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

[Voluntarius]

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?

 

[Starchief13VFL]

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

 

[AlsaceFreak]

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.

 

[VolJarhead]

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.

 

[TAF]

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?

 

[Model12]

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

 

[BanditVol]

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. Auburn 85 was my first true game experience.

I thought the "war chicken" props were really funny. Not sure why we dont still do stuff like that.

 

[Volador]

Linda Philpot. 50 Yard Line on the UT emblem around midnight, Fall, 1975.

 

[Shaun1985]

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!

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

I had the best gig ever for two years. A coach left Bearden after my FR year to take over the Red Cross in town. They had the emergency services deal at Neyland including the ambulance services. Headquarrtered in a small room on the North face of Section A, way before finishing the North Endzone. He would pick me up in the ambulance, supplied me a white coat, hard hat with the Cross on it, and a WWII surplus walkie talkie and I served as a heart attack spotter in the upper west stands, T, U, V, W. but X did not go high enough. The neatest thing was during pregame, our pot of hot dogs for meals and snacks attracted an odd visitor, who came by to thank us many times. His name was Chancellor Andy Holt. Oddly, my memory still features his shoes, not sure of the size of those brown wingtips, but they must have been special ordered quad or quint A's. Never seen a more narrow shoe to this day. Never met a more cordial or humble man in such a capacity.

 

[orangebloodgmc]

I don't know if it's still like this, but 40 yrs ago, the upper deck sections were separated by a low concrete wall that angled down toward the field. After the game, we thought it would be "funny" if we set a cup of ice/water on top of that wall ramp and let it slide down. So, we did, it did, and damned if somebody didn't try climb across right as cup raced to that lower ramp spot! Explosion of ice-water. We all scurried away like roaches.

 

[utvolpj]

The 85 Auburn game. Sold cokes to get in that season, supplied full trays to upper deck fans which they dumped on Auburn fans below (hey, I was 10yo and it was funny), made over $40 and got to watch the goal posts come down for the first time in my life.

 

[tbh]

In 2011, the Vols hosted Montana. My dad and I were sitting in the stands and I recall noting the ominously dark sky off in the distance, accompanied by some gusty winds. After a while, the dark skies were no longer distant, the downpour commenced, and (my memory may be failing me on this) I believe they cleared the stands due to lightning in the area. It was raining like crazy, but I had a rain shell on so I was able to stay drier than some. With the masses a-huddling in the concourse, dad and I ended up with our backs to a railing with the wind blowing the rain into the relative shelter of the concourse. I noticed a pair of attractive ladies sporting Montana gear to my right who were getting absolutely soaked by the blowing rain. Thinking quickly and with nothing but pure intentions (I swear!), I offered that they could use me as a rain shield since I had my rain jacket, and they accepted. I unzipped the rain jacket and opened it up to better shield the three of us, and the ladies crowded in close until we were allowed to go back to our seats. While performing my selflessly charitable act, however, I looked over at Dad and he just looked at the ladies holding onto me, looked at me, and shook his head with big grin on his face. He still chuckles about that selfless act whenever there's rain on the horizon at a game.

 

[rocytop2624]

Arkansas at Tennessee night game and went 7 overtime's and that was the long ones. We missed the party.

 

[Carl Pickens]

Mine wasn’t in the stadium. It was over at the parking garage by the hospital…. Up the hill behind the O’Charley’s when it was there.
It was the ‘99 Georgia game and the weather was rainy during the day leading up to the game so there were tons of people tailgating in the garage.
These two butt sniffer fans were out in the street waving a huge Georgia flag and talking to the people on the various parking levels that were watching them.
After 20 minutes or so we heard a loud exhaust and there were two good ole boy Vols fans coming down the street in their big 4x4…. The GA guys saw them and walked out into the street…. Bad idea…. The good ole boy driving hit the gas and headed right for them. They dropped their flag took off running to get out of the street and one of them busted his ass in the wet grass.
Almost instantly beers…. Beer cans and etc. started raining down on the two dawgs. I was on the 2nd level, we threw stuff, people on 3 and 4 were throwing stuff…people were yelling…. It was awesome

 

[WiseOlVol]

1979, Vols beat the pants off Notre Dame 40-18.

Playing fullback, Hubert Simpson tied a program record with four rushing touchdowns to go along with 117 yards, out-shining touted Fighting Irish Vagas Ferguson, who was held to just 88 yards and was stopped by the Tennessee defense in a game-altering goal-line stand in the first half.

 

[mercuryvol]

October 27, 1973, UT vs. TCU. First date with the love of my life.

 

[OrangeEtBlanc]

Mine is both funny & soul-crushing. Two years ago against Kentucky, the wife & I took our kids to their first Vols game. We set in the top section about mid-way up and halfway through the row. My 3 year old daughter begged for popcorn, so my wife took her to go get some. After trudging all the way down, waiting for 30 minutes for popcorn, climbing back up and over people to their seats…my daughter promptly dropped the bucket of popcorn, spilling ALL of its contents. Our souls died a little that day.

 

[Shakinthefat]

My 5 yr old son dropping his souvenir Mini UT football in the trough urinal and watch it float down the trough while everyone did their best not to pee on it.

 

[Orangepantsforever]

Unbelievably torrential downpour during the 2017 LSU game

 

[adam.vol]

Like a scene from O’ Brother Where Art Though..

 

[tennrich1]

Unbelievably torrential downpour during the 2017 LSU game

I’ve never seen a more violent updraft created when that front moved in inside Neyland. May be the most soaked I’ve been at a football game!

 

[HawkVol2213]

Unbelievably torrential downpour during the 2017 LSU game

This! If I recall, didn’t a piece of the jumbotron fall off and hit someone?

 

[Mustng959]

This was not my experience but my fathers. In 1979, the Vols played Georgia Tech at Neyland. Dad was asked to ride the Tennessee Walking Horse along the sidelines for the game. Before the game started as Dad was sitting on the bench with the players, they told him, "Don't let the horse slip or fall .... we always lose when it does."

Why wasn't I there? I was in the military and in Europe.

 

[joevol33]

Ladt time my wife (Georgia fan) went to a Tennessee game with me. I was sitting beside a good looking, and drunk Vol lady who kept hugging, and high fiving me. My wife isn't really jealous, but I kept saying stuff to irk her. Told her if she was a Tennessee fan, I'd hug her too. Made fir a fun ride bavk to Georgia