Big times here in Nashville! As it turns out, my giddiness was totally justified. What a weekend!
ZZ Top was awesome. Kevin and I were shocked about how good they were. It was a much different crowd than at the Swell Season or The Raconteurs, for sure. The redneck-to-hipster ration was at about 210:1. They played all the greats, and even busted out the fuzzy guitars for "Legs!"
Friday night bonus: I ran into Walker as we were leaving the Villager. I took a picture for you, but I was trying not to be too obvious, so it's pretty bad.
That's Walker in the back there, with the brown shirt. You can't say I didn't tell you it's a bad picture.
So, Friday was good times. But, not as good as Saturday. I mean, really. Can you believe it? Vanderbilt? 5-0?!? I can say without equivocation that I never thought I would see the day.
(Before I get to the recap, may I just say that one of the reasons I love you is that when I mentioned that College GameDay was in Nashville, you got excited and said, "No way! College GameDay is in Nashville?!?" Because that is definitely the appropriate response.)
What a game! First, you would not have recognized the area around the stadium. It was packed. There were people all over the place. I mean, my God, we left the tailgate half an hour early and barely made it the block and a half to the stadium before kick-off. I mean, double my God, we were at a game for kick-off!
I think I told you that our seats are smack dab in the student section for sold-out games. I asked the ticket agent to get our season tickets as close to the student section as possible. He delivered. I am so glad, too, because now I get to stand up and yell to my heart's content. The only problem is that sometimes we have to deal with asshole students. I had an Auburn fan standing next to me (he came with his VU buddy), and he was really getting it from the students two rows back. That's all fine and dandy, except that there was an old lady sitting in the row between them. Well, I can handle a lot of crap, but I will not sit for kids cussing in front of an old lady. I had to turn around and tell them to can it. The drill sergeant was at full volume, and it shut 'em up good.
(I swear, it brought about flashbacks to my second-to-worst date ever, when whatever that dude from SC's name I dated [UPDATE: his name was Cole] got us kicked out of the Clemson game for cussing up a blue storm about how much better the SEC is than the ACC, insulting old women, and smoking in the stadium. God, I dated some real winners. [But he sure was pretty.])
(By the way, the people who usually sit behind us are AWESOME, but they got in late. Again, because it was freaking insane at the stadium! Once they got in their seats, everything was fine.)
Auburn's first possession gave us reason to hope. Fourth and goal from the 1 yard-line, and we stopped them. I thought the defense would have the momentum from that point on. I was wrong. I blame our friend, Bono (his last name, it's pronounced "Bo-no," not "Bah-no"), who came to visit after the goal-line stand and then proceeded to watch with us as the wheels came off. The 'Dores went down, but quick. We finally told Bono to go back to his own damn seat, but it didn't help much: Auburn TD, Vandy INT, Auburn TD. Our only hope was the missed PAT. Auburn's lead, 13-0.
And then it happened. It was like we were watching some other football team. We got a new QB and he started throwing decent passes and then, right before halftime, he threw a shot into the endzone and the receiver caught it! An amazing, did-he-just-do-that catch! Even the Auburn guy next to me had to give props. And there were high fives all around. (BTW, Kevin LOVES the high five. It cracks our neighbors up, but they definitely get into the spirit. They also call Kevin "Grizzly," because of the beard.)
After the touchdown, you could feel it. You could sense that people thought we could win. That sort of waned during halftime. The only thing I remember about the beginning of the third was when one of the guys behind us shared his sweet iced tea/vodka/sprite concoction with us. That was one tasty beverage.
The second missed field goal had us all slumped a bit. But the defense kept it up, and then we got the second touchdown and it was sheer insanity in that place.
For the rest of the third quarter and the entirety of the fourth, I spent my time gnawing on my fingernails. It was so stressful! And then, when the QB fumbled the ball, on our 4o-yard line, with two and a half minutes to go? Well, we've all been to that game. Cue recovery by Auburn and six points the other way.
But it didn't happen! The QB recovered it. Sure, we didn't get the first down, but we didn't lose the ball, either. And then, the punter--I mean, of all people, the PUNTER--comes through with a beauty of a punt down to the 3-yard line! Madness. I'm telling you, it was total madness in the stadium. That was followed quickly by an interception and then we didn't even screw up the kneel-downs.
What a game! Incredible. Totally, utterly unbelievable. Hell, even Evan mentioned it today.
Okay, now for the breakdown of the best GameDay signs that I saw. First, of course, was "The Geeks Shall Inherit the Turf" (later amended in a text message to one of our stadium neighbors to "The Geeks Shall Inherit the SEC East"). I haven't found any t-shirts* for that one yet, but I'm looking.
photo via talesfromtheroad.southernliving.com
NO ONE GETS OUT ALIVE!
(Of course, see Friday's post for the best sign ever. In fact, what the hell? It's so good, I'm posting it again.)
And that concludes our journey through the weekend's festivities. In addition to Vanderbilt, the Titans are also 5-0. Heady times here in Nashville.
I hope all's well with you. I miss you and I love you.
--Molly
previous post title source: "Sharp-Dressed Man," ZZ Top
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