So having taken two weeks off of actually attending Bama games, Robert and I definitely had the itch and decided to go to Tuscaloosa and see if we could get tickets. Dragging ourselves out of bed at 9 a.m. last Saturday, we hit the road by 9:30, sat in a surprisingly good bit of traffic for way too early in the morning, and rolled into T-town just minutes before the 11:30 a.m. kickoff. (Thank you, Lincoln Financial, for making it impossible to sleep in on a Saturday morning.) After grabbing lunch at Taco Bell downtown and stuffing it down (I think that's the fastest Robert - generally a very slow eater - has ever eaten), we were booking it down University and the Strip to the stadium, on the hunt for tickets along the way.
We come across our second "officially licensed ticket broker" (aka scalper) right before we get to the Strip and start to haggle. What happened next is one of our best team accomplishments since marriage. Between Robert making our first counteroffer that I argue is too much to pay, an accusation of trying to sell fake tickets (That was me. I actually mistakenly thought they were already torn.), repeated attempts to walk away, and husband to wife discussions right in front of him that "there's bound to be cheaper tickets closer to the stadium," we talk the guy into just $15 above face value for two of his last three tickets. And end up paying $20 above because silly me threw out the ultimatum price in a $5-dollar increment during our final haggle - and we didn't have any $5 dollar bills! Oh well, we still got an incredible deal. Which is only confirmed once we get to the stadium and find our awesome seats.
In the northeast corner, lower level, just high enough to see the field, and the last section before you hit having to mingle with the Tennessee fans. We were sittin' pretty. At first we were skeptical about sitting just one section over from the Tennessee band and having to endure a hundred playings of Rocky Top in four quarters, but let's just say we had no need to worry. They played the song maybe seven times. Maybe. It was a miracle. So was the 3-0 Bama's on top score we noticed when we first got in the stadium. (Sadly, we missed the onside kick at kickoff.) What ensured in the next 3.5 hours, as most of you know, was the best Bama game of the season - hands down. Boy was it good to be there and experience it in person.
We really had a great view of the field. We'd totally buy season tickets in this spot if we ever had the chance.
And, as if the day couldn't get better, my brother David's girlfriend, Shelby, and her mom were sitting just 10 rows or so above us. We grabbed her to get some quick pics to make David jealous. I called him to let him know we saw Shelby and glanced up at her while the phone was ringing, noticing she too was on the phone. David answered and didn't seemed surprised at all. He was definitely on the phone with Shelby and had already heard the big news of us seeing each other. Oh well. You just can't surprise a 17-year-old. At least he clicked over to answer my call when I beeped in! (By the way, David texted me today and said he and his friend, Chris, got tickets to the LSU game! He also got accepted to Alabama last week. Way to go, Dave!)
Here's the empty Tennessee section just across the aisle. They started dropping like flies as the score rolled up, especially after Fulmer punted on Tennessee's second to last possession. Talk about feeling defeat.
One happy Robert!
41-17! What bliss. I was waiting for my free windshield wiper fluid from Advanced Auto Parts because we scored more than 28 points, but they never announced it. I guess they quit doing that promo - just as we get good enough to score that many points in a game. Only bummer of the day.
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