So this was just going to be another Tennessee football game for me. Game number 103 in person, and the 76th game at Neyland Stadium on a day after the new statue honoring one of the greatest coaches of all time was dedicated on the west side of the stadium bearing his name.
TJ McNamara who owns www.bringhomethevols.com and this site www.tradingo.com had told me ahead of time that he would have passes for me that would get me into the Tennessee Terrace.
That was going to be a nice addition to my game day ritual. I had never been inside the Tennessee Terrace, and quite frankly, being of modest means, I probably wasn’t going to be seeing the Terrace anytime soon.
My wife and I headed up to the Terrace before the gates opened to the public to help TJ with a set up for the bleachers and seats that he sells from Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium. The Terrace was great. It’s clean, neat and has better concessions than the rest of the stadium. My wife and I who normally sit close to the Terrace in the upper deck had just planned on using the passes to use cleaner restrooms and have better food choices.
That is until TJ sent me a message in the 1st quarter. TJ invited us over to the East sideline luxury boxes.
This was another place that I wasn’t going to be seeing anytime soon without the great friendship of TJ.
The Vols were already up 21-0 after Eric Gordon’s 46 yard interception return and here we were riding an elevator up to the highest level of the stadium and Aramark’s box, which is owned by VP of Operations Tim VanderMeersch.
Tim, his wife and the rest of his box were gracious enough to allow two people that they hadn’t met to experience a Tennessee game in a way that few fans can say that they have. It was a pleasure to meet him and I very much appreciate his hospitality.
We weren’t in the box very long before we noticed that we knew people in the box beside Tim’s.
Carter County Sherriff Chris Mathis who went to school with my wife’s brother and Keith Bowers who is the Carter County attorney and was recently hired by Bluff City to be their city attorney and his family were enjoying the game just on the other side of the glass.
Back inside Aramark’s box, we were enjoying the game even after Ole Miss scored twice in the second quarter and had cut the Vols’ lead to 28-14.
We were enjoying good conversation, meeting new people, and watching the Vols score just before half to stretch the lead to 31-14.
At halftime, we made our way to the area to get the complimentary food, and just before heading back to the box, we noticed former Vol QB and United States Congressman Heath Shuler. My wife is a Redskins fan so of course she had her picture made with him. Congressman Shuler was an absolute joy to talk to and could not have been friendlier.
Back inside Tim’s box, we were meeting new people and making new friends.
In a world where fans of SEC teams can come together to enjoy one other’s company, former Ole Miss’ football player and track athlete Lawrence Goodine and his wife (who are expecting a child) were also in Tim’s box.
Lawrence was taking the rough game in stride and was a pleasure to get to know. By this time, the Vols were up 38-14 and would add two more scores to win the game 52-14.
On a day that the Vols won their first SEC game and moved one step closer to earning a bowl game invite while piling up 442 yards and a season high 52 points as well as seeing freshman Tyler Bray rack up another 323 passing yards and 3 touchdowns, it was the time spent with friends old and new that made me feel like I was backing a winner.
As a fan, wins and losses are an important part of the experience.
But on this fall Saturday, on the banks of the Tennessee River inside of the stadium that Neyland built, I was much more than just a fan of a 4-6 football team.
I was a friend to many, and as wealthy as any person in any sky box.
Thanks to everyone for making Homecoming 2010 a day to remember.
TJ McNamara who owns www.bringhomethevols.com and this site www.tradingo.com had told me ahead of time that he would have passes for me that would get me into the Tennessee Terrace.
That was going to be a nice addition to my game day ritual. I had never been inside the Tennessee Terrace, and quite frankly, being of modest means, I probably wasn’t going to be seeing the Terrace anytime soon.
My wife and I headed up to the Terrace before the gates opened to the public to help TJ with a set up for the bleachers and seats that he sells from Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium. The Terrace was great. It’s clean, neat and has better concessions than the rest of the stadium. My wife and I who normally sit close to the Terrace in the upper deck had just planned on using the passes to use cleaner restrooms and have better food choices.
That is until TJ sent me a message in the 1st quarter. TJ invited us over to the East sideline luxury boxes.
This was another place that I wasn’t going to be seeing anytime soon without the great friendship of TJ.
The Vols were already up 21-0 after Eric Gordon’s 46 yard interception return and here we were riding an elevator up to the highest level of the stadium and Aramark’s box, which is owned by VP of Operations Tim VanderMeersch.
Tim, his wife and the rest of his box were gracious enough to allow two people that they hadn’t met to experience a Tennessee game in a way that few fans can say that they have. It was a pleasure to meet him and I very much appreciate his hospitality.
We weren’t in the box very long before we noticed that we knew people in the box beside Tim’s.
Carter County Sherriff Chris Mathis who went to school with my wife’s brother and Keith Bowers who is the Carter County attorney and was recently hired by Bluff City to be their city attorney and his family were enjoying the game just on the other side of the glass.
Back inside Aramark’s box, we were enjoying the game even after Ole Miss scored twice in the second quarter and had cut the Vols’ lead to 28-14.
We were enjoying good conversation, meeting new people, and watching the Vols score just before half to stretch the lead to 31-14.
At halftime, we made our way to the area to get the complimentary food, and just before heading back to the box, we noticed former Vol QB and United States Congressman Heath Shuler. My wife is a Redskins fan so of course she had her picture made with him. Congressman Shuler was an absolute joy to talk to and could not have been friendlier.
Back inside Tim’s box, we were meeting new people and making new friends.
In a world where fans of SEC teams can come together to enjoy one other’s company, former Ole Miss’ football player and track athlete Lawrence Goodine and his wife (who are expecting a child) were also in Tim’s box.
Lawrence was taking the rough game in stride and was a pleasure to get to know. By this time, the Vols were up 38-14 and would add two more scores to win the game 52-14.
On a day that the Vols won their first SEC game and moved one step closer to earning a bowl game invite while piling up 442 yards and a season high 52 points as well as seeing freshman Tyler Bray rack up another 323 passing yards and 3 touchdowns, it was the time spent with friends old and new that made me feel like I was backing a winner.
As a fan, wins and losses are an important part of the experience.
But on this fall Saturday, on the banks of the Tennessee River inside of the stadium that Neyland built, I was much more than just a fan of a 4-6 football team.
I was a friend to many, and as wealthy as any person in any sky box.
Thanks to everyone for making Homecoming 2010 a day to remember.
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