My Thoughts from the Stadium (UMass 2023)

[abw0004 10,125]

Good afternoon everyone,

I hope this thread finds each of you doing well on this beautiful Labor Day.  For those of you who are not familiar with me, or these threads I create, I attend each Auburn home game.  My goal is to try to be the eyes and ears for those who cannot make it to the game in person.  If I can make you feel as if you were standing right next to me I feel like I have done my job.  It is a brand new season.  We have a brand new coach.  We essentially have brand new players.  Lets dive in, shall we?

Weather:  Before I sat in front of my computer I was trying to think of the last time we had weather as nice as we had for our first game of the season.  Typically when you think of the first game you think of heat, humidity, sunshine, or maybe a rain shower.  In all honesty, it usually is borderline unbearable the first game unless it is a night game.  This past Saturday was not the case with a light breeze, and the high of 83 degrees.  With it being a 3:30 PM game, the shade was already hitting our seats come kickoff.  Ideal weather in my opinion for a September game.

Stadium Enhancements:  For those who follow Auburn as closely as I do and read a lot that Auburn puts out, I knew there were some additions to the stadium this year.  The WIFI system was beefed up in a major way to where it you log onto their network (it's free), you get crazy fast speeds, even with the stadium at full capacity.  I was able to upload pictures to my game thread with ease as well as my glamor shots to Facebook.  😉  This was not all, as long lines have always been an issue at the concession stands, but this year Auburn introduced a "grab and go" system.  It is a lifesaver.  Here is the full lineup of the enhancements if you are interested:

https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/auburn-football-introduces-more-than-20-gameday-enhancements-for-2023-season-

Pre-Game Festivities:  Auburn fans did a really great job of wearing white to the game.  In my opinion, the best job we have ever done when asked to wear white.  How did it look on tv?  Just the atmosphere in general was unlike any other that I have experienced in a long time at Auburn.  Everyone was excited and in a great mood.  We are headed in the right direction, FINALLY!  I am smiling as I type this out.  Can you tell?

Hype Festivities:  Auburn also added smoke machines not only at the entrance of where the players exit, but also at each corner of the field.  The end result was pretty cool.  Well done Auburn.  I am excited for a night game to see what Auburn has done with the LEDs.  I heard big things are coming that no other stadium has done yet.  The hype videos were pretty good this year too.  For the tunnel video, if you are fans of the show "American Horror Story" you will recognize the score.  Now, for the inspiration video, a few Auburn greats narrate it.  I am not going to spoil it though for those who are going to another game this year.  It is pretty cool.

Auburn Marching Band:  Who doesn't love our marching band?  As a former drumline guy who follows the professional circuit to an extent, their precision and how they hit their sets and hit their notes is impressive.  Without them Auburn football games would not be the same.  Hats off to Dr. Corey Spurlin for his show this past game, honoring their trip to Europe this past summer.  Fans of the opera (I am not, but the girlfriend educated me pretty quick) you would have enjoyed this show.

Jimmy Buffett:  It was a little sad this weekend to learn that we lost Jimmy Buffett.  He was too young.  Auburn played Jimmy's hits at different points during the game which was very touching.  I know other stadiums did the same thing playing his feel-good music, but it was a little more special being that Jimmy was from Alabama and had a special connection to Auburn.  Rest in peace Jimmy.

This Team:  This team seems very close and together.  Everyone celebrates together.  I saw the defense celebrating with the office and vice versa.  Peyton Thorne was celebrating Robby Ashord's touchdowns, and both celebrated Holden's accomplishments.  Even Freeze got into it.  H video is below.  Just take it one game at a time fellas.  Keep your eyes on the task in front of you.  Who knows how this season will pan out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEtKnCtQE0g

Hugh Freeze:  I have never seen a fanbase so excited for a head coach.  After Auburn did the player introductions (which is a new video format this year too), Auburn introduced Hugh Freeze and the stadium lost it.  Hugh is a prefect fit for Auburn and I am so glad we have him as our head coach.  I hope he stays for a long time.  One thing Hugh did do after the game was celebrate with the fans at Toomer's Corner, throwing toilet paper up in the famed oaks.  As much as I liked Malzahn, I don't think he ever did that with fans, and Harsin, well, he didn't even know where the Oaks were.  Video link of Freeze is below:

https://fb.watch/mRP5bBA0Th/

Wear BLUE Against Samford:  We have an away game against California this upcoming Saturday, but the following Saturday Auburn is asking fans to wear BLUE. 

[KnightTiger 205]

Saw comments on YouTube someone said maybe best online since 17?

 

I don’t know about that yet ^though online play does seem to be improved  I saw two-three missed assignments against Umass Saturday and that will get Thorne , Ashford or whoever our qb is killed once sec play starts 

Edited September 4, 2023 by KnightTiger

[LPTiger 5,167]

3 hours ago, abw0004 said:

 

Weather:    Ideal weather in my opinion for a September game.

Stadium Enhancements: 😉  This was not all, as long lines have always been an issue at the concession stands, but this year Auburn introduced a "grab and go" system.  It is a lifesaver

 

Auburn Marching Band:  Who doesn't love our marching band?  As a former drumline guy who follows the professional circuit to an extent, their precision and how they hit their sets and hit their notes is impressive.  

 

Hugh Freeze:  I have never seen a fanbase so excited for a head coach.  After Auburn did the player introductions (which is a new video format this year too), Auburn introduced Hugh Freeze and the stadium lost it.  Hugh is a prefect fit for Auburn and I am so glad we have him as our head coach.  I hope he stays for a long time.  One thing Hugh did do after the game was celebrate with the fans at Toomer's Corner, throwing toilet paper up in the famed oaks.  As much as I liked Malzahn, I don't think he ever did that with fans, and Harsin, well, he didn't even know where the Oaks were.  

 

 

Weather: I watched the forecast all week and was so happy the weatherman finally gotten right.   That will help our kids with a quick turnaround and long road trip this week.

Concessions:  The lines in the East stands were still way too long.

Band:  So my seats are on the east side where the band comes out and hour or so before kickoff and lines up and plays a few minutes.   The drumline is simply unreal.  So what is it called when they hit the top edge of the drum and it makes that incredibly distinct click sound?   Since you are a former drumline guy, I'm sure you won't mind me saying it is the coolest part of a lot of cool things going on with the band.

CHF:  100%.   He went and bless him he threw the TP, four times, until he finally got it right and then took photos with kids.   He is exactly what we needed.

p.s. Thanks for your efforts.   WDE!!! 

[abw0004 10,125]

37 minutes ago, LPTiger said:

So what is it called when they hit the top edge of the drum and it makes that incredibly distinct click sound?

That’s a rim shot!  It’s when you hit the head of the drum and the rim at the exact same time. 

[RunInRed 16,438]

 

[LPTiger 5,167]

5 minutes ago, abw0004 said:

That’s a rim shot!  It’s when you hit the head of the drum and the rim at the exact same time. 

It deserves a cool name like rim shot!!!  It sounds so cool when they are coming out of the tunnel doing it on every 10th or so note and it slowly gets louder and louder as they get closer to the field....   So for us idiots, the head of the drum is the piece, cowhide or whatever the material is, where every other drum note is generated? 

[LPTiger 5,167]

2 minutes ago, RunInRed said:

 

So awesome that they encourage tough talk so they can get better!!!

[RunInRed 16,438]

Lines were insane all game … just couldn’t move anywhere.  But it wasn’t so much the concession lines as the people walking through the outer concourse were bumper to bumper so concession lines couldn’t queue.

And this was the case at all regular gates …

[LPTiger 5,167]

9 minutes ago, RunInRed said:

Lines were insane all game … just couldn’t move anywhere.  But it wasn’t so much the concession lines as the people walking through the outer concourse were bumper to bumper so concession lines couldn’t queue.

And this was the case at all regular gates …

I felt bad for the folks standing in concession lines.  We have scholarship seats so, as you know, we get free food and there is never a line.   I went down twice and both times the lines in the east stands were easily 100 people deep.

[abw0004 10,125]

40 minutes ago, LPTiger said:

It deserves a cool name like rim shot!!!  It sounds so cool when they are coming out of the tunnel doing it on every 10th or so note and it slowly gets louder and louder as they get closer to the field....   So for us idiots, the head of the drum is the piece, cowhide or whatever the material is, where every other drum note is generated? 

Correct.  A long time ago the heads were made of cowhide, but not the heads are made of Kevlar.  

[JuscAUse! 1,437]

1 hour ago, LPTiger said:

I felt bad for the folks standing in concession lines.  We have scholarship seats so, as you know, we get free food and there is never a line.   I went down twice and both times the lines in the east stands were easily 100 people deep.

Humble brag..........? 😉😆🤣

J/K. 

Edited September 4, 2023 by JuscAUse!

[AU Pops 0]

War Eagle!!!  
 For those of you who buy the seat backs each year, have yours been replaced recently?

we have had seat backs for 5 years now and they haven’t been replaced .  
Just wondering if I was the only one

Thanks

Fred

[WFE12 9,191]

Now this is awesome!

[abw0004 10,125]

10 minutes ago, AU Pops said:

War Eagle!!!  
 For those of you who buy the seat backs each year, have yours been replaced recently?

we have had seat backs for 5 years now and they haven’t been replaced .  
Just wondering if I was the only one

Thanks

Fred

Mine have not been replaced. 

[passthebiscuits 6,865]

1 hour ago, WFE12 said:

Now this is awesome!

I’m not crying. You’re crying. 

[abw0004 10,125]

18 hours ago, WFE12 said:

Now this is awesome!

YouTube version:

 

[NoALtiger 3,867]

One of my favorite season threads, thank you as usual. 

[JDUBB4AU 5,121]

2 minutes ago, NoALtiger said:

One of my favorite season threads, thank you as usual. 

I echo this statement 

[Tigerpro2a 5,650]

7 hours ago, JDUBB4AU said:

I echo this statement 

Same!