According to the September 16, 2004 edition of Sports Illustrated On Campus, the University of Tennessee (UT) ranked as the #1 Best College Football Weekend.
If you hate the color orange, you probably will want to steer clear of Neyland Stadium, the home of University of Tennessee football, on Saturday afternoons. There is a very humorous story as to why Tennessee chose the color orange. It's so our fans can wear the same clothes for hunting on Sunday and picking up trash along the highway during the week.
Neyland Stadium is the second largest stadium in the nation (behind the University of Michigan's "Big House"), with 104,079 total seats. During a winning season, no matter what the weather, it will usually be filled to capacity with a very passionate group. That is why, in the spring of 2001, a Sporting News poll ranked Neyland Stadium the national's #1 college football venue.
On those rare occasions when the team remains undefeated, you will find people willing to pay just about any amount for a game ticket. And Knoxville police tend to turn a blind eye to scalping laws on Saturdays in the fall. That being said, you should try to secure tickets well in advance of the following home games, specifically the October 8th game against the University of Georgia.
University of Tennessee Football - 2005 Home Games
Saturday, September 3 - Alabama-Birmingham
Saturday, October 1 - Mississippi
Saturday, October 8 - Georgia
Saturday, October 29 - South Carolina
Saturday, November 12 - Memphis
Saturday, November 19 - Vanderbilt
UT is part of the Southeastern Conference, which is arguably the greatest collection of teams within NCAA Divsion I-A Football. College football in the South is equal in importance to religion (if not more so for some hardcore citizens). Divisional games usually provide a fierce rivalry and some storied traditions. It is an experience not to be missed by anyone interested in sports. Get to the UT campus early for the fantastic tailgating (parking is notoriously difficult) and make your way to Knoxville's famous strip to celebrate a win following the game's conclusion.
For additional information about University of Tennessee Athletics, check out the official site.