So, here’s our story. I’ve bled orange my whole life. Tennessee orange. Born and raised near Memphis, surrounded by a whole lotta blue. And while I’ve got love for my hometown in some ways, let me just say—being a die-hard Vols fan this far west in Tennessee has not exactly been easy. If you’ve ever worn orange in the Liberty Bowl, you know the stares. The eye rolls. The sideways comments. We’ve endured it all. I’ve been rocking my Vols gear through thick and thin, in a sea of Tiger blue, for as long as I can remember.
Now here’s the kicker—I’ve never been to Neyland. Not once. Not for lack of wanting, trust me. I’ve dreamed about standing in the sea of orange, hearing “Rocky Top” echoing from the stadium, watching the Vol Walk, and being part of that energy that only Big Orange Country can bring. I’ve followed the games, screamed at the TV, celebrated the wins, cursed the refs, and kept my hope alive during the hard years. But life, distance, and finances have always gotten in the way of making the pilgrimage over to Knoxville. Until now.
This year, my fiancé and I have decided we’re done just sitting at home and watching the party from 500 miles away. We want to be there. We may not be able to swing tickets to the actual games—trust me, we checked—but we’re planning to make the trip over to Knoxville on game days to just soak it all in, tailgate with fellow fans, and finally experience that game day magic firsthand. We’ve got a reliable ride, a cooler, some folding chairs, a trunk full of Vols gear, and the biggest orange hearts you’ll ever find. What we don’t have? A place to land. That’s where this post comes in.
We are looking—hoping, praying, throwing it out into the universe—for a fun, welcoming tailgate group that wouldn’t mind letting two strangers-turned-soon-to-be-friends join their setup. We don’t know our way around Knoxville all that well, and especially not when it comes to the ins and outs of Neyland tailgating. We’re learning everything we can online, reading forums, watching videos, but what we really want is that local touch. That sense of community. That feeling of being part of the Tennessee family, not just fans watching from the sidelines.
Back home in Memphis, my family is serious about tailgating. We do it big for Tiger games, even if our hearts are wearing the wrong color. We always bring way more food than we need, keep the coolers stocked, play music, talk smack, and most importantly, we make sure anyone walking by who looks like they need a place to sit down or a plate to eat gets one. That’s just how we were raised—to open our space, share our food, and make everybody feel welcome. We’ve met people from all over just by doing that, and some have turned into lifelong friends. We’re hoping to find a group in Knoxville that shares that same kind of spirit.
If you or someone you know has a regular tailgate crew and wouldn’t mind two extra people tagging along this season, please, please reach out. We’re not looking to take advantage or be dead weight—we want to contribute! We’ll bring food, drinks, ice, supplies, music, and most importantly, good vibes. We’re both friendly, down-to-earth people who know how to pitch in, clean up, and keep the party fun and respectful. We’re just hoping to find a group that remembers what it’s like to show up for the first time and not know where to go or what to do.
We’re not picky. We don’t care if the tailgate’s in a fancy spot or out on the grass. Doesn’t matter to us if it’s a huge crowd or a few folks hanging out under a tent. We’re just looking for that orange-blooded energy. That pre-game excitement. The camaraderie of high-fiving strangers and yelling “Go Vols” to everyone walking past. We want to be part of that roar. We want to be there when the Vol Walk happens. We want to cheer with you, eat with you, talk football with you, and experience Neyland—if only from the outside of the stadium.
Honestly, we’ve waited our whole lives for this chance. We’re finally in a place where we can take off work, make the drive, and carve out time for the thing that’s meant so much to us since we were kids. It’s a big step for us—emotionally and financially—but we believe it’s worth it. This is more than just a football thing for us. It’s about connection, about being part of something bigger, and about finding our people.
We know Knoxville is full of incredible fans. We’ve seen the videos, heard the stories, watched the traditions unfold on TV and social media for years. Now we want to see it for ourselves. We want to be part of the buzz that fills the streets on a Saturday morning. We want to hear the chants, smell the grills, and feel the energy in the air. We want to make memories we’ll never forget. We want to look back years from now and say, “That was the season we finally made it to Knoxville. That’s when it all started.”
We know there are others out there like us—people who couldn’t afford season tickets, who came from far away, who didn’t grow up near Neyland but still carry the same fire in their chest every fall. Maybe you remember what it was like to show up for the first time, unsure of where to go, hoping to be welcomed in. If you’ve got room for two more, we’d be honored to join you.
If you’ve got a spot and a little extra space, or if you know someone who does, we’d love to connect. We can bring snacks, drinks, and a killer playlist. We’ll help set up, help tear down, and be grateful for every second. We’re just hoping for the chance to be part of the family in the way we’ve always dreamed of.
If you made it this far—thank you. Truly. Whether or not anything comes of this post, just writing it out has made us feel like we’re finally doing something to get there. We appreciate every person who reads, shares, or passes this along to someone they think might have a good tailgating crew. This season feels like the right time. We’re ready.
So here’s to new beginnings, to long drives, to loud chants, to orange everything, and to finally making it to game day on Rocky Top. We’re tired of being two lovers of orange stuck in a sea of blue.
Let us come home.
Vol Nation, we’re ready. Let’s make this happen.
#GBO 🍊🧡
