Front Porch Football

My First Time in Neyland

by Chris Paschal

I really hate that my first time in Knoxville for a college football Saturday found me actively rooting against the home team. It’s hard to enjoy the pageantry of a Volunteer Gameday when you’re about to have an aneurism watching the Gamecocks give up two special teams touchdowns.

And even then, I was blown away by this past Saturday on the banks of the Tennessee River. The day started with me, my brother, Brendan, and our buddies, John Lamm and Max McDougald, heading to Calhoun’s on the River. (Well the day really started when Brendan had enough of my snoring in the hotel room and demanded I leave the room, but I digress.) For those of you who haven’t been to Calhoun’s, you owe it to yourself. Great pregame atmosphere, affordable drinks, and some potato skins that were next level. But what was really awesome was the outdoor deck that overlooked the river and the boats coming in to dock with the rest of the Vol Navy.