It is Loud in Athens!
The only thing that I don't like about sitting in the press box is being indoors and not getting a taste of the atmosphere and crowd noise. But I'm at Sanford Stadium right now, which happens to have the nicest press box I've ever seen, and I am lucky enough to have an outdoor seat. And I'm sitting directly across from Georgia's student section.
This is fun.
We arrived in Athens on Thursday and we could already feel the energy building up to tonight's contest. This afternoon, the Bulldogs fans were somewhat tame until about 4:00 PM. Then they started cheering, singing, and screaming until they got into the stadium.
Game time was just before 8:00. About two hours before, the students started to pile in, and almost every single one wore red or black. A game like this makes me wish I were back in college, going crazy with my fellow students.
When the Bulldogs first came onto the field about 45 minutes prior to kickoff, it was loud. Then about eight minutes later, the Georgia players huddled at the 15 yard line. It was even louder. The students started singing. It seemed more like a World Cup soccer game than a mid-season SEC game.
The public address announcer said, "It's Saturday night in Athens!" The place erupted. "That's not loud enough," he said. "It's Saturday night in Athens!" The crowd obliged and made even more noise.
Finally it was time for the players to take the field for good. "Get on your feet," the PA announcer said, "and let's make some Sanford Stadium noise for your tenth-ranked defending SEC Champion Georgia Bulldogs."
The players ran out. The band played. The cameras flashed, and I started to worry about my hearing.
The Volunteers better do something early in this one, or they'll be playing 11 against 12 all night.
