How Football Broke My Heart

"I felt like we played the entire four quarters against Florida, but had a lot of poor coaching decisions, however yesterday was more on the plays I feel."

My dad looks at me with a look of mild surprise.

"whoa, look at you! You know some football!?"

Me, in resigned tones... yeah dad, I've only worked the games for the last six years.

True but you sound like you know what you're talking about?!

Its cause I do.

It's fall. Which in Tennessee only means one thing.

Football.

I'm not going to lie, prior to moving to Knoxville TN I could've cared less about about the world that was sports. Football? So some guys run around with a ball? Big deal. Basketball? Even worse. Forget actually trying to play anything.

Growing up as a shy kid, doesn't help in the sports arena. Fail? In front of people? That was my worst nightmare.

However that all changed once I permanently stepped foot onto Knoxvillian soil, but more importantly in Neyland Stadium on a game day. The air was crisp, the sun was shining and orange was everywhere you looked.

It was electrifying.

As the stadium filled up with people, the atmosphere started heating up, everyone had excited looks on their faces as they hurried to their seats, arms full of greasy stadium food. I couldn't help but fill a little bit of that excitement myself.

What exactly happened on that field that would cause 102,000+ people to brave the cold for three hours?

I was intrigued that first game, but as subsequent weeks went by, and I was forced time and time again to be in Neyland Stadium (I'm part of Neyland Security Team :)) I started drinking the Koolaid.

I found myself wanting to purchase orange clothing.
I found myself following sports teams on twitter.
I found myself wanting to watch the game when I wasn't in the stadium.
I found myself learning more about football and the lingo.

Passing Game, Rushing Yards, Field Goals, Touchdowns, Touchbacks, Plays, Drives, Screen Passes... all these terms started to make sense to me.

I'd fallen in love with Tennessee Football...and they have proceeded to shatter my heart on a yearly basis.

After the Florida game two weeks ago, I'm about ready to hang out my towel. I knew we wouldn't win it, but the Volunteers like to fake us out. We start off so well. We're scoring points, we're stopping drives, and then we come out for the third quarter and the wheels just fall off the wagon.

WHY CANT WE THROW A BALL?

— Erin (@ProjectErin) September 26, 2015

Guys, you have to understand we're just putting the "foot" back in football. You can't throw balls you're supposed to kick. #UFvsTenn

— Erin (@ProjectErin) September 26, 2015

The Florida game had a lot riding on it. We've been on a ten-year losing streak (and nearly every other team in the SEC except maybe Vanderbuilt) and everyone was hoping that this would be the day that the "curse" was broken.

Everyone was excited. We were up  27-7. WE.WERE.GOING.TO.WIN.THIS...

#TOUCHDOWN TENNESSEE

— Erin (@ProjectErin) September 26, 2015

I knew better. So I didn't hope. But its hard not too when the score looks so good.

5:29 ... Still enough time to lose #idontbelieve

— Erin (@ProjectErin) September 26, 2015

If you're not about to barf from nervousness, you're not American or a true #vfl

— Laura Halm (@WATELauraHalm) September 26, 2015

And a drop on 2nd down – wow. 3rd & 13 for Florida with 1:45 remaining from own 38.

— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 26, 2015

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING.

— Erin (@ProjectErin) September 26, 2015

Unfortunately the coaches refused to throw the ball and we kept trying to run it down field. Since we did the same thing over and over, Florida knew what was coming each time and were able not only to stop us, but go on and beat us 28-27.

I'm not going to lie, even knowing they were going to break my heart, the crushing disappointment of losing this game was intense. I had planned to go downtown with some friends but went home instead. #VolTwitter was lit tho...

Being a Tennessee fan is like having 10 puppies and watching every single one of them get hit by a car in slow motion.

— KC (@kyliegoesham) September 26, 2015

UT fans have to learn to never expect a win or get their hopes up until there's zero seconds on the clock.

— Jasmine Johnson ☺ (@__jassssssssss) September 26, 2015

Tennessee: (adj) refers to someone who makes promises and instills hope, only to not follow through. Ex: Wow, Jessica that was so Tennessee

— Trev Jeans (@TREVVYYJ) September 26, 2015

Since that time I've had a hard time mustering up any support for the team. This week's game was just another repeat. We started on on fire. Returned a punt for a touchdown within a minute of kick-off. We scored another touchdown very soon afterward, but Arkansas was having none of it, and we left the first half Tied.

Some had hope.

We're going into the third as the underdog, perhaps we could pull off a miracle?

But nope.

Nope.

So now we're at a cross roads. We still have quite a few games left this season. I'm not going to lie. I'm tired of supporting the Vols. Sigh.

November 27

Ok first question. 

WHO TURNED OFF THE HEAT?

Thursday I was rockin' my flip-flops and today, my toes were literally numb as I watched over the lost and found booth at the stadium. I could so do without winter time. 

Second Question:

How cute are they? 

I was called in for a last minute/emergency photo-shoot by my favorite photo-shoot-family. They had an appointment at a studio but had to cancel due to the KY fan traffic. So guess who got a call? 

I love.love.love photographing these kids! 

More Photos 

Third Question:

How you'd Kentucky Fans enjoy today's game? 

Considering we beat you guys 24-17! 

Oh yeah. 

Go.Big.Orange!!!! 

                          

November 26

I realize it is sad that I, a photography major but up very little in the photos.on this blog...but my excuse is this. By the time I edit them, convert the from RAW to JPEGS, watermark them, and upload them to Blogger; I'm just slap worn out.

Excuse me while I crack up over my use of the word "slap".

Ok I'm good now. Theres nothing quite like sitting in a cold car, for hours on end, staring down a deserted hallway to make you feel a little corny

That or the caffeine is finally hitting the system. Yes this month has been a failure in reguards to my caffeine "break". I'm not beating myself us about it or anything as I know, I made a conscious decision to drink it again.

This  month has been so.tough. mentally,physically, and emotionally that I've needed the extra boost to keep me going. But I hate the effects that has on my system as well.

Kind of wonder if its the cause of my lack of memory as well...

Sigh.

Now that my head is pounding from staring at this screen ill sign off here.

Last football game of the season tomorrow ...

Go Vols!!!



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November 23

I am looking forward to Thursday and Friday. Words cannot express how much I am dying to sleep in, to clean my house from top to bottom, and then lounge around in it, with no.obligations.whatsover.
My family will be heading out of town for Thanksgiving, so we're going to have a "Thanksgiving Breakfast" instead, then the rest of the day is all mine. I signed up to work Friday evening, so I'll at least have the day to do "whatever", and can spend my evening doing homework..working. The VO.LS take on Kent.ucky Saturday, and my camera and I will be "tooling around" campus on my golf cart, snapping photos. Yess my job is pretty cool, if I do say so myself.

What are you doing for the Thanksgiving Weekend? 
And no that's not a rhetorical question. I won't even beat you up if you answer it! 

Peace Out Peoples.
~ E

November 13: Today was a good day

V-O-L-S GO VOLS GO! 

51 - 14 Against Ole Miss! 

I also was able to take a STEP in the direction to irradiating this....shall we say "predicament" I have found myself in.

Its something to tune of.. $800 but you know, what else is new. 
I also need to start on my three page English paper....alas my brain is functioning on barely auto...lets hope we can pull it off.

UT Football

Today starts the football season for UT.

The only reason I know that is because, I had to be at work on a Saturday because of it. That would be today.

I have never been a sports fan, it just never even crossed my mind, to have more than a passing interest in it..if that.

When I was younger, it drove me crazy when my father would listen to the game on the radio on the way home from church; probably because I couldn't understand what was going on, and there was always a lot of background commotion.

Who cAreD?

The most fun I had with sports was rooting for the opposite team my "brothers" were on.

Until today.

When there are over 100,000 people, dressed in orange streaming toward a stadium, you have to find out at least a little as too why they love it so much.

Since my work was done quickly I went out and hung out at the parking garage with one of my co-workers, watching the unwashed masses swarm toward the stadium, and also try to park on our level of the parking garage.

Once the clock struck 12, I headed for my car, updating my status to say: GO Western KY. Because all I'd heard that day was how bad the Vols had been etc..etc..

Upon pulling out of the parking lot, I found myself reaching toward the radio dial, and turning toward the radio that was broadcasting the game....

And LISTENING Too it. Until it ended about an hour ago.

This my friends momentousness.

But I had to see if I was right in rooting for WKY. Don't worry about halfway into the 2nd quarter (<--see football talk), that I switched back to the Vols and hung with them until their victorious end.

That was fun! (probably because I was in the comfort of my home, and didn't have to work traffic or the stadium, one of the benefits of wearing a skirt!!)

...did I just say that???????