Me and Mr. Neyland

So today I had a lazy day, I woke up around 12.30! I didn't enter bed last night until around 12.30 as I was at an event in the Neyland Stadium, so a twelve hour sleep went down a treat. I think the heat really takes it out of you over here especially whilst the states of Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama have officially been announced drought States. The weather is still over 100°F which is roughly 38°C and it feels every bit of it, I can assure you. So once I awoke today I done all the usual things and then made my way over to the cafeteria for some 'Brunch.' Once the the stomach was filled I started taking some pictures and that was basically what I did for the rest of the day, well until 5 o'clock anyway!
So I will add some pictures and describe them also (to make the pictures bigger click on them) -

This is the view from my appartments. This complex is called 'T-Recs' Tennessee Recreational Sports Complex. To put things bluntly, it is unbelievable, the facilities are second to none and they are for student use only.

This is my apparment complex called 'Andy Holt Appartments' it is in a great area and close to nearby University grocery stores as well as the important cafeterias. It looks directly over all the student sports facilities.

This is the all weather Soccer, Hockey, Ultimate (Frisbee), Lacrosse, Rugby, American Football pitch, a lot of events takes place here each day and all students have use of the facilites on offer free of charge.

This is the Gym, a picture taken from inside the 'T-Rec' building. This picture shows only 1/4 of the size of the gym, the reason being you are not allowed to take a camera into the gym section. The picture shows all the running machines etc. etc. although based around the machines are weights, rooms for private training, yoga facilities and all that you would expect from a top class gym.

This picture shows my appartments in the background as well as the outdoor swimming pool and behind it, the indoor swimming pool.

This is also still inside the 'T-Recs' complex just across from the Gym. These facilites are used mainly for Basketball and netball. You may all be wondering where all the tennis facilites are?! I didn't have time to take pictures of them as there are so many, they include two seperate indoor facilites and one outdoor tennis facility, I will post them another day.

This is the indoor running track, as the T-Recs is shaped in an oval they have used this space so people can run around it in the warm weather.

This is the Indoor Golf Facility, you can choose to play over 50 different Courses and free rental of the clubs is also provided.

This is the indoor swimming facility, it consists of an olympic sized swimming pool and diving facilites. All top notch and in great condition.

Again the swimming pool, it is hard to put into words how UT takes each sport they participate in so seriously.

The diving facilites in the indoor pool.

Again the T-Recs building, it really is a great builidng and of course having woman out sun-bathing also adds to the picture.

Moving on from our very brief tour of the Sporting Facilities on offer to the students you have now arrived at the first building constructed at the University just over 200 years ago, obviously it has been updated since.

It is known as the hill, and inside it classes still are taught although none of mine take place there as I am part of the Communications School.

This is the American Flag which is very much flown here in the South of America. As it is a Republican State (Bush) people take great pride in their nationality. The picture also shows the Neyland Stadium in the background......yeah it's pretty big!

So whilst walking over to the Neyland Stadium from The Hill, I saw part of it sticking out through some trees, I thought it looked pretty cool so I snapped it! In the picture is the Executive Box, where supporters pay $50,000 a season to enter, and another stipulation is to sponsor one of the players. Yeah I was in it last night, pictures to follow....

So I blagged my way into the actual stadium, I don't have a clue how I done it but I guess the accent helps a lot round here, Haha! The security man at the gate was a nice guy and getting past him by saying I'm from 'Northern Ireland' done the trick so half an hour inside the Neyland provided just over 50 pictures!! Made my day although I was absolutely roasted inside it!

Everything in America is Big, thats why it is so hard to describe the size of this Stadium.......It's BIG! 107,000 people will be in this Stadium on September 8th, all seats sold out already! I think they like American Football in this part of town.

Neyland Stadium.

Press Box and more Executive Boxes.

Tennessee Volunteers is what the American Football team is known as, although more commonly known as the 'VOLS.' Everyday you hear at least once the chant 'GO VOLS' I cannot imagine what it will be like on match day.

The Scoreboard.

The Pitch.

Corporate Box overlooking river.

The River which runs in line with the University. I'm told on match days a lot of people arrive via boat as parking is obvioulsy a little difficult.

The Neyland Stadium.

The University has still got old elements to it, although inside all it's buildings are modern appliances, with wireless available free all around the campus.

The Neyland from a different angle.

One of the many bridges connecting the campus and giving the students better access to classes.

The International House. A great building to meet and greet students from all over the world, also a place to encourage American Students to study abroad in the Country where you are from. Halls, Computer Rooms, T.V. rooms and a Library is found in this one of a kind building. Again showing how the University funds all it's ventures with the highest of standards.

So I heard about an event called 'Night at the Neyland' it was an event organised by First Baptist Knoxville and the Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) which took place on Thursday night. Basically what it was, was an evening organised to meet new students who were interested not only in American Football but the ministry as well. Altogether roughly 300 people attended in the Club Level of the Neyland Stadium. This is the place to be on Match Day where the big boys go to flash there cash, and then there was me prancing about trying to eat as many free chicken wings and cookies as possible! Haha, But I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the evening and I met some really great people who I hope to keep in contact with during my time here.

So here is the pics -

The club level seats overlooking the pitch.

Interior Design of the club level.

It was too heavy to throw, believe me I tried!

The famous 'T' which is the logo for not only the University but their American Football team. Everbody walks about here with some sort of 'T' on them, it's all over the cars, windows and buildings, you cannot go anywhere without seeing a 'T'.

More seats and decor, it was interesting seeing the history of past players and teams being represented in this room.

The view of Knoxville from the Club Room, this was taken before the night started.

The bridge I tried to pictue earlier, a lot clearer from this sort of height.

The stadium during sun down, this was around 9.15PM.

Once people started arriving it didn't take long until the Club Room was almost full.

The bridge in darkness, a little harder to make out but the view was just as good.

The Neyland Stadium at night, my first encounter of the Stadium and I was very impressed.

The press boxes and more Club Rooms on the opposite side, it's hard to imagine the place with fans inside but it's a dream that I cannot wait to be turned into reality.


I hope you enjoyed the pictures I have uploaded, to let you know the size of this University the pictures I have uploaded this evening only show 1/20th of it, and I am not exaggerating at all. So there will be a few picture updates over the next few weeks.

Laters,
Nial