We've got another excellent post from an Alabama native, though this one comes from the other side of the tracks. He is full of must-have information if you plan on attending the Penn State at Alabama game in September. He knows Bama country like the back of his hand. Enjoy!
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Please remember that my perspective of the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa (U.A.T.) 'home game experience' is molded, shaped, and forged in the fires of my native Alabama upbringing and my degree from Auburn University. Because of the latter, I am naturally going to stab at the Tyde more than necessary as it is my calling and civic duty as an Auburn Tiger. However, for the sake of the wayward, ‘lost like Alice’ Penn State fan I shall guide and advise as best I can.
1) Priority #1: Decide between Tuscaloosa or Birmingham as Your Base Camp.
My choice: Birmingham. While both cities are almost equal with respect to the fun factor = ‘Raise hell and act like an idiot’, Birmingham is a much better choice to base yourself for the weekend. In Birmingham there are more and MUCH BETTER hotels. Also, there is more to do IF you need something other than watching football from Thursday night arrival to Sunday departure. There is golf (Robert Trent Jones Trail), shopping (The Galaria, The Summit), bars and general execution of the same fun factors that exist in Tuscaloosa.
Why not Tuscaloosa.?
There is no way the city of Tuscaloosa can accommodate twenty thousand hotel guests. Most of the hotels are less than average at best. In fact, most truckers gladly sleep in their cabin when faced with the option. Unless you are at the Capstone on campus or have an RV/camper, your room will be disappointing at best in T'town.
Also, the U.A.T. campus itself is surrounded by a town, a river, and another town. Do not stay overnight with the expectation of enjoying the typical easy going, collegiate atmosphere. In fact, the campus is extremely segregated from the town so it is a trip to Tuscaloosa and not at U.A.T.! YUCK.!!
2. So I'm in Birmingham, what's next..?
B'ham for the most part is best described as 'OK'. The Galaria is an 'OK' area. It can be boring but it is clean, has huge mall, and closer to T’town than most of B’ham. The Summit is upscale outdoor mall and has chains like Cheese Cake Factory and etc. There is a cool locally owned place called Village Tavern at Summit which is pretty darn nice, has good food, and nice bar.
About a mile south of The Summit on US-280 are several hotels, local bars, eats, and etc… The Superior Grill is a TexMex style place in this area which is pretty crazy at times and has good live music. A good BBQ joint called Jim n Nicks and several fun/cheap bars here too. It is wise to just ask someone in one of these joints to determine where to go next and y'er all set.
If you want to get your ‘buck-wild and crazy on’, Birmingham’s Southside will get’er done.! Some very quality eat and drink here. MUST appoint a D.D. or get a cab. MUST be VERY careful in Southside. It is rough and you WILL get robbed if you are a stupid, loud, drunken-Yankee. The B’ham Police Dept does not mind cracking your head open if you deserve it so, mind your business. Know where you are going.! Do not get in a cab in Southside and say ‘take me somewhere fun buddy.!’ You do that and may as well empty your pockets and check into the hospital.
I recommend heading out early to Dave’s Pub, The Barking Kudu (live music), Lou’s Pub (awesome drinks), the Oasis (live music), or The J.Clyde on Cobb Lane as a starting point. Anywhere on 7th Ave South to 11th Ave is usually a good time. Get to one of these places and ask someone inside where to go next and yer all set.
3. Gameday.
Oh boy.! The T’town / B’ham combo on game day is very unique. Be prepared and it is easy to have fun. If you are not prepared, it can really stink up the good times.! Since the game is at 6PM local time, there is plenty of time to get to T’town from B’ham and take it ALL in. You can do T’town in less than 4hrs. ALL OF IT.! So you do not really need to be in T’town overnight. I just saved you a lot of money and a full blown case of bedbugs or crabs. You are welcome..;)
In T’town there is The Strip (of bars DUH..!) very close to campus, the Paul Bryant Museum, and the ‘flea market’. The Strip is fun but will be jammed so get there early if you want to go this route. If you want to torture yourself before the game go the museum. There you will see all sorts of people from honeymooners to people boasting about being the name sake of the Bear himself. Quality people watching if you can handle it.
If you really want to get crazy and visit other places like Dreamland BBQ and Bob Baumhower’s Wings. Most likely you will not be able to find Dreamland or get in the door
at Bob’s on GameDay in T’town.
Lastly, T’town is covered on Gameday by a phenomena commonly referred to by the Auburn Tigers as: ‘The T’town Flea Market’. Hundreds of vendors selling everything.! Everything includes $5 tee shirts, jars of dirt the Bear once spit tobacco juice on, Ferris wheel and pony rides, cotton candy, and fresh meat skins. Go ahead and enjoy the high livin’ and bring a camera. This is one of the truest classics in the South.
Here is my bottom line recommendation on Gameday. You MUST leave B’ham by 9AM local time or you will be arriving after Noon and be parking miles from campus. There is one way to get to T’town from B’ham, I-20. Take US82 or I-359 off I-20 into T’town then retrace your steps back to B’ham after the big win.
The best places to park are in the yards and streets just south of campus and the stadium. Most of this is student rented houses and they are more than willing to let you park for $20. This is prime and a good tailgate spot for Saturday. As I said before it can take up to 3HRs to drive this 60/70 miles depending where you park, when you leave, wreckage, pee-breaks, etc… Plan to party on the ride home and be happy you don’t have to return to this disgusting town every other year.
Necessary Gear for a 6PM kick if departing/returning B’ham:
- Pre-game beverages. Adult and/or otherwise.
- Pre-game grub. Not 100% needed if arrive early enough to eat at a local place. There is the flea market food which surprisingly is pretty darn good.
- Post-game beverages. Adult and/or otherwise. You will be the “King of the Aftermath” when you whip out the spare case of ice cold Miller Lite.!
- Post-game grub. Extra snacks are fine but, by the time you return to B’ham you’ll be starving. Throw some extra subs or whatever in the cooler for post game eats.
- Cash.
- Mace and/or pepper spray. Bammers are really smelly and enjoy a good mace bath.
- A camera. You will be very disappointed if not packing a camera.
- LAST AND MOST IMPORTANT.! Whenever someone yells ‘Row Tyde’ at you (it will happen 501,142 times), calmly respond: “It’s Rollin’ Baby.! It’s Rollin’.!”. That usually shuts that crap down really quick.
It is going to be fun and I'm going to paint that giant bronze statue of Nick Saban Orange and Blue at some point. I'll spray a can of white for the PSU gang as well..
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Tuscaloosa is 50 miles from Birmingham. It takes 45 minutes to get there with no traffic. Although on gameday it will take much longer obviously. This dumbass Auburn fan doesn’t even know how to spell “Galleria”.
It’s very ceepy the way that Auburn fans constantly stalk Alabama.
amazing how intrigued they are with bama. i was in the “soup” store the other day and some dumbass auburn fan was in there in his auburn gear. i was like what would somebody that stupid want out of an alabama supply store. cant imagine me going to an auburn supply store decked in bama apparel. id feel stupid and would never do it. what is in a auburn supply store that id possibly want. if it was there to buy for an auburn friend, i dont have have auburn friends. none! and thats for a reason!
Buy your liquour and beer on Saturday if you are in Tuscaloosa. You cannot buy it on Sunday.
As an Alabama graduate, I am sure that the Penn State graduates will understand our TRADITIONS. Sure we have some red-neck fans, a lot of them. I mean after all we ARE in the state of Alabama. But, the graduates of The University of Alabama are top class as are Penn State graduates.
This is the most ridiculous advice I have ever heard! Leave it to an Auburn fan to screw up a great Alabama football weekend for both teams. Stay in Tuscaloosa. It’s not luxurious, but you aren’t coming here for the nice hotel. You want the atmosphere. It doesn’t get any better than Tuscaloosa on game day weekend. Don’t miss out. In fact, when I can’t get a hotel as nice as the Super 8, I stay at the Ole English Inn on University Blvd. They don’t take reservations, but you can always get a room. Bring a sleeping bag and think of it as camping. It’s worth the effort to be in the center of the action.
All I can say in response to the solicitor of this advice – Bless your heart! As an Auburn fan, you know its tacky to refer to The University as UAT – as I would never refer to your beloved alma mater with the less than savory names all Alabama natives and arch-rivals can use in reference to Auburn University. You are unfamiliar with all the wonderful traditions Alabama students, alumni, and unique fans celebrate on an average gameday weekend. While there are limited rooms available in Tuscaloosa and Northport, its about the experience and spirit of the game. Tuscaloosa has much to offer from the Strip to Downtown – a couple minutes walk from the Stadium. I hope all Penn State fans have a safe and enjoyable weekend in Tuscaloosa as two worthy opponents meet in Bryant-Denny! Roll Tide!
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