Life as a Redcoat - The Season (Away)

Now many regard the WLOCP as an away game, but for the purpose of this series, it will get a post of it's own. So check back tomorrow. So let's continue.   

Whether it was a drive up I-85 or a trek across the bayou or the journey through the mountains. The Redcoats always enjoyed the trips away from home. Depending on the location and the time of the season, this usually meant a weekend trip. And with any weekend trip comes the parties. 

The one downside to many of the away games was the entire band would not travel. Not that many complained. Have you seen Fayetteville or Starkville. Not a lot to do and a bored Redcoat is usually a Redcoat that is getting into trouble. So a group of alumni would join a few regulars to make sure we had representation to cheer on the Dawgs. 

So what makes the away games so special. First off it was a treat of sorts for the band. Normally once during the year and maybe twice if we were lucky, we got the overnight trip. And since the Athletic department was kind to the band, we got a per diem for food when we stayed overnight. Now we're not talking about a lot, but enough for beer and food.

In most cases we would head out on a Friday afternoon and arrive near dinner time. And the nicer trips we got a Saturday night stay as well. 

One of the best trips during my days was the trip to play the Bayou Bengals down at Tiger Stadium. What made this trip so special was, one it was my first game ever as a Redcoat. Second it was a two night stay. I can still remember the directors asking if we wanted to stay in a nice hotel in New Orleans and then stay in a dump on Saturday in Baton Rouge or two nights at a nice hotel in Baton Rouge. What do you think we picked. Damn straight, turn the Redcoats loose in the Big Easy. 

After what seemed like days on the bus, we made it into the city. What's the first thing we do. Well after hitting the showers, that's right, off to Bourbon Street. Where as the bartenders stated, "If you are tall enough to put the money on the bar, you are old enough to drink."

After a night of hurricanes and 32oz 190 octane daquaries, chasing a trannie in high heels that ran a 4.4 40, and some gator tails the day was done. What happened later is saved for those involved. So don't ask. 

Needless to say, the trip the next morning to Baton Rouge was less than fun, then add in the ninety degree heat and humidity made for a sorry bunch of Redcoats. Not to mention a nasty smelling field from the poison. You remember the poison from band camp. After a hour or so, we were all dying and they let us go and recover. Luckily this was a night game so we had time to rest up and gather ourselves. 

As we came to game time, it was time to enter the foreign land. But I will say, the fans for both sides were great. It seemed as though the entire stadium emptied just to see us march in. It was quite a sight, especially since it was my first game. 

The game itself didn't turn out as well as we had hoped, plus it was still well into the 90's and about 200% humidity. 

That is your basic traveling away game. I stayed away from the day trips to the cow fields (Auburn, Clemsux, and Cockville). Nothing special about those games, with the one exception of a special trip to Auburn. I'll save that for another post. So check back in. 

Oh, almost left out the overwhelming sounds of Rocky Top, yes I know the school that can't decide what color orange they wear, but the trip into Neyland was one that is not easily forgotten. Yes it was another loss for the Dawgs, remember these were the Ray Goff years, so we didn't hold out much hope. But sitting in the stands as over 100,000 people break into Rocky Top is something everyone needs to hear once. Although I'm sure it's better when we win.

So until tomorrow, Goooo Dawgs