Saturday August 30th, 2008 marks the date when I was officially broken in to the world of college football tailgating.  You must be wondering, “I thought Dustin was a season ticket holder of the University of Memphis for many years now?”  And you’d be correct in that assumption.  But re-read the statement.  I said - officially broken in to the world of COLLEGE FOOTBALL TAILGATING.  

The Grove is nothing short of a good time, let me tell ya that right now.  

The festivities go on all day long.  The Ole Miss Rebel fans are obnoxious, loud, egotistical… and they do it all day and all night long.  It’s non-stop in Oxford.  Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not badmouthing them at all.  I’m just stating the facts.  They’re confident in what they do.  Their constant chanting in unison alone is enough to drive you over the edge.  Factor that in with the high opinion they have of themselves and their school and you’ve got a recipe for not only a fanatic… but an obnoxious fanatic, at that.  Mind you, I'm not even factoring in their "dress code".  Dresses and heels for the ladies - shirt and tie for the gents.  This is for a football game, remember? 

Do you sense a bit of jealousy in my writing?  Well, if you don’t - you should.  Not in the fact that they have a higher than thou dress code... but because they really have a fanbase that is die hard.  As I stated on Channel 13 News on Saturday night’s telecast (yes, I was interviewed on their show - ratings were higher than the norm, so I hear), The Grove is spectacular and Memphis is totally missing the

boat by not having something similar.  But the fact of the matter is simple - Memphis fans aren’t nearly as passionate about their team as an Ole Miss fan is.  Ole Miss fans have more passion and love in their pinky fingers than University of Memphis football fans do in their entire bodies.  When’s the last time there was a Tiger game that you just HAD to be at?  Better yet, when’s the last time there was a tailgate party that you just HAD to be at?  

Never.  Fans don’t get up for Tiger football.  That’s just the bottom line, folks.

The pictures that you see scattered along this blog tells you the entire story.  The festivities, the parties, the people… my GAWD, the people!  The decorations are immaculate… the crowd of people that you see in the photos all chant the Ole Miss fight song in unison all day long.  If I hear “hotty toddy gosh ole’ mighty” one more time, I’m going to self-destruct.  

But enough of putting over the team that I hate more than any other.  I’m such a die hard Memphis fan, I will NEVER… EEEVVVEEEEERRR root for Ole Miss in anything they do (hey, it’s not personal, it’s just football).  So, here’s how my day went:

7:30AM arrives and I hop out of bed, ready for what has been billed as the biggest party of the year.  The opening game has a party like none-other and I must be there early or else I won’t have a parking spot and I’ll miss the party altogether.  We get ready and we head out to meet some family.  We’re all going together.  And despite their fears of getting there too early, I’m all for it.  “But the game doesn’t start til 6PM!  Why so early?”  My reply, “We don’t want to miss the party!”

11:30AM - After filling up with gas, getting a bite to eat, stocking up on beer and finding a parking spot… we arrive.  Upon arrival, I’ve already had a six pack and I’m diving in for more.  Hey, it’s a hot day… might as well get a buzz while I’m there.  And you guessed it - we’re here WAAAY too early!  I get all the heat for this one.  “I told ya so!”  “What are we gonna do all day!?”  Thankfully, we were invited to attend a party at a few of our friend’s tents and this made things much, much better.  We were welcomed by some of our Ole Miss friends… if there’s such a thing (j/k).

6PM - Let’s skip ahead a bit.  Not much happened in between 11AM and 6PM - other than a lot of chanting, a lot of drinking and a lot of unnecessary eating.  It’s finally game-time… and I’ve had about 14 beers now - I may not make it.  

I’m stunned by how great the stadium looks.  And it’s packed, despite what the radio and newspapers have said about it not being a sellout.  Their big screen is huge and looks like that of a WWE production.  I’m a huge mark for teams that have a fight song that EVERYONE knows.  And before, during and after the game - the fans all chanted together and it sounded great.  I’m jealous of the fact that Memphis doesn’t have anything that even comes close.  We were in the Tiger section (which was made up of several hundred fans) and we could hear the chant loud and clear as it echoed it’s way through the stadium.  

I nearly passed out from the beer consumption.  But I managed to make it through the game, although Memphis’ football team didn’t.  They were ran on, passed on and creamed by the Ole Miss Rebels.  Houston Nutt made a great debut by beating the hapless Memphis Tigers.  How can you NOT show up to the biggest game of the year?  Better yet - how could you NOT show up for the biggest game of the year for FOUR straight years?  Memphis must not want to beat Ole Miss, plain and simple.

At night’s end, I was exhausted.  It was way too much for one day.  I had a great time, though.  I was drunk, disappointed, tired and did not want to wait in the line to get out of the stadium’s parking.  It’s like hell getting out of that place.  But Ole Miss, I must tell you - you guys know how to party and you’re a very good time…

Even though you’re obnoxious, loud and egotistical.  ;)