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Question: Huge college FB Fans travelling from Portland-Oregon to cheer for the TIDE!!

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dlgobeavs

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Aug 27, 2009
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Let me start by saying ROLL TIDE!!!

Three of us will be travelling from Portland, OR to Tuscaloosa for the LSU game to support Alabama.

A little background:

Two of us are huge Oregon State Beaver fans, and one lone Duck fan. The three of us take an annual trip to visit a college football stadium we haven't seen before. We are on our 4th year, and couldn't be more excited to see Bama kick the crap out of LSU!

Last year's trip was to Tennessee. Well... we have seen the error of our ways, burned all our Tennesseee gear, and know all the words to Rammer Jammer. When we come to town we want to do EVERYTHING that a true Tide fan would do on a pilramage to Bryant Denny Stadium.

Our best trips have been where we have joined some locals for tailgating and generally lived the life of a die-hard fan.

One of the things we are considering, is renting an RV and heading from Atlanta to Tuscaloosa. That plan gets more difficult as I have read that RV parking passes are matched to particular RV's. In other words, there are no parking passes available on campus unless we find someone to rent us their RV AND sell us their parking pass.

Advice needed:

1. Can anyone point us in the direction of someone who might be interested in a RV rental and parking pass? (I know this is a longshot...but I had to ask).

2. Is there parking available elsewhere for an RV that is OFF campus? If so... would parking there put us in the middle of all the action?

3. Choice #2 (after the RV) is finding a parking pass and staying at a hotel. Any advice on which lots to park in order to be close to the action?

4. What should a newbie to Tuscaloosa do to complete our immersion into Bama football?

5. Lastly (might be our best option) does anyone have a Kick-... tailgater that they wouldn't mind if some fans from the state of Oregon joined on gameday? We aren't looking for any handouts...we'd be more than happy to contribute. We simply want to surround ourselves with the best Bama fans in the world!!

Roll Tide!!!

Any advice is much appreciated!

Dave
 
Get ready to travel to a new dimension. Try to get here early (Friday evening is kind of late). Being from Oregon, it doesnt matter where you park/tailgate or whatever, as it is a a nice sized campus but very easy walking, just in the heat of Sept/Oct itz a pain. Visit the Bryant Museum, do Dreamland, hit the strip, invite yourself Fri Nite into wherever you want to be. WEAR YOUR COLORS. PURPLE OR ORANGE ARE NOT ADVISED FOR OUT OF TOWNERS ON ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. Visitors (aliens) are VERY welcome.
Hell, you guys probably talk funny.

PS Bring your own beer. We just started getting decent stuff in Alabama
 
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Archibald's is really good BBQ as well.

I'm jealous because I won't be able to attend a game this year. I wish I could, but things just aren't gonna work out. You have to go to the Bryant Museum. Will definitely send chills up and down the spine.
 
Contact me at johnrichardson@tidefans.com and or 845 656 1408. I am from NY and tailgate with some great fans from Bama and Florida, all Bama fans. We would love to have all y'all to stop by and join us. I am sure you will get many ops to visit many tailgate sites but keep us in mind. We tailgate at tailgate spot #12 ( just happens to be the easiest number for Bama fans to remember) on the quad. That spot is halfway between the bell tower ( Denny Chimes, ) and the library on the left side of the side walk as you go from the bell tower to the library. Look for the banner that says "Crimson Tide Linebacker club" , Poughkeepsie NY.
Have a great trip and Roll Tide Roll.
 
For the full Bama gameday weekend experience I would say definitely to hit the strip Friday night and at least swing by the Houndstooth. Go to the original Dreamland on Jug Factory Road or Archibalds for some of the best BBQ you'll ever have. The quad will be full of tailgaters who will be welcoming to visiting fans. The Bryant Museum is a must. The Elephant Stomp on the quad is pretty cool leading up to the game, sort of a pregame pep rally.
 
Where to begin? [url]www.uagameday.com[/URL] will give you just about any information you need.

First, if you're flying in and renting a car, you can pay $10 and park on University Blvd in the grass lot by the soccer field, but you have to arrive on campus about 3-4 hours before kickoff to get a decent spot. This will put you easy walking distance to The Quad. Alternatively, you could hop on the Crimson Ride bus that picks up/drops off at that lot and it will take you to The Quad. For your experience, you should probably just walk it.

If you'll be in town on Friday, having lunch over the bridge in Northport at City Cafe is a must. For supper that night, you'll want to get up to Jug Factory Road and eat at the original Dreamland. It's not much to look at, but some of the best BBQ around. Very simple menu.

Friday night would be for The Strip which is a few blocks of University Avenue just to the west of campus. Plenty of restaurants and bars to get your drink on.

Saturday morning, I'd recommend an early breakfast at The Waysider on Greensboro Avenue where you'll be surrounded by Alabama memorabilia and can eat a good ol' Southern breakfast to fuel you for the day.

You'll definitely want to hit The Bryant Museum, which can take a couple of hours to get through if you do it right.
[url]http://bryantmuseum.ua.edu/[/URL]

After that, walk yourselves over to The Quad, just a couple of blocks away from the museum. There you'll find some of the most amazing Crimson Tide tailgating around. You can also look at the hand/footprints of past team captains in the concrete that surrounds Denny Chimes. The President's mansion is directly across the street and makes for beautiful pictures. There's plenty of food and drink on The Quad, either by hanging with some tailgaters or buying from the stands.

Two to two-and-a-half hours before kickoff, you'll want to walk up the street to the front of Bryant-Denny Stadium for The Walk of Champions. Folks line up and the players arrive on buses to walk into the stadium. There are statues of our past coaches who have won national championships and plaques in the walkway commemorating our past conference championships. Another great opportunity for pictures.

Immediately afterwards, head back over to The Quad where the Million Dollar Band will begin to warm up the crowd in front of the Gorgas Library (you'll see them on the steps). They are usually there about 1 1/2 hours before kickoff. The cheerleaders and Big Al will be there leading cheers and then will march from there to the stadium (The Elephant Stomp). Follow them over, find your gate and come on in to church.:biggrin2:
 
I would try to arrive by lunchtime Friday at the latest. Have cousins from North Carolina that came to a game, and I warned them. They didn't beleive me. Early RV's and tailgaters begin setting up on Wednesday afternoon.

Things to do:

1. Must get barbecue from either origianl Dreamland or Archibalds. Endless debate on which is better will soon follow amongst the Tide faithful. I think Archibald's is better food, but Dreamland is better atmosphere, has more history. While on the subject of food, breakfast at the Waysider is always good too, but be prepared to wait forever on game weekends.

2. If bars and nightlife are on the menu:
a. get by the Houndstooth at some point. it is a classic, right on campus. Not my all time favorite, but a first timer should go just to say you've been.

b. For your pregame prior to a long night on the town, I always preferred eating at Buffalo Phils. Again, right on the strip on campus. Nothing special about the food, but the location is great, the scenery is excellent.

c. Other than these two spots, hit the downtown area. Its one block off of Univ. Blvd, about 3/4 mile off campus.

3. Football related must-see's"

a. Denny Chimes, right in the middle of the quad. You won't be able to miss it, but get close and look at the team captains cleat marks and handprints in the surrounding sidewalk;

b. Bryant Museum
 
I live in Tuscaloosa, and I can tell you that you will likely get better barbecue at a tailgate than you will at either Dreamland or Archibald's. Not saying those two aren't good, but neither is what it used to be.

City Cafe is good too, but I'm not sure your systems could handle the grease. I have a friend from Maine who has to undergo colon care every time he comes down here.

I would just plan on being on the Quad and around campus that Saturday for as long as possible to soak up the atmosphere of a great party with about 120,000 or so crazy football fans. PM me and I'll be glad to tell you how to get to our tailgate so you can party with us.
 
Im a Bama fan transplanted to Portland as well. This is awesome Dave, good luck to you yall for sure.

I've wanted to go see a Beaver and Duck game myself, live really close considering, and still havent done it. Yall make me slap myself for not doing it yet. The problem is ESPN gameplan these days is so easy to get, so the Bama games are on at the house. Hopefully one day I'll make it to a Beav and Duck game.

Yall will love Ttown and thanks for choosing Bama, the only thing is Im afraid your trips will stop there , because next year yall will want to go back instead of going to WV, Mich or something...

RTR
 
Wow - Savannah, you should sticky that post for all visitors... perfect guidance for any visiting fan.

On the RV thing, I would advise against it unless you can find a way to rent one on-campus (even though I have no clue how that would be arranged). The spaces for a game that big will be booked WELL in advance and there will be a line of RV's waiting to park at the first available moment.

I think there are some off-campus RV lots (University Mall has one I think) but they're not walking distance or anything like that.

One thing you MAY want to consider if you're interested in getting both sides of the story... there's an Amtrak train that runs from New Orleans to Tuscaloosa. The LSU crowd usually will fill up a train Friday morning and party all the way to Tuscaloosa. I'm by no means a fan of LSU fans but they DO know how to party.

Bring your appetite, crimson attire, your passion for college football and you're set. Leave your liver at home... it will only get hurt.
 
Hi!

I'm a reporter with the Tuscaloosa News in Tuscaloosa and was fascinated by your post! I would love to find out more about your plans to do a possible story. Would you be open to talking with me about your expectations and why you decided to make this journey? You can reach me back at ashley.boyd@tuscaloosanews.com and or at (205) 345-0505, dial 9, ext. 523.

Thanks!

Ashley Boyd
 
Thanks everyone for some good advice!!

We will definitely put that rib place (Dreamland) at the top of our list!

Also, those who have been so generous as to invite us to your personal tailgate party... can't thank you enough!!! That is EXACTLY why we take this trip... to meet other great college football fans!!

I do have a follow-up question for you.

Does anyone know if there are any "private parties" that rent space close to the stadium for game weekends? I know at Oregon State games, there are all sorts of private residences renting parking (on the lawn..in the driveway..etc). Is there any of this near the stadium for RV parking??

Thanks!

Dave
 
I brought a portland visitor (Stanford Grad) to the Tennessee game two years ago, he made it halfway across the the Quad before he bought a Bama shirt and immediately put it on. We will be at the tennessee game this year again, at his insistance on making this a bi-annual trip. His entire family are oregon State grads, with the exception of him.
I suggest you bring your golf clubs and play the Robert Trent Jones Trail. Are you a member of a Portland area golf club? We could be on to something here,
A little golf tournament would be a lot of fun.
 
dlgobeavs said:
I do have a follow-up question for you.

Does anyone know if there are any "private parties" that rent space close to the stadium for game weekends? I know at Oregon State games, there are all sorts of private residences renting parking (on the lawn..in the driveway..etc). Is there any of this near the stadium for RV parking??

Thanks!

Dave
Click to expand...
There are some small homes close to campus that charge for parking ($10-15 usually). I've personally never seen anything like that for RV parking. Like many college towns, the private residences around campus are generally small and crowded, like the streets. If your heart is set on bringing an RV, you will probably be better off parking at one of the off-campus RV lots (like the one at the mall) and taking the shuttle onto campus. I know that's not the answer you're looking for, but the RVers at Bama are professionals at it, having honed their craft for years. They already have their spots rented and even the folks who are more casual about it already have their areas "claimed" in that they'll be there as early as campus police will allow them.

Perhaps you'll get one of the more seasoned RVers to give you some advice. Let's give it a few days and see who pops in to respond.

Also, if I may be so bold, you and your buddies may want to read a book called "Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer - A Road Trip Into The Heart of Fan Mania" by Warren St. John. Warren has some nice insights into the whole Alabama experience that you may find interesting in preparation for your journey.
 
Congratulations on a great pick for experiencing SEC football at its most intense. Also, greetings from a fellow beav fan. I attended OSU for grad school although the football program was one of the worst in the country back then. My son and I have attended several OSU games over the last few years thanks to Corvallis friends with season tickets.

To get a sense of what you and your friends are going to experience in T-town, think of the most intense college football game you attended and multiply the energy by a factor of 10. Once you've experienced a Bama home game with a huge SEC rival like LSU, Pac 10 games will seem quaint by comparison - even the Civil War. If you only do half of the recommended activities, it will still be a weekend you'll never forget.

Once you get back home and your brain and liver have recovered, post a summary of your experience. It will make for a great read.
 
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