The Reynolds Family: Rocky Top

We have been waiting since January 2005 (when we learned Scotlen would make her appearance later that year) to take a child to a Tennessee Vol football game. But when she was born we promised each other that we would not take her too early. We wanted her first game experience to be one she could remember, one that occurred only after she was old enough to appreciate some portion of the game and its meaning. So we waited nearly seven long years. And, finally, designated last Saturday as THE DAY. UT v. Georgia State University. September 8, 2012, at Neyland Stadium.

Fortunately, it was worth the wait. Despite the rain precluding us from seeing the band march into the stadium, the day was a huge success. We established only one rule for the game - that Scotlen could not ask/beg/whine/complain that she wanted to leave the game. And she followed that rule. She was a champ for the long walk from downtown to campus. She was patient while we waited in the UC for the rain to end (though the sucker and gummy worms helped). She didn't complain when we marched in the rain to the stadium. And while we wanted to wait out the rain under the stands until the game started, she insisted on getting to our seats.

The entry into the large stadium combined with the noise and frenzy when the team ran through the "T" was pretty overwhelming for her. She laid her head down on my shoulder and just took it all in. It was not too long after that, however, that she gained some level of comfort with the environment. There was cheering, shaking the orange and white shaker, and (most importantly) many rounds of singing Rocky Top. Fortunately, UT lived up to expectations and demolished Georgia State. The day was also enhanced by the ingestion of popcorn and frozen strawberry lemonade.

We were hoping for an experience that Scotlen would treasure forever. I'm not sure of the outcome on that goal. But it is definitely one that Kyle and I will treasure forever.