3 DAYS!!!!!!

originally purblished in august 2009.

the countdown continues:

10. the pride of the southland marching band
9. smokey
8. rocky top
7. the color orange
6. eric berry
5. trash talking
4. lane kiffin derek dooley

3. tailgating!
everyone knows that half the fun of college football takes place before the players even take the field. tailgating is a mainstay of any successful gameday, and i would argue that no one does it better than the SEC. the term refers to the act of partying on or around the tailgate of a vehicle. however, this practice has evolved into a staple of college football tradition and culture.

from the grove of ole miss to the decks of the vol navy, fans have been known to wake up at all hours of the morning to get a head-start on the day's festivities. a noon kickoff means you better be outside and drinking by 8am at the latest. rules is rules, and i don't make them.

no tailgate would be complete without the phenomenon of cornhole, which has taken the world by storm over the past decade. the crisp thud of a well-worn bag on a warm fall afternoon is enough to jolt the volunteer heart right out of the past nine vacuous months of football-less-ness.

so everyone drag out the bags-and-boards, plug in the jambox, and fire up the grill, because football season arrives tomorrow, the vols take the field in 3 short days, and those natty lights aren't going to drink themselves!!!

bonus link: top 10 tailgating colleges