Jennifer Lambert (jenelamb@mars.utm.edu) from 192.239.156.143 at 09/26/00 09:14PM
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    this past weekend i was visiting friends in knoxville. there i experienced something that i think truly defines the south, whether it be yesterday, today, or tomorrow. ut knoxville had their homecoming week this past week and they played the university of louisiana-monroe for their homecoming football game. everyone knew that the game wouldn't be a good one. this was an unranked football team from a much smaller school who came to neyland stadium (bless their hearts) to be the sacrificial lambs ensuring the home team victory for their homecoming weekend. now, common sense would tell you that this game would be poorly attended just by looking at the two teams. also, the weather was terrible, cool and pouring rain the entire first half. here's the thing that will never cease to amaze me and what i find to definitively be the south no matter what century it is - neyland stadium was packed. not quite filled to the brim like the previous week's tennessee-florida game (another southern tradition that will live on forever) but definitely very well attended. everywhere you looked there was orange and white. as much as i feel that there is too much emphasis on athletics in this state and throughout the sec, it is a staple of the south. it has been for years, is very much alive now, and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. i am certain that 100 years from now fans will fill neyland stadium to root their boys on against an easy opponent as the rain comes down in sheets. that is the true south.