- Jun 19, 2014
- 12,760
- 31,858
Founding Member
Was on the 50, 3 rows up for Ole Miss (and, yes, I'm still a little hoarse). Thought I would share some observations from right behind our sideline.
1. Wow these kids are young. They look like men in pads and helmets, but up close, they really are kids. Lots of zits, narrow behinds, skinny legs, and baby faces. Even the OL with the big bodies have baby faces. It's often easy to forget these are a bunch of 19 and 20 year old kids.
2. Antonio Morrison is a LEADER on the field and on the sideline. He was active, pumping up teammates on O and D. He's a real asset and everybody seems to respect him.
3. VHIII is perpetually smiling, always looks happy, he has a bounce to his step, and looks like he could break into dance at any time. I do think he musta been one of the dudes who got the flu though because there were times when he looked totally gassed. But that smile was always there. You just want to be friends with the guy. After the INT I shouted at him "VERNON, THANKS FOR THE PICK!" and he waved to acknowledge.
4. Keanu Neal is the opposite. Super intense on the sideline. He's got his gameface on and it's a scowl. I guess he is able to let it go after the game 'cause he's the one who was dancing on the sideline with the State Trooper after the game.
5. Martez Ivey is BIG.
6. Treon Harris wasn't pouting or scowling. He was supporting his teammates and celebrating their successes.
7. Coach Mac might sound all relaxed when they do the halftime interview but it's an act. He's nervous as a cat on the sideline, looking down, pacing back and forth, engrossed in the discussions on the headset.
8. Alex Anzalone was in street clothes and had his arm in a soft sling. He was going up and down the sidelines, encouraging his teammates.
9. I thought Bryan Cox, Jr. was something of a tweener, a LB playing DE, I but I was wrong. He's a big dude. Alex McCallister, on the other hand, looks like a basketball player.
10. The crowd. No, it's not like the 90's, but it is more like the 90's than it has been in a while. Back then, there were no visible gaps like we see now right in the top middle of the student section. Also, it was denser back then. Especially for big games, people constantly snuck in to the point where it was impossible to sit and you pretty much had to stand sideways for everybody to fit. We're not back to that level (and I don't know if we will get back to that level). In terms of attendance, it's more like a typical Meyer-era crowd or maybe a Spurrier-era crowd for a Vandy type game. BUT, the fans who were there were LOUD. It felt like the 90's in there. The stadium was rocking and it got to the Ole Miss offense. Many times, Kelly had to go up and down the line, trying to shout audibles. The Ole Miss offense felt like it was under siege from that crowd all night. It was intimidating and disconcerting, and the Gator D fed off of that energy. They were bouncing, excited, on their toes, it was GREAT. You could tell the D was loving the home field advantage. I looked to see where the visiting recruits were seated (used to be in the South Endzone) but I couldn't make it out. Still, I'm sure any recruits who visited for that game would want to don an orange helmet and play in front of a crowd like that.
Alex.
1. Wow these kids are young. They look like men in pads and helmets, but up close, they really are kids. Lots of zits, narrow behinds, skinny legs, and baby faces. Even the OL with the big bodies have baby faces. It's often easy to forget these are a bunch of 19 and 20 year old kids.
2. Antonio Morrison is a LEADER on the field and on the sideline. He was active, pumping up teammates on O and D. He's a real asset and everybody seems to respect him.
3. VHIII is perpetually smiling, always looks happy, he has a bounce to his step, and looks like he could break into dance at any time. I do think he musta been one of the dudes who got the flu though because there were times when he looked totally gassed. But that smile was always there. You just want to be friends with the guy. After the INT I shouted at him "VERNON, THANKS FOR THE PICK!" and he waved to acknowledge.
4. Keanu Neal is the opposite. Super intense on the sideline. He's got his gameface on and it's a scowl. I guess he is able to let it go after the game 'cause he's the one who was dancing on the sideline with the State Trooper after the game.
5. Martez Ivey is BIG.
6. Treon Harris wasn't pouting or scowling. He was supporting his teammates and celebrating their successes.
7. Coach Mac might sound all relaxed when they do the halftime interview but it's an act. He's nervous as a cat on the sideline, looking down, pacing back and forth, engrossed in the discussions on the headset.
8. Alex Anzalone was in street clothes and had his arm in a soft sling. He was going up and down the sidelines, encouraging his teammates.
9. I thought Bryan Cox, Jr. was something of a tweener, a LB playing DE, I but I was wrong. He's a big dude. Alex McCallister, on the other hand, looks like a basketball player.
10. The crowd. No, it's not like the 90's, but it is more like the 90's than it has been in a while. Back then, there were no visible gaps like we see now right in the top middle of the student section. Also, it was denser back then. Especially for big games, people constantly snuck in to the point where it was impossible to sit and you pretty much had to stand sideways for everybody to fit. We're not back to that level (and I don't know if we will get back to that level). In terms of attendance, it's more like a typical Meyer-era crowd or maybe a Spurrier-era crowd for a Vandy type game. BUT, the fans who were there were LOUD. It felt like the 90's in there. The stadium was rocking and it got to the Ole Miss offense. Many times, Kelly had to go up and down the line, trying to shout audibles. The Ole Miss offense felt like it was under siege from that crowd all night. It was intimidating and disconcerting, and the Gator D fed off of that energy. They were bouncing, excited, on their toes, it was GREAT. You could tell the D was loving the home field advantage. I looked to see where the visiting recruits were seated (used to be in the South Endzone) but I couldn't make it out. Still, I'm sure any recruits who visited for that game would want to don an orange helmet and play in front of a crowd like that.
Alex.
