Kentucky Ink

Good, Bad, and Ugly Edition

By:  Matthew Mattingly (Tailgating Czar)

After the loss this past weekend, many Kentucky fans are reflecting on the close calls and near misses of the 2009 season and looking at the potential future of the 2010 season (Ryan Mossakowski, anyone?).  Thus, with others discussing the specifics of the football program, I will continue with my niche and discuss the 2009 tailgating season that occurred outside of Commonwealth Stadium.  Just like the football team, the tailgating season was filled with many ups and downs in 2009 and I have broken each out below.

Good:  Enthusiasm and Creativity

Rich Brooks has brought more than a winning attitude to the Commonwealth.  His recent success on the field has increased the enthusiasm of the fan base, and as a result has more people tailgating than ever before.   For example, I recall tailgating for the 2004 season and being able to park anywhere I wanted on Cooper Drive; simply a few hours before the game.  Now the streets are filled with fans several hours before kick-off, and sometimes I even have to camp out to guarantee myself a spot on Cooper.

The increased interest has also brought competition amongst the tailgating groups.  Every week you see tailgating groups trying to “one up” their fellow fans by having the best tailgating set up, and their creativity should be applauded.  Just on Cooper Drive alone I have seen a pig roast, a DJ, and even an actual rock band.   Now that is tailgating!

Even the Tailgating Czar decided to step-up his game in 2009 and added Drinko.  This creation could possibly revolutionize tailgating drinking games as we know it.  Beer pong and card games are good and all, but who didn’t grow up watching Bob Barker on The Price is Right and a drinking game paying homage to everyone’s favorite game-show contest is a sure-fire winner  (Don’t forget to spay and neuter your pets).  With no skills required (allowing all to play and succeed…. aka get hammered), a nearly unlimited supply of different games (the slots at the bottom are interchangeable), and the cool plinko sounds, this game is a sure fire crowd pleaser.  Seriously, it’s worth visiting a UK tailgate in 2010 just to see this one in action.      


                                              
                                                                Drinko!!!

Bad: Tailgating Conditions

While many tailgaters brought their “A” game, the tailgating conditions didn’t make it easy on them.   Whether it was the noon kickoffs, the threat of rain every Saturday, or the ridiculously cold weather for the bowl game, it was not easy to tailgate for the 2009 season.   Hopefully the football team will be even better in 2010 so we may have fewer noon kickoffs and our fan base will be tailgating in sunny Florida instead of Tennessee (it smells really bad there thanks to Vol Nation).    


                                               
                                          Even bourbon couldn't keep us warm


Ugly: Tailgating Penalties

While 2009 saw an improvement on the tailgating front, there were still some mistakes worth mentioning.   While some of these fans need to be banished from the UK tailgating scene, I felt it necessary to describe their tailgating penalties as a warning to hopefully prevent these actions in the future.

- Fans using gasoline as a lighter fluid for their charcoal grill.  I am not sure how safe that is, but I was not too concerned since they were UL fans.

-  People thinking a Honda Civic can go through hilly wet grass like it’s a full size truck.   I have had to help several people get out of ditches on Cooper Drive, hopefully that will not continue in 2010.

- Let’s be for real, I saw a guy ride up to a tailgate on a women’s bike.  The bike featured an aqua blue finish, a basket on the front to hold his food and drinks, and it even sported streamers.  I wanted to say that the bike was a joke, but from looking at the guy who rode in on it, I don’t think it was.

-  Still saw too many tailgates that didn’t have enough tailgating assets.   Quad Chairs, tailgating games, shade tents, portable grill, football, etc. are all considered tailgating assets.  While fans are not required to have all the tailgating assets, I think every tailgate should at least have two from the list.  Having zero of them is unacceptable.

  - The worst penalty seen this year was by tailgaters not bringing enough beer.   You’ve probably seen it happen a half a dozen times.  A stranger visits your tailgate, makes awkward conversation, and then tries to bum a few beers off you and leaves.   This penalty should be enforced with instant ejection from the tailgating grounds. 

Hopefully, the tailgating enthusiasm will continue to increase in 2010.  The football program and tailgating scene have come a long way in the last five years.  Now it’s time to take it to the next level.   Our goal for the future should be to have a football program that can keep with the likes of Alabama, and a tailgating scene that can compete with Ole Miss.  

You might as well dream big!     

By:  Matthew Mattingly (Tailgating Czar)

In a blog entry that I wrote a few weeks ago I mentioned it was time for UK fans to step up their tailgates.  It was time for our fan base to create an atmosphere that would rival fellow SEC programs, and could potentially help UK football in the long run (ex: recruiting).   Well if you are looking for a reason to maybe spend a little extra money on your tailgate and add something new, this weekend should provide all the motivation you need.   The main reason is because your Kentucky Wildcats will be playing the hated Volunqueers from crappy Tennessee for second place in the SEC East.  No, that’s not a misprint, you are reading it correctly, UK Football is playing for second place in the SEC East.  Additionally, the winner of this weekend’s game will more than likely play in the Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day.   Thus, if the football team is stepping up their efforts on the field, it’s time for our fans to step it up off the field.

So what is the Tailgating Czar doing to step up his tailgate?  My current tailgate already features the staples such as shade tent, cornhole boards, tailgate golf, grill, too many quad chairs, etc.   Thus, I need to add something that no one else has at their parking lot party.  Something that would grab everyone’s attention and make them envy over my new addition.   After doing some research over the internet, careful designing/implementing from an engineer (Matt Watts), and hard labor from my friends Joshua Martin, Matt Watts, Kurt Miles; a new tailgating game was born.  Thus, this weekend the Tailgating Czar will be unveiling Drinko (duplicate of your favorite Price is Right game; Plinko).   

You may be asking yourself, what exactly is Drinko?  Well first take the great game Plinko, but instead of winning money, one gets the chance to either drink more or make their friends drink more alcohol.  In fact, you could make the options at the bottom of the board anything you want them, such as you have to take a shot, girls have to take an article of clothing off, anything you want.  It just depends on what you want at your tailgating party.  Nevertheless, UK Plinko is sure to be a hit this Saturday, and once again the Czar takes tailgating to a new level. 

Try not to be jealous fellow tailgaters.   You can have fun with your five sets of cornhole boards, but if you want to step it up, don't be afraid to add Drinko to your tailgate next year.  Either way, make sure to bring your "A" game this Saturday.   

Please, don't hate me because you ain't me!   


                                   


               [video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKuBtmEWH6o






         

By:  Matthew Mattingly (Tailgating Czar)


This past weekend I made the quick drive to Cashville to watch my Cats pull out their sixth win and become bowl eligible for the fourth straight year.   While the game was not the most exciting thing in the world, it was a much-needed win.   What made the trip great was that the entire road trip was eventful and something I will never forget.  Much thanks to my three friends Chad (Cee-Lo) Green, his girl Lauren Newsome, and Greg (G-Money) Miles for joining in on the festivities.   Thus, below you will find a quick recap of the weekend, and hopefully you can live through another road trip with me.


Friday, November 13, 2009

4:12 PM – Just now Leaving Louisville, KY for Nashville, TN.  The goal was to leave by 3:30 PM so we could get down there early enough to watch the basketball game, but as usual my group does not leave on time.

4:42 PM – What’s that smell?  Oh, I should have known.  I went past Shepherdsville.

5:30 PM – Put in a comedy CD (Dane Cook’s Isolated Incident) to help pass the time for the remainder of the trip.  Fun Fact:  My group is 5-0 when listening to a comedy CD on a road trip.  I blame myself for the Tennessee loss last year when we didn’t play one.
 
5:52 PM – Just drove past Bowling Green and I am starting to realize that we might miss some of the basketball.  No matter how funny Dane Cook is, I am not very happy at the present moment.

6:20 PM – Imagine this, stand still traffic in Nashville.   Looks like I am going to miss the first half of the game.  Explicit words ensue.

7:15 PM – Finally get checked into the hotel (Embassy Suites), and the game just went to halftime (UK 33 –Morehead 25).  Since its halftime, we decide to take advantage of the free happy hour that Embassy offers.   My boy Greg takes the most advantage of it, drinking 3 bourbon and cokes in 10 minutes, but he is so hyped to be in Cashville that it has little effect on him.

7:30 PM – Head across the street to a bar called the Corner Pub Midtown which houses several televisions and plenty of beers.  I’m happy.

7:55 PM – Eric Bledsoe is amazing!!!  What is he going to do next, a cartwheel and dunk it?   Well maybe……..

8:35 PM – Cats finally pull away from Morehead, 75-59.  The game was not pretty, but you could definitely see the potential.

8:40 PM – Chad (Cee-Lo) and Lauren break up from the group and head down to Vandy’s campus for the Jay Z concert.  I want to add that Cee-Lo  is probably one of the 5 “whitest dudes” in the country; however, he loves every form of music so there was no way he was going to miss the Jigga Man live.

8:50 PM – Get a text from Cee-Lo saying that he got a great deal on floor tickets for $75 apiece.  Not sure paying $75 a ticket for a concert could ever be considered a good deal, but I guess when the ticket value is $95 then it’s not bad.
 
10:00 PM – Greg and I finish up some more beers at the pub and then decide to put our game face on.  We needed to step up our bar scene a notch or two.  Nothing too crazy, but something that will keep us entertained for the rest of the night.  Thus we decide on the always clutch Tin Roof.

11:12 PM – Hotel shuttle drops us off at the Tin Roof.  The place is not as crowded as usual, but the night is still young.  I have to remind myself it’s only 10:12 Cashville time.

11:15 PM – I tell G-Money to get me a beer as I scout the scenery.  He comes back with a 24 oz can of Natural Light.   This baffled me in three ways:  1) I didn’t know you could purchase Natural Light at a bar. 2) I didn’t know you could purchase a can of beer in a bar.  3) I CERTAINLY didn’t know you could purchase a 24 oz can of Natural Light in a bar.  Yet, here I was holding a 24 oz can of the cheap college classic at one of my favorite bars in Nashville.  Go figure.

11:16 PM – The coolness of the 24 oz beer is starting to wear off as I remember just how bad Natty Light really is.

11:45 PM – Did I say the place was not very crowded?  I guess everyone read my blog last week and heard I was going to make a visit to the Tin Roof.  The place went from being open, to “I can barely move” in 30 minutes.   Yea, it’s all because I’m here.

12:12 AM – Receive a text from Cee-Lo saying that he just got out of the show and to have a couple of beers waiting for him when he shows up.  I am right on that one buddy.
 
1:00 AM - Cee-Lo and Lauren finally show up to the Tin Roof, and I get to hear how all about the Jay Z concert.  My boy has increased his Ebonics lingo ten-fold since we checked into the hotel.  It’s amazing what a little H-to-the-Izzo can do for the vocabulary and accent.
 
2:30 AM – It’s time to head back to the hotel, and I realize I have to get up a few hours.  Not good.

6:45 AM – My alarm wakes me up.  The only words that can I muster this early in the morning is “I’m still drunk”.  Definitely not good.
 
7:30 AM- The best part about staying at the Embassy Suites is the huge breakfast.  No, I am not talking a crappy Continental breakfast with cornflakes and bagels.  I am talking sausage links, bacon, omelets, whatever you want.  Yes the rooms are expensive, but the breakfast in itself is worth it.  And when you were up drinking until 2:30 the night before (yes, only five hours ago), nothing says hangover cure like a pile of sausage and an omelet.
  
 9:30 AM – A little slow moving, but we finally make it to the stadium to park.  However, we were not the only ones getting to the stadium to tailgate a little late.  The entire parking lot is like a ghost town.  So much so that Greg and I were running 40 yard fly routes across the parking lot.  Not the best idea with a hangover and a stomach full of grease.
 
 10:00 AM – The beer is going down, just not quite as fast or as smooth as last night.   The whole group is still struggling from the previous evening’s libations.  The curse of the Natty lives on.
 
10:30 AM – The tailgating scene is not very exciting so we walk around campus and also check out the Vandyville tailgating scene (which is not very impressive).

10:45 AM – We walk beside a fraternity that it has having a huge party in their front yard.  I look over at Chad and I seem him wipe away a tear as he reflects on his old Kappa Sigma days.   He latter says, “There are just living the dream, kids just trying to have a good time.”

                                                 

11:45 AM – Time to head back to the car to get one last drink before the game.  I am trying my best to get more excited, but I am still moving in slow-mo.

12:15 PM – I have not been in Vanderbilt Stadium in about 10 years, so I forgot how small it is.   I wonder how Vandy can compete in the SEC with facilities like this.  Oh wait, they don’t.

12:38 PM – Add a new name to the QB discussion… Derek Locke.  Probably the best thrown pass of the day and top-10 on the season.

1:00 PM – Finally found a group of people that is moving slower than me this afternoon, it’s our football team!!!

2:05 PM  - UK Football 101.  On 3rd and long Vandy scores a touchdown off a pass tipped off Trevard Lindley’s hands.   And the guy who caught it was almost lying down.  And he’s white.  Now we are down 14-13.

2:30 PM  - Vandy recognizes their All-American female bowler.   Yes, you read correctly, bowler, and a female bowler at that.  This was the only sports player that Vandy recognized all day.  *Side Note – I wonder if you could drink beer during NCAA bowling competitions.   I would say not, due to the fact that it might be considered a performance enhancing drug in bowling.  Speaking of competitions, is bowling really an athletic competition?

3:05 PM – Obviously Brooks yelled his head off at halftime, because this is a totally different team.  Especially across the lines.

3:20 PM – They should change the name from “Wildcat” Formation to “WildCobb.”  Not just for our team, but for the rest of the country.  Could you image hearing Al Michaels say, “Ronnie Brown takes the snap from the WildCobb formation.”  Obviously Ronnie Brown would not be as good as Randall, but you get the point.

3:45 PM - Game over, 24-13 Cats!  Defense shuts down the potent Vandy offense (obvious sarcasm) and our offense rides Cobb and Locke to the victory.

UK football in Nashville never gets old, and it seems we always come out a winner.   Hopefully we are going to a better destination than the Music City Bowl this holiday season, but if the football team goes again to Nashville, you can count me on another trip to Cashville.
  
                                                         

By:  Matthew Mattingly (Tailgating Czar)

It’s time for another road trip with the Tailgating Czar, this time to Nash Vegas.   While many of us have been to Nashville for the Music City Bowl, this may be your first trip to Vanderbilt.   Thus, below you will find all the needed information not only about Nashville, but also about the Commodores’ campus.   If after reading this plethora of knowledge you still have any further questions, please leave them in the comment section.  I will do my best to answer them.


Tickets:
Although the Vanderbilt football program has been more competitive in recent years and even won their first bowl game (Music City Bowl) in school history in 2008, it’s still easy to find cheap tickets at the intimate 39,000 seat stadium.   As a matter of fact, there is not an easier place in the SEC to obtain football tickets than at Vanderbilt Stadium.  The school’s lack of tradition on the gridiron (coupled with a student body more acclimated to play chess) has made it difficult to attract a strong following from the Vanderbilt alumni and fans.  And while Vandy may never be able to be consistently competitive in the SEC, this lack of a die-hard fan base does allow visiting fans to swarm Vanderbilt Stadium on Saturdays in the fall.  Visitors just have to walk around the stadium and tailgates to find other fans selling off their extra tickets.  The most you should pay for a ticket is $30, but you could possibly get them for cheaper if you wait it out.   

***Tip For Future Vandy Road Trips***
In the future, you may want to consider buying season tickets for Vandy football.   Season tickets may sound like a strange option for visiting fans, but it’s hard for anyone to pass up a six game season ticket package for only $109.  Yes, you read correctly, only ONE HUNDRED and NINE DOLLARS.  There are a couple of reasons to go ahead and purchase season tickets.  First, fans guarantee themselves great seats with the season ticket package.   Additionally, with several SEC home games you are almost assured to sell your extra tickets fast and at a profit.  With on-line ticket services such as Stub-Hub, Ticket City, and EBAY it’s now easier than ever to sell excess tickets.  In the end, visiting fans obtain great seats for the game of their choice, and potentially make money in the process.  Sounds like a win-win to me.    http://vucommodores.cstv.com/tickets/vand-tickets-football.html

Stadium
In the heart of Vanderbilt’s campus is Vanderbilt Stadium, home of the Commodores since 1981 (Replacing Dudley Field).   This quaint little pile of concrete is the smallest in the SEC, holding a mere 39,790 fans with bleacher seating.  Since the stadium was first built there have only been a few changes to the facility, such as the JumboTron (nothing really Jumbo about it though) added in 1998.  With its small size and lackluster character, the stadium ranks far behind the empires that have been built by other schools in the SEC.  However, help is on the way for the facility as Vanderbilt announced the renovation and expansion to the major athletic facilities on campus, including Vanderbilt Stadium.   The renovations will be completed in five phases, with the first two phases currently in process.   While seating expansion (Phase 4) will not be completed for a few more years, the first phases will include renovations to concourses and adding a brick façade and new paint to the exterior structure and entrance gates of the stadium.  

                                                   
                        http://vucommodores.cstv.com/facilities/vand-stadium.html

Parking
Parking is not easy at Vanderbilt due to its very urban location in Nashville.  There are parking lots close to the stadium for season tickets holders and alumni who have permits, and many of the green spaces are used for special tailgates by various Vanderbilt groups.  Due to the parking problems, traditional tailgating is hard at Vanderbilt, as many Vandy fans can testify.  Much of the parking is available in parking garages (which suck for tailgating) or at a couple of nearby public parks.  The public parks are Fannie Mae Dees Park and Centennial Park; however no alcoholic beverages are allowed in Nashville parks and it’s strictly enforced.    For more information on public parking, please visit:

ftp://ftp.nashville.gov/web/parks/parking_at_metro_parks.pdf

The hot spot for visiting fans seems to be the grounds of the Harris-Hillman School, across from the Vanderbilt campus. The area becomes RV city, and there's usually a lot of extravagant tailgating going on there.  Additionally, there is plenty of car parking available, but you better go early...really early.  Cars cost $10.   If you want to get further information the school’s phone number is 615-298-8085. If you want any information concerning on-campus parking garages, please visit:

http://vucommodores.cstv.com/tickets/vand-parking-info.html

Tailgating
Vanderbilt has a beautiful campus, but its urban location does not offer a lot of options for tailgaters (see parking guide).  Nevertheless, the prime real-estate for Vandy fans would have to be Vandyville.   Vandyville is located on the corner of Jess Neely Drive and Natchez Trace outside Vanderbilt Stadium.   The area is filled with reserved tents, inflatable games, food vendors (such as the Golden Rule Smokehouse Grill, the official sponsor of Vandyville), live entertainment, and a 16' x 10' big screen to watch other football games across the nation.   For Vandy fans to get a tent (which is provided by Vanderbilt) in Vandyville they have to fork over a $500 tent rental fee for the season.  While this may seem steep, with a small group of people this becomes well worth the cost due to the prime location.

Visiting fans should consider walking around Vandyville as well.  The atmosphere is fan friendly, and there is truly not a better tailgaiting spot on campus.  Additionally, Vanderbilt’s campus is wet, making tailgating at Vandyville the ideal option.  Granted, I don’t know which SEC school does not turn into a wet campus on every home football game Saturday, but at least you don’t have to hide it as much at Vanderbilt.  However, if you are a visitor and want to avoid the Vandy crowd, then the grounds of the Harris-Hillman School, across Blakemore from the Vanderbilt campus, is the best option (see Parking Section for location).  

Dining:
There are hundreds of choices to eat at in a city like Nashville.  The city offers a variety of dining options, with prices ranging to meet everyone's budget, from every fast food restaurant under the sun to fine dining for the tablecloth tailgater.  However, below are some options that I believe every SEC fan will enjoy.


Rotier's Restaurant
2413 Elliston Pl, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 327-9892 http://rotiers.com/

Pancake Pantry 1796 21st Ave S
Nashville, TN 37212
(615) 383-9333
http://www.thepancakepantry.com/
Note:  Be prepared to wait here.  Lines are backed up well out the door on weekends. 

Houston’s Restaurant
3000 W End Ave
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 269-3481

Nightlife
With Nashville being the largest SEC city, it offers the most choices for nightlife entertainment.  There are numerous places to check out, such as the downtown favorites of Wildhorse Saloon, Tootsies, Second Fiddle, the Stage, and so on.   I mean who doesn’t like women in cowboy hats?  However, one of my favorite bars in Nashville is located near Vandy’s campus, the Tin Roof (which is also located in Lexington, KY)….

The Tin Roof is the classic college bar, not offering anything fancy, just a great atmosphere, great music, and great scenery.  Every Friday and Saturday night the Nashville natives pack the narrow bar to relax and enjoy some good music.  In fact, the place is so popular it becomes a giant fire hazard during the busy hours of 11:00 – 2:00.  But if you are not claustrophobic and don’t mind pushing your way through a crowd in order to get a drink or use the bathroom, then this is the place for you.   
Besides the great atmosphere, the bar also provides great parking.  You wouldn’t think that parking is a big deal, but almost every bar that you go to, not matter what campus, has horrible parking.  However, Tin Roof actually provides ample parking right across the street from the bar.  This has two great benefits:

1) You don’t have to worry about parking in an illegal parking spot in a neighborhood that is a 15 minute walk to the actual bar.

2) The parking lot doubles up as an extra bathroom (at least for guys, and some girls) when the bar gets a little too packed for its ridiculously small and outdated bathroom.  

Finally, it’s impossible to talk about Tin Roof without talking about the cover band “Henry and the Seahawks.”  This talented band fills the bar with rock n roll classics from old and new.  Be prepared to hear anything from Alabama, Skynard, Tom Petty, Bon Jovi, and Mellencamp to newer cuts from John Mayer, David Gray, and Keith Urban.  These guys play it all. 

Hotels:
Unlike most SEC schools that are located in small towns, you can actually find a hotel near Vandy’s campus.    The best hotel for gameday is the Holiday Inn Vanderbilt, located next to Vanderbilt Stadium.  How close?  One could crawl to the stadium in less than five minutes from the hotel’s parking lot.  The actual rooms themselves are nothing extravagant, but are clean and comfortable.   Nevertheless, the biggest advantage of the hotel is the location.  Anytime you can spend an entire day tailgating and watching football, and you can walk back to your bed, that is a major plus.  However, look to spend a lot of money for a room (like $250), but if you can afford it you should take advantage of it.    

Summary: There you have it folks, the (un)official UK tailgating guide for the Vanderbilt University.  Here’s to hoping that we actually show up to play this weekend and that we will be bowl eligible before we have to play Georgia and Tennessee.

By:  Matthew Mattingly (Tailgating Czar)

*Warning:  While the Superfecta is a great time, it’s not for everyone.  The Superfecta should not be considered by people with heart conditions or suffering from liver or kidney disorders.   If you are currently taking any medications, please consult with your doctor before attempting the Superfecta.

When many people hear the term superfecta they automatically assume horse racing and gambling.   Of course that is where the term is used the most.  In gambling terms, superfecta is defined as a type of wager in which the bettor, in order to win, must pick the first four finishers of a race in the correct sequence.  Picking a superfecta is difficult at the horse track; however, the superfecta I performed this past weekend is even more difficult to accomplish.   In fact, only a small percentage of my friends are able to accomplish the feat every year.  Pay close attention to the warning above.  It certainly applies when tackling this version of the superfecta.
     
So what exactly is the superfecta?   Well, the term superfecta also means (at least by my friends) “a chance to relive your college years by trying to attend four of the best events/places in Lexington all in one day”.  This four-pack includes tailgating/watching the ponies at Keeneland, more tailgating and attending the UK football game, more libations in the Lexington bar scene (Two Keys, Cheapside, any place will do), and finishing up at Tolly Ho to soak up all the alcohol consumed throughout the day.   If you are from the area, none of those places need further explanation and if they do, then obviously you are not a true Kentucky Wildcat (or even a Lexingtonian).   However, I will state that you only have a couple of weekends a year (last weekend and this weekend for 2009) to accomplish the superfecta feat, as the timing of the football games and the Keeneland race schedule have to align.  But as we all learned in our economics class, scarcity only drives up the value of a good, and in this case makes the superfecta that much more special.
 
The key to the day is consistency:  don’t get too out of control at any one place (especially early).  If you exert too much energy at one location, drink too much, or even take a long break between each event, then you will never make it through the day.   Remember this is a marathon, not a sprint, so be steady and let the day/night take care of itself.  Below is a recommended schedule for how the superfecta should be accomplished this upcoming weekend (and bits about how mine went down this past weekend).  


10-12:30 PM - Tailgate at Keeneland.  The weather was horrible this past weekend, so we just drank at my friends' Bret and Cadell place, but typically I would be playing cornhole and drinking a nice Kentucky bourbon in the Keeneland parking lot.

1-3:30 PM   - Enter Keeneland and try to actually come out a winner for once.  Occasionally, I will get lucky and win a race, but in all honesty everyone comes out a winner at Keeneland (especially the gentlemen).  The scenery is unmatched.    As Matthew McConaughey once said, “I keep getting older, but they keep staying the same age.”  So true Mr. McConaughey, so true. 

4:00 PM – Be on the road and grab something to eat before tailgating.    Yes, Keeneland stays open much later, but you can’t chance being stuck in traffic and not get any time to tailgate before the game.  Also, you likely (read: should have) had a few bourbons and beers at the track, so it’s a good idea to get some food in your system at this juncture.  Typically I grab some fast food to make sure I have plenty of time to tailgate before the game.  This week I ate at Raising Cane’s for the first time, and I was pretty impressed with the chicken tenders.
 
5-6:55 PM – Be parked at Commonwealth and start tailgating.  The only problem with going to Keeneland is trying to get a parking spot as you arrive later than usual at Commonwealth Stadium.  Luckily I have some friends that decided to tailgate all day (thanks Matt Amick), so I was still able to tailgate at a great spot (corner of Sports Center Drive and Cooper).  Make sure to have a game plan for parking, because you don’t want to waste valuable tailgating time trying to find a parking spot.

7-10:00 PM – Watch UK win another game at Commonwealth Stadium.  My friends and I have been a bit of a good luck charm for the football team on Superfecta Saturday as we have won the last three years (07 =LSU, 08 = Arkansas, and 09 = ULM).  Looks like we might want to repeat this Saturday to try and keep the streak alive.

10:15 PM – Grab some more fast food to soak up the alcohol.  Remember that little blurb in the warning about heart conditions?  It’s coming into play right about now.  This time the snack of choice was the southern style chicken sandwich at McDonald’s.  Mmmmmm

10:30 PM – Head straight out to the bars.  There is no time to relax here, you have to go straight out, or you will never stay awake.  Remember, if you have already been hanging out with friends and drinking for the last 12 hours, stopping to relax a bit will almost certainly put you right to sleep.   The key is to put on some music that will get you pumped up while heading straight to to the bars.   My group typically goes to Redmond’s for this event, but any place that serves an ice cold beer will work.

2:30 AM – The bars are closed and you are probably worn out and just want to go to bed.  However, you have one more visit left in order to fully relive those college years, and that is to the famous UK grease pit, Tolly Ho.  Tolly Ho has been curing the munchies and preventing hangovers ever since the Nixon administration with their world famous greasy food.  My typical Tolly Ho order is the Super Ho cheeseburger, cheese fries, and a chocolate shake (no, it’s not heart healthy) for a meager $12 or so.   However, no matter what you order you are guaranteed that it will taste great, though you might not be feeling great on the toilet in the morning.
 
There you have it, the UK version of the superfecta.  Not for the faint of heart and not for the weak of mind.  If you have the will (not to mention the liver) to tackle this feat, Halloween Day is your last chance of 2009.  What better way to celebrate All Hallow’s Eve than with a near 24 hours of drinking, hanging with your best buds and, most importantly, a UK victory over MSU.

And now the real question…. How many can pull off the even more rare Superfecta Double Dip?  Tune in next week to see….

 superfecta (plural superfectas)
1. A method of betting in which the bettor, in order to win, must pick the first four finishers of a race in the correct sequence.
2. Weekend in October where UK fans can attend Keeneland, Football Game, Lexington Bars, and Tolly Ho all in one day. 

                              

By:  Matthew Mattingly (Tailgating Czar)

This past weekend I was lucky to be in attendance at Jordan-Hare Stadium watching my beloved UK football team pull off a major upset against the Auburn Tigers, a team we haven’t beaten in something like 90 years (at least that is what it seemed like).  However, not only was the game amazing, but the entire road trip was eventful and something I will never forget with my two friends Chad (Cee-Lo) Green and Lindsay Martin.   Thus, below you will find a quick recap of the weekend, and hopefully you can live through the road trip through me.
   
7:32 PM - Leaving Louisville, KY for Auburn, AL with my friends Cee-Lo and Lindsay.  Right before I left, I looked back at my coat and convince myself I probably wouldn’t need it.  “Its suppose to be 60 degrees on Saturday.”  Big mistake on my part.

7:56 PM – What’s that smell?  Oh, we just drove by Shepherdsville.

8:24 PM – Got my first text on Big Blue Madness, many more to come.
 
8:54 PM – Cee-Lo’s girlfriend Lauren calls.  She said she is leaving him to campaign for John Calipari and his run for President of the United States.  Cee-Lo understands and says he is fine with it.
 
9:05 PM – Another text, this time from my friend Beau that simply reads “I am sporting wood right now.”   That is the first time I have received a text with that particular message.  However, I was not too concerned about his sexuality because I am 95% sure he was talking about Big Blue Madness.

9:38 PM – Just enter Tennessee, still the same, I still hate it.

10:20 PM – I just received my 23rd text on Big Blue Madness, which is amazing since I only have like 6 friends.  Same thing as the rest of them:   we are so fast…. Jorts can really shoot….Wall has presence about him…. this team is very confident… etc, etc, etc.

11:23 PM – Sweet Home Alabama, we are so close, yet so far away from Auburn.

11:50 PM – Saw Santa Clause at the Speedway (at least looks like him), he said, “Roll Tide and beat those Tigers!”  He was very nice, so I went ahead and promised him victory.   However, I quickly realized that The Tide own this state.  I was under the impression it was almost 50/50, but after seeing all the Bama stickers and flags on the cars, it’s more like 75/25 in favor of the Crimson Tide.  Kentucky is still 95/5 UK.

1:30 AM – Finally crash in a hotel in Hoover, AL.

10:39 AM – I can tell early that my boy Cee-Lo is going to be in rare form.  He is jamming in the front seat of the car while yelling out the window to anyone that could hear him.   Heck he practically gave an old man a heart attack while he was washing his own vehicle.  Not sure how the Auburn fans are going to handle Cee-Lo today, but I can’t wait to witness it.

11:57 AM – Finally make it to Auburn, and I am trying to wonder how a college this big, can be in a town this small.

12:00 PM - Start asking scalpers for tickets prices.  They are wanting face value, but I don’t believe it will be a sell out so we decide to wait a little longer.
 
12:05 PM – Where the hell do we park?

Side Note:  It’s amazing how effective a quad chair and some rope can be when reserving a parking spot.  There would be plenty of parking spots available but people would just leave out a chair and somehow nobody touches them and I didn’t want to be the first guy to be move the chairs, especially on enemy territory.

12:23 PM – Seriously, we can’t find a parking spot anywhere.

12:31 PM – Finally park on a curb next to the Textile Engineering building.   Not sure if it is legal, but everyone else is doing it.  When in Rome…
 
12:32 PM – Open my first beer, and quickly make friends with an Auburn fan parked next to me.  He was really nice and welcomed us to Auburn.

1:00 PM – Weather.com is a bunch of liars.  It feels more like 40 than 60 degrees.  I knew I should have brought my coat.
 
1:45 PM - Another Auburn fan welcomes us to Auburn and even apologizes for the cold weather.  Lindsay says, “Wow, these fans are too nice.”  It prompted Cee-Lo to say, “I want to hate them but I can’t.”

2:00 PM – Some fellow UK fans stop by our tailgate, as they are amazed we actually found a good parking spot.   We talk about everything  from who should start at QB to our favorite bourbon.  Then we all take a shot of bourbon together and cheer to UK football.  After the shot, I realize I better get some food in me because I am not feeling cold anymore.

2:10 PM – We make an early move on buying tickets from a scalper.  I feel like we should have waited a little longer, but we ended up getting them for $40, which is $15 less than face.   I can live with that.

2:12 PM – Stop by the burger chain Cheeburger Cheeburger.   The place had great fries and onion rings, and of course burgers.  The best part of it was that you could get any topping known to mankind on your burger and it didn’t cost any extra.   My cheeseburger had buffalo sauce, jalapenos, and peanut butter on the side.  Yeah that’s right, peanut butter.
 
3:00 PM – Walk around campus taking pictures and once again run into some nice Auburn fans.  I am waiting for any moment for one of them to offer their coat to me, but they are not that nice, at least not yet.    By the way their campus is beautiful.  It reminds me a lot of UK’s with the traditional brick buildings, but with a lot more grassy areas surrounding them.  Felt more like a classic rural campus (probably because it’s in the middle of BFE).

4:10 PM- Back to tailgating in the cold.  Amazingly the beer is going down like water in the frigid weather.  It’s like I’m at the lake in the middle of summer or something.   It’s going to be a good night. 

4:30 PM- I show off my awesome tailgate golf skills in front of anyone who is willing to watch.

Side Note:  I was told that not many tailgating games are played at Auburn, and that turned out to be gospel.  Many Auburn fans had never seen Tailgate Golf (ladders, clobber knockers, etc.) and my group had to explain the game to them several times.   I imagine you will start seeing it around their campus more.  You can thank me.

6:15 PM – We make our walk toward Jordan-Hare, but make sure to fill up two flasks before we leave.  The bourbon of choice for the big game is Jefferson Reserve.  If you are going on a road trip expecting your team to go all out, you better as well.
 
6:35 PM – Sneaking in bourbon was never so easy, I think I could have walked in drinking strait from the flask.
 
6:42 PM – The actual War Eagle just flew right past my face!    Scary, yet cool at the same time.
 
6:55 PM – The Auburn band puts ours to shame.  OK, EVERY band put our band to shame.

7:55 PM – Just when you think our special teams could not get any worse, they go out and do something like that, and hence get worse.  Typical UK football!

8:30 PM – Morgan Newton scores his first TD as a Wildcat!  Hopefully a lot more will come, but its great to witness the first one.   My friend Josh texts me: “Big M, small organ!”  At least he thought it was funny.

9:45 PM – The Auburn fans in Jordan-Hare remind me of the blue hairs in Rupp.  It’s like they have superglue in their seats, because they don’t even stand up on big 3rd down plays.

10:20 PM - Auburn fans are not as nice when their team is struggling to move the ball.  Of course it doesn’t help when my friend yells, “What about that mighty War Eagle, not so mighty anymore!”
 
10:32 PM – Randall “Mother F-in” Cobb
 
10:55 PM – Victory Kentucky!

11:05 PM – Took several pictures of the scoreboard and the empty seats inside.  We really did not want to leave the stadium it was like we almost needed proof to ensure we actually won.  Heck, I am not sure when we would have left if the security guard did not tell us to leave.
 
11:10 PM – Texted everyone I know that we won and that they should have made the trip with us.  I bet they are jealous now.
 
Wow, what a great trip!  From the classy Auburn fans (sorry we had to beat you) to the historic win for the football program (biggest road win in the Rich Brooks era) this will be a trip to remember.  Hopefully this will be the tip of the iceberg for the program any many more historic victories will follow (cough…Tennessee… cough).   In addition, I want to thank Lindsay for driving and making sure I didn’t get too out of control , and I want to thank Cee-Lo for being Cee-Lo and being a little out of control. 


                          

                                                                  We Believe!!!