Southerners take their football VERY seriously. Since the two BYU football games in Mississippi and Texas were the bookends of our trip, we managed to get a glimpse of how southerners play the game. As we traveled about, Rick took the opportunity to slip into various stadiums and take a peak. He found that the college stadiums were generally open and welcoming while the Pro stadiums were locked down tight.
Here are some pictures from around the different stadiums that we/he visited.
University of Tennessee
University of Texas
University of Georgia
Georgia TechWe also had the chance to go to THE GROVE at Ole Miss before the game and attend their "tailgate party." Tailgate party my foot! It was more like Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings with 20,000 of their best friends. We saw:
- glass chandeliers hanging from "Rebel" portable awnings over the set up of the feast
- linens and tablecloths in the Rebel colors
- fresh flower arrangements
- silverware, crystal glass and china plates
- southern food in great abundance
- huge flat screen TV with satellite dish connections so they could watch other games being played that day
- ALL college age women and some older women decked out in sun dresses and high heal shoes
- men wearing button down shirts and ties (to the game no less)
- lots and lots of alcohol consumed
Notwithstanding all this Rebel pride, the fans were so courteous and friendly to us. They welcomed us, they said hello in their wonderful southern accents, they were so kind. No one swore at us. No one flipped us off. No one belittled our religion. We came away with a great feeling for the fans of Ole Miss. They were very hospitable and kind (even after we beat them) and they showed a lot of class. The Texas fans were fine as well. They weren't as friendly as the Ole Miss fans, but they just left us alone. Again, no one took swipes at us for wearing our BYU shirts. Good sportsmanship was the order of the day at both locations and we were pleasantly surprised and very appreciative.
2 comments:
Those were great stadiums to see, and they were great fans whom we came in contact with. It was a great trip, and you have got it covered, Vonnie.
vfr
That is great. I won't let the kids go to the OSU game because the fans there will not be as polite and I won't send my children to that environment.
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