Three separate Third Saturday in October trips have come together and fallen apart in about the past month, but I hope this one's sticking, because fuck it, I am outta here. Went from the whole family taking the usual jaunt to none of the family going at all and me tagging along with Livia & Co., to her not going either, to me staring bleakly out of windows in various poses of despair, back around to about half the tribe making the trip and me absolutely vowing not to miss it again this year. I am shaking with anticipation. It's our game of the year to begin with, but the addition of Der Saban lends the whole affair a spicy patina of loathing, like a layer of hot sauce on a fine Bloody Mary.
The game's in Tuscaloosa this year, right?
Either way, be prepared to deal with the adverse effects of the smug front that envelops anything within 100 square miles of any place Nick Saban exists at any given time.
Posted by: Signal to Noise at October 11, 2007 02:02 PMYOU CANNOT SURVIVE THE HELLMOUTH!
Posted by: kleph at October 11, 2007 03:19 PMBeen surviving it for twenty years, friend. *hitches up pants, spits*
Posted by: Holly at October 11, 2007 03:20 PMthe pants could be a liability by the time it's all said and done.
Posted by: kleph at October 11, 2007 11:24 PMI'm confused. Are you going to the game or not? I don't know why I care other than 1.) read your description of the Third Saturday in October and couldn't agree more (screw Auburn; until recently it's hard to get excited about playing little brother)so I appreciate your appreciation of the contest and b.) I live in Tuscaloosa and always enjoy having people come here and enjoy what we have to offer on fall Saturdays because it just doesn't get any better than that in this town. So, I hope you get to go, I hope you enjoy your visit (as much as one can enjoy a road trip that involves a loss), and I hope you are treated well in our town, even if you are a cousin-fucker. (No offense, I enjoy your literary stylings [I don't thinks that is a word], I just loathe anything that involves UT on principle alone)
Posted by: Picture me rollin' at October 12, 2007 10:18 AMYes, I'm going. And I don't ever fear stepping into Tuscaloosa--it's my favorite gameday experience outside of Knoxville. More genteel than Athens, better-informed fans, too, in my experience--kinda like going to Oxford but with a lower douchebag quotient. I think I've missed maybe three UT-Bama games in 20 years, and I'm not about to miss two in a row.
Posted by: Holly at October 12, 2007 10:24 AMI'm glad to hear you say that (or actually read that). Although I grew up here, I never went to a UT game until '95 when Peyton threw for like 8000 yards. I have only missed one since ('96 in Knoxville). It really helped the series, in my opinion, when they moved it to Tuscaloosa from Legion Field. It is my absolute favorite game of the season. There will be no work next week. I will yell so much that my temples will throb and there will be the sincere possibility of aneurysm - all before the first snap. It is the definition of Rivalry. Look it up. It's in Webster's. You know it's a big game when the Secretary of State comes and stays for the entire game. I apologize, I'm rambling. At any rate, best wishes for a safe trip. Make it to the Quad if you can; it seems to be getting better all the time. And if your in town the night before or after I highly recommend DePalma's, Chuck's Fish, or Cafe Venice (all good places to eat downtown) and also Innisfree (the best bar downtown).
Posted by: Picture me rollin' at October 12, 2007 01:09 PMMy love for Third Saturday treads heavily into "obsessive"--ramble all you want. Nice to hear a concurring opinion from the other side. :)
Posted by: Holly at October 12, 2007 01:13 PM