Gameday in Tuscaloosa!

Hail State?  Roll Tide?  This weekend we drove to Tuscaloosa to watch #1 Mississippi State play #5 Alabama.  I loved college (Go Hokies!) and the college scene so I am always interested in other colleges traditions.  I want to see what it's like to be a student there -- drink the signature drink at the popular bar, check out the bookstore, and eat at the local spots.  (In case you ever find yourself in Blacksburg, the answers are a rail at TOTS, Campus Emporium, and Cabo Fish Taco!)

I have been asking Rob to go to a nearby college football game ever since we moved down South and he finally caved this weekend.  Tuscaloosa is only an hour and a half drive so we woke up early Saturday morning for the drive.  I wasn't really rooting for either team (more interested in tailgating!) but if I had to pick, I would say I was hoping for Mississippi State to stay at #1.  

We parked downtown and walked to check out College Gameday, which was set up in front of the stadium.  It was only 29 degrees outside but the bright sunshine saved the day!  After catching a glimpse of our favorite Saturday morning Gameday crew, we walked around campus, checked out the insane tailgates set up on the Quad, and took a walk down fraternity row.  We saw Rob's, Rob's dad's, my dad's, and my brother's fraternity houses.  I was in awe of the giant mansion houses!

The door to the Tri Delta house was open so I popped in to take a look.  The girls were super gracious and we were able to tour the whole downstairs.  I loved my time living in the Dolphin Tank at VT but oh my goodness, this house was amazing!  I was just hoping to blend in enough that they would ask if I wanted to move in ;)

My sister's friend Sarah is a freshman at Alabama and in a sorority there so we met up with her at her sorority house and had lunch.  It was great to get the "inside scoop" about the school from a current student!  We didn't get tickets to the game (again, not super interested in the actual game part haha) so we headed to the strip to watch the game at a bar.  I read online that we had to try a "Yellow Hammer" from Gallette's so that was our first stop.  It was a total college bar---dark, packed wall-to-wall with people holding plastic yellow cups of yellow hammers.   AKA I loved it!  The yellow hammer drink was not as potent at all as a Rail but it was delicious!  We met up with some other friends who were in town from Meridian for the game at The Houndstooth but all ended up back at Gallette's for the rest of the night.  

While I tried keep up with the college scene, the 25 (going on 60) year old in me was tired by 6pm and knew Chipotle was calling my name!  We grabbed dinner before driving home and falling asleep by 9pm.  I had so much fun and definitely have a few restaurants in Tuscaloosa on my list that I want to try before we move.  Needless to say, Sunday Funday consisted of catching up on sleep, chores, and life ;)