The Big Orange Meets the Big Apple

Who says Tennessee football only exists in Orange Country? This Saturday I ventured to Traffic Bar and Lounge, walking into my newest destination this football season.

New York City is said to host a number of college chapters, each sponsored by a local bar...of course there has to be booze involved when it comes to the SEC (I still maintain that no other division knows quite how to tailgate like we do). The front door welcomed pedestrians with a Power T and blowup Smoky-- that's a winner in my book!

The Bar boasts two stories, the top designated for all those who bleed orange. This past week I did a Facebook search of friends living in the City, deciding I was done spending so much time with male friends, and needed some girlfriends (which was reaffirmed by my gay best friend saying he didn't count). To my surprise, I came up with a number of friends that I either had classes with or knew through mutual friends. We all agreed to meet up Saturday, and what better way than to cheer on our alma mater?

Although we weren't at Neyland Stadium, we certainly celebrated like we were. The crowd was a sea of orange, Southern dialects broke the air with their vulgar rants, and whiskey flowed almost as smoothly as the moonshine would in Knoxville (let's just say I'm NOT in college anymore, and I may or may not have been in bed by 8:30).

I had an absolute blast catching up with old friends and making plans for the upcoming weeks-- even convincing one friend to join the New York Junior League, which I just transferred into last week (yes, that's the Southern in me). I met many other new faces as well, since, just like below the Mason Dixon, we'll talk to about anyone. Ironically, one girl and I have 65 mutual friends (according to FB, of course), some being my best friends from undergraduate!

What I realized about this experience was not necessarily that I may be past my celebratory prime, but rather that even after being gone from the College for more than two years, it still is providing me with what I loved most about it. It brings together a number of people, no matter age or hometown, but all there for the love of our undergraduate memories. Through this commonality (of once being ranked one of the most delusional fan bases in college football) we form friendships no matter if we are in the Tennessee hills or are amongst a city of skyscrapers.

So here's to Rocky Top and all the half bears/half cats I met this weekend.