SEC Weekly Feature - Nashville, TN - Go Dores!

Vanderbilt University

Town: Nashville, TN


Head coach: James Franklin

Stadium: Vanderbilt Stadium, Dudley Field

Colors: Black & Gold

Mascot: Commodore, Mr. C

Traditions: Star Walk: The Star Walk tradition began in the 1990s after athletic department officials had stars, representing the athletic logo, painted on the sidewalk and Jess Neely Drive from the football team's locker room facility in McGugin Center down the tunnel leading into Vanderbilt Stadium. The team's walk to its stadium locker facility was quickly dubbed Star Walk in reference to the star logos painted along the route. Over the years, it has grown in interest through participation by the marching band and better communication with the fans. The best attended Star Walks have flooded Jess Neely Drive with Commodore faithful hoping to see and encourage their favorite player or coach. 

Other VU traditions include, the Admiral's horn which can be heard after every Vanderbilt touchdown and the traveling anchor. Seen as a symbol of support, security and stability, the anchor is present at all home and road games. Just recently, the locker room added a special display case for the anchor to occupy year round.

Biggest Rival: Vanderbilt fans hate Big Orange...TENNESSEE. While all Vandy team sports detest competition with the Vols, none moreso than football. Tennessee has taken home the W against Vandy 27 out of the last 28 meetings.

Where to Tailgate: Vandyville - the entire " L" shaped block surrounding the stadium. Fans can find everything from a Kids Zone, to live music and large screen T.Vs to the Coca-Cola sponsored picnic zone.

Where to Celebrate: Tin Roof on Demonbruen  or any of Nashville's honkey-tonks (usually Paradise Park, The Stage or The Big Bang)

Where to Watch if You Don't Have a Ticket: Sam's Place Bar & Grill -Just around the corner from theVandy campus and Vanderbilt Stadium, Sam's offers plenty of t.v's, great 2-4-1 deals and the convenience of being steps away from Nashville's trendy Hillsboro village.

Will Vandy be able to fight back against Tennessee's long tradition of winning or will Coach Dooley's club bring home the W? Be sure to tune in Saturday and see!

"Who ya with? VU!"

"Anchor Down!"

SEC Weekly Feature - Fayetteville, AR - Woo Pig Sooie!

University of Arkansas

Town: Fayetteville, AR

Stadium: Donald W. Reynolds Stadium

Coach: Bobby Petrino

Colors: Cardinal Red and White

Mascot: Razorbacks, Tusk IV

Famous Alumni: Jerry Jones (owner of Dallas Cowboys), Cliff Lee, Joe Johnson, Governor Mike Beebe, U.S. Senator John Boozman, John Daly, Felix Jones, Darren McFadden

Traditions

Pep rallies at the Chi Omega Greek Theater, Senior Walk, "Calling the Hogs," Running Through the 'A', tailgating

Where to Tailgate

Anywhere you can find! The lots fill up quick with vehicles and tents.

Where to Celebrate

Dickson Street

Biggest Rivals

LSU - The Battle for the Golden Boot

Every Razorback gameday is filled with excitement!  As the main college football team in the state, everyone is a Razorback fan.  Games are filled with students and alumni so tickets generally sellout in advance.  If you don't have a chance to buy a ticket go to Dickson Street to watch the game at one of the several bars.  If you want to skip the traffic head uptown to one of the several local sports bars to watch the game.

Big thanks to Blue Eyed Belle and fellow Chi Omega for the info on the Hogs!

xoxo,

Ashton

SEC Weekly Feature - Oxford, MS - Hotty Toddy

University of Mississippi

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Town: Oxford, MS

Head Coach:  Houston Nutt

Stadium:  Vaught-Hemingway

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Nickname/Mascot: Rebels, Colonel Reb, Black Bear

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Colors: Red and Blue

Traditions

 The football team walking down the Walk of Champions to the stadium 2 hours before kick off, chanting Hotty Toddy, Freshman learning to drive the circles around the Oxford Square, Hearing the cannon fire when the team scores (yep not much of that happening this year), visiting the doorknob to the universe, Never losing a party, and The Grove

Famous Alumni

 Archie Manning, Eli Manning, Michael Oher, William Faulkner, John Grisham, Trent Lott, James Meredith, Duece McAllister, Dexter McCluster, Patrick Willis, Shepard Smith, Gerald McRaney, Kate Jackson, Sean and Leigh Ann Tuohy

Biggest Rivals:  Mississippi State and LSU

Where to Tailgate:  The Grove

Where to Watch the Game if You Don't Have a Ticket: In The Grove.  There are plenty of tents that have TVs and are always willing to make new friends.  Also any of the bars on the Square

Where to Party after a Win:  Okay in our case of late it is for a loss.  Any of the bars on the Square are perfect for a night out.  Don't forget to stop by Chevron on Four Corners for Chicken on the Stick after the bars closed, it was featured in Bon Appetit this fall as one of the  most unexpected places for good food.

The only thing that could make a Saturday better is knowing when you wake up it means heading to Oxford for a day in The Grove and seeing the Rebels play.  If it is a late game getting up early to spend some girl time shopping all the cute shops around the square.   The Grove is a festive atmosphere full of friends and the echos of Hotty Toddy and Dixie.

Big thanks to Ruth for the information on the Rebs.  Hotty Toddy!

xoxo,
Ashton

SEC Weekly Feature - Knoxville, TN - Good Ol' Rocky Top

University of Tennessee

Town: Knoxville, TN

Stadium: Neyland Stadium

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Head Coach: Derek Dooley {Fear the Pants!}

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Mascot: Volunteers, Smokey

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Colors: Tennessee Orange and White

Biggest Rivals: Alabama, Georgia, & Vanderbilt

Famous Alumni

Peyton Manning, Pat Summit, Al Gore, and Deana Carter

Traditions: Vol Walk, Power T, Vol Navy, Rocky Top (on average, it is played 80 times during a game), 3rd Saturday in October, Checker Board Endzones, 'Ol Smokey, and The Southland Band

Where to Tailgate

Vol Navy (floatilla of party barges) located on the waters of the Tennessee River, G10 lot located between the stadium and the river, and spots located up and down Cumberland Drive and Volunteer Way

Where to Celebrate

The Strip

I was fortunate enough to attend the South Carolina-Tennessee game this past weekend.  Since I started law school two years ago, I have been inundated with friends from East Tennessee.  They either grew up in the area or attended the University of Tennessee.  A group of us made the trip from Charleston to Knoxville.  Along with the game, we were celebrating three birthdays.  It was a wonderful weekend.

Knoxville is truly a beautiful city nestled on the Tennessee River.  The stadium is located a stone's throw from the river, providing a picturesque backdrop for tailgating.  If the Gamecocks were not playing in Neyland that evening, I probably would have been singing every word of Rocky Top.

SEC Weekly Feature - Baton Rouge, LA - Geaux Tigers!

Louisiana State University

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Town: Baton Rouge, LA

Stadium: Tiger Stadium

Coach: Les "Mad Hatter" Miles

Mascot: Tigers, Mike the Tiger

Colors: Purple & Gold

Biggest Rivals: University of Alabama & Ole Miss

Famous Alumni: Pete "Pistol Pete" Maravich, Bill Cannon {1959 Heisman Trophy winner}, Shaquille O'Neal, and James Carville

Gameday Traditions

Victory Hill

A pre-game ritual for many Tiger fans is to line up down North Stadium Drive in the hours before kickoff to see the Tiger Marching Band in its walk from the band hall to Tiger Stadium

LSU Fight Song

Hey, Fightin' Tigers, fight all the way Play Fightin' Tigers, win the game today

You've got the know how, you're doing fine, Hang on to the ball as you hit the wall

And smash right through the line

You've got to go for a touchdown, run up the score

Make Mike the Tiger stand up and roar

ROAR!

Give it all of your might as you fight tonight and keep the goal in view

Victory for L-S-U!

White Jerseys

LSU is one of the few college who traditionally wear white jerseys for home games.  The tradition originate in 1958, when head coach Paul Dietzel changed the home uniforms to white jerseys.  Subsequently the Tigers won the National Championship in 1958 and the home jersey color was never changed.

Saturday Nights in Death Valley

Saturday nights in Tiger Stadium started in 1931, when LSU beat Spring Hill 35-0 under the lights.  It is said that night games were to avoid heat and humidity, to avoid scheduling conflicts with Tulane and Loyola, and in turn giving more fans a chance to watch the Tigers play.  Night games at Tiger Stadium are so electrifying that they register on the Richter scale.

Tailgating

Tiger fans arrive as early as Thursday night to start setting up for Saturday morning.  Setting up their motor homes, tents, TVs, tables, flags, kegs, and of course, FOOD...jambalaya, gumbo, potato salad, and boudin!

Where to Celebrate

Whether you don't have a ticket or you are heading somewhere to celebrate a Tiger Victory, the hotspots are The Varsity, Walk-On's, or any bar in the Tiger land District.

Geaux Tigers

Big thanks to my friend, Ashlie, who attended LSU and provided all of the insider information and pictures.  She is the biggest and truest Tiger fan I know.

xoxo,

Ashton

SEC Weekly Feature - Starkville, MS - MORE Cowbell

Mississppi State University

Town: Starkville, MS

Head Coach: Dan Mullen

Stadium: Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field

Mascot: Bulldogs, Bully

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Colors: Maroon and White

Rivals: Ole Miss, Alabama, and in recent years Auburn

Famous Alumni: John Grisham (author), Johnie Cooks (NFL and Super Bowl Champion), Jonathan Papelbon (Boston Red Sox), George Bryan (Bryan Foods), Toxey Haas (Mossy Oak)

Traditions: Cowbells, Dawg Walk, Dawg Pound Rock before football team takes the field, "Hail State," "That's True Maroon," singing "Go To Hell Ole Miss" at the end of the fight song (harsh but true  - sorry Rebs!), Cowbell Yell, Bulldog Bash (Fall), and Super Bulldog Weekend (Spring)

Where to Watch the Game if You Don't Have a Ticket: The Veranda, Grumpy's (biggest outdoor TV!), Cowbells

Where to Celebrate: If MSU wins a big game, most fans stay in the Junction tailgating for hours.  The Cotton District has a ton of bars that are also popular to celebrate at

Tailgate Spots: The Junction! Everyone from families to fraternities tailgate in The Junction, which is basically all grassy areas surrounding the football stadium.  Most students tend to take up most of the field right in front of the stadium, while families stretch out towards the bookstore, the union, and the cheese stop.  (If you're every on campus, stop by the cheese shop and try some homemade Muscadine Ripple Ice Cream! Amazing!)

MSU is an amazing place to be a student.  I wish I went to undergrad here!  State Pride is all over town from the M-State symbol painted on intersections to carving Bully into Halloween pumpkins.  I've also never seen anything quite like the loyalty MSU fans have for the teams, no matter how the season is going.  It's great to be a Bulldawg! 

BIG Thanks to our follower, Ashley, who is a graduate student at MSU!