#9
#9
Most memorable, the first time in 1966. I was a 6th grade kid selling Cokes trudging up and down the steps. Been hooked ever since🍊🍊
That's pretty awesome actually. Have you consistently went to games ever since then? I can't imagine just the change of neyland over an amount of time like that. Pretty great!
 

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