What's up Rocky Top

[HerdFan4Life]

Thank you Bradvol

 

[MarshallBandAlum]

Hello from Huntington,

I to am making my second trip to knoxville this weekend, and can't wait to get there...I was in the Marshall University Marching Thunder last time we played each other. I had a great time then and can't wait til saturday!!!

I do have one question though, We are staying in Gatlinburg the night before the game. how early should we leave from there to arrive in Knoxville with enough time to hit the tailgate's and the Vol's walk?

I can't wait to join in on Good Ol' Rocky top WHEW!!!

We Are...Marshall!!!

 

[Big Vol Nasty]

Leave gatliburg at 10:30, get there roughly 11:30, eat lunch, drink a beer, watch a game at 4.

 

[tmodaniel]

Welcome to the board my friend!

 

[SCSmokey]

Hello from Huntington,

I to am making my second trip to knoxville this weekend, and can't wait to get there...I was in the Marshall University Marching Thunder last time we played each other. I had a great time then and can't wait til saturday!!!

I do have one question though, We are staying in Gatlinburg the night before the game. how early should we leave from there to arrive in Knoxville with enough time to hit the tailgate's and the Vol's walk?

I can't wait to join in on Good Ol' Rocky top WHEW!!!

We Are...Marshall!!!

I agree with Big Vol Nasty. You definitely want to give yourself at least 4 hours or so pre-game to enjoy all that a Tenn home game has to offer--cocktails, hit a tailgate or two, some good food, watch Vol walk, etc. I may try and get there by 10:30-11 to get your fill. Time will fly before a game when you're trying to fit it all in.

Enjoy the trip.

 

[jaybird_1981]

Welcome to the board.

I remember that QB (Stan something? -- maybe I don't :blush: ). The game was on. Even with him going out it was a close one.

I haven't lived in Knoxvegas for 16 years but here's a few places I used to like -- other VNr's should be able to tell you if they are still around.

Strip - OCI (Old College Inn), Hawkeye's (just of the Strip) probably something else now - it's an old house turned into a restaurant/bar, Tap Room (complete slimy hole-in-the-wall if you're into that kinda thing), Vic and Bills (just kidding VNr's - I was there the night it burned down and I have an alibi). I was there last year and Buffalo Wild Wings was decent pre-game.

Riverfront - Vol Navy --- from Neyland Stadium to Calhouns there will be people partying. Landing and Calhouns have food and bevs.

Old City - no idea what's there now but I know there are bars there. :wink2:

Where are you staying? Knoxvegas is kinda stretched out and depending on where you are there are some good spots.

Enjoy.

Yeah I was at that one, Stan Hill was the name :thumbsup: .

 

[wncvolfan]

HERD FANS, I can't help pulling for the HERD in all their "other" games. I worked with a couple of Marshall grads for a while, super people, and also was impressed when I found out that Chad Pennington, your great former QB is also a big Vols fan. I read an interview somewhere where he said he kept up with the Vols and rooted hard for them when he was in school at Marshall. I knew I liked that boy for some reason. Looking for your program to return to it's former prominence soon. GO HERD (except this weekend).

 

[jaybird_1981]

HERD FANS, I can't help pulling for the HERD in all their "other" games. I worked with a couple of Marshall grads for a while, super people, and also was impressed when I found out that Chad Pennington, your great former QB is also a big Vols fan. I read an interview somewhere where he said he kept up with the Vols and rooted hard for them when he was in school at Marshall. I knew I liked that boy for some reason. Looking for your program to return to it's former prominence soon. GO HERD (except this weekend).

He is from Knoxville :thumbsup: .

 

[wncvolfan]

Thanks jbird, that 'splains it.

 

[herdfan]

Welcome Herd fan. I follow this board all the time but have never posted. I grew up in Huntington and watched the Herd at old Fairfield Stadium. A lot of my family went to Marshall but my blood has run orange since my first game at Neyland when Auburn and Bo Jackson came to town and we "waltzed" all over them (The Tennessee Waltz as per the SI cover that week). Sorry to hear O'Charleys is closed - that was a good place to get ready for the game. The Old City was always my favorite place.

GO VOLS

Thanks Mikey. When was the last time you were back in good ol' Huntington? You will enjoy the movie coming out in Dec. You'll recognize a lot of the town. They only shot the football scenes in Atlanta, the rest in Huntington. You may bleed orange but I bet there is still some green in there somewhere!

 

[MUTeke]

He is from Knoxville

A couple of our starters are from Knoxville...

DAVID WALSH: O'Connor returns home for Tennessee game

HUNTINGTON -- As a freshman, Ian O'Connor handled kickoffs for Marshall in its game against Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville. Now a senior, O'Connor gets to go home again Saturday when the Thundering Herd meets the Volunteers at 4 p.m.

"The Tennessee game has been in the back of my mind," said O'Connor, who is the Herd's punter. "My senior year, this is about the best way I could ask to finish up."

O'Connor attended Halls High School in Knoxville. He said the family home was about 15 minutes from Neyland Stadium.

"It was an integral part of growing up," he said of the city's devotion to Tennessee football and athletics.

Herd lineman John Inman, who's seen action at right guard and tackle, celebrates a homecoming, too. He graduated from Webb High in Knoxville. He was a redshirt in 2003 and didn't make the trip. The Volunteers won that game, 34-24, in front of 106,520 fans, the largest ever to watch Marshall play.

"In high school, we used to go to all the home games," he said. "It's a great place. It's been a dream. All the history and prestige in that stadium. I just get to do it from a different side."

Marshall is 1-2 after a 23-7 loss at Kansas State last Saturday. Tennessee is 2-1 after a 21-20 loss to SEC rival Florida at home on Saturday night.

"It's a must win for both teams," O'Connor said. "We need to get back on track. We don't want to go into conference (Conference USA) 1-3. They're coming off a close loss to Florida. They can't overlook us and I don't think they will. They don't want to be 2-2. They remember the last time."

For Herd quarterback Bernie Morris, this will be the biggest crowd he's seen. He's also aware of the rich history at Neyland Stadium.

"It's a great opportunity for me, my teammates and all the guys who get to go back home," he said.

Inman's aware this is homecoming for the Volunteers, who are ranked 15th in the AP poll and 19th in the ESPN Coaches Poll.

"They schedule someone they believe they can beat," he said. "I want this to be the game where a lineman makes a key block, a receiver makes a key catch, the quarterback makes the big throw and the running back makes the big run."

For Tennessee, quarterback Erik Ainge has completed 52 of 70 passes for 807 yards and seven touchdowns. He has a quarterback rating of 170.74.

"He's elusively quick in the pocket and knows where to go with the ball," Snyder said. "At times he's had trouble with people in his face. A lot of quarterbacks do."

HOMESTAND: Saturday's game ends a four-game homestand for Tennessee. The Volunteers beat California and Air Force before falling to Florida. A win Saturday would give coach Phil Fulmer his 75th at Neyland Stadium. This is Tennessee's first of two games against Conference USA teams. The Vols travel to Memphis next Saturday. Including this year, the Vols have played at least one C-USA team in 11 of Fulmer's 14 seasons on Rocky Top. They are 13-1 against current C-USA members under Fulmer.

FAMILIAR NAMES: The 2006 Vols feature one player from West Virginia, senior walk-on wide receiver Drew Tardy from Huntington. Greg Adkins, offensive line coach for the Vols, worked as an assistant coach at Marshall from 1991-95. He started at guard in 1992 when the Herd won the I-AA national championship.

ODDS: Tennessee is favored by 22 points. West Virginia is a 21-point favorite against East Carolina. The Mountaineers travel to Greenville, N.C., on Saturday for their first road game of the season. WVU beat the Herd, 42-10, in the season opener.

"Hold on. They can tag you in a lot of ways," Herd coach Mark Snyder said when asked on the Monday conference call about what advice he might have for East Carolina coach Skip Holtz. "No big plays."

NUMBERS: James Wilhoit, Tennessee's senior kicker, is the SEC's active scoring leader with 249 points. He's sixth on the school's all-time scoring list. Tennessee's defense has allowed just three opposing backs to hit the 100-yard mark in the last 27 games. Florida's DeShawn Wynn had 104 yards on 22 carries on Saturday, snapping a streak of 14 straight games no back had gone over 100 yards. Florida held the Vols to minus-11 yards rushing, the lowest total ever under Fulmer. The previous low was 4 yards at Auburn in 2003, but the school record is minus 49 against Auburn in 1958.

 

[volbreaker]

Yeah, after our K-State game (I think it's being dubbed as a 'debacle' by some) we've had some negativity on our board, too (well, 'negativity' is putting it mildly). Anyway, I'm really wishing I could get down there now, especially after seeing all your hospitable posts. I had a fantastic time the last time we played you guys, even though we did lose. You guys have the absolute kindest fans I've ever come across in my 11 years of away games. If I recall, your band actually played our fight song pre-game, just another thing I liked about you all.

Again, I really wish I could make it down there - it'd be a huge refresher after going up to the 'hole to play WVU crazy. The only other place I've seen fans that bad was a Va. Tech, which felt more like a prison than a school. That said, I hope we'll meet up again, and if I'm ever coming through town when you guys have a home game, I'll grab an orange hat and stop by (as long as your not playing us).

Thanks again for the kindness and have a safe game!

You are right on with the Va Tech comment...I was at the Gator bowl when Peyton and Drukenmiller squared off and was appalled @ how thier fans acted...I even had them making fun of my two and three year olds for the color orange we wear. I promptly pointed out that they had the same color coupled with Barney s*** purple, but it did'nt stop even after we killed thier perinially over-rated butts.

 

[MikeyC Class of 90]

Thanks Mikey. When was the last time you were back in good ol' Huntington? You will enjoy the movie coming out in Dec. You'll recognize a lot of the town. They only shot the football scenes in Atlanta, the rest in Huntington. You may bleed orange but I bet there is still some green in there somewhere!

I was actually back this summer for my wife's 20yr HS reunion. We both graduated from Huntington East so we have made the trip the past two years. It was nice to see the "Super Block" has finally gotten off of the ground. I remember reading about that when I was a kid.

I have always been a Herd fan and I am sure to your dismay - a Mountaineer. I bought some Marshall stuff this summer but on Saturday I'll be wearing my Orange.

Go Vols!

 

[herdfan]

I was actually back this summer for my wife's 20yr HS reunion. We both graduated from Huntington East so we have made the trip the past two years. It was nice to see the "Super Block" has finally gotten off of the ground. I remember reading about that when I was a kid.

I have always been a Herd fan and I am sure to your dismay - a Mountaineer. I bought some Marshall stuff this summer but on Saturday I'll be wearing my Orange.

Go Vols!

wvu? are you crazy? lol

Yeah, the super block was a joke for 20 years but Pullman Square has been a nice addition to Huntington.

Huntington East graduate. I'm a Vinson grad. Sad that both schools no longer exist. You and your wife should come back for a MU game sometime.