re: For those who have been to Tuscaloosa

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Otherwise, the stadium isn't especially loud or intimidating

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I've found this is because 1. the students are about 60% out of state and aren't born and bred with the passion of SEC fans like the local kids are. And 2. Their fans are SO incredibly afraid of losing it's like they're on pins and needles all game until they either (god forbid) win or (god forbid) lose. In which case you'll hear about it and neither is fun for someone not in the cult to be around.

Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT go to BHam after the game. Get a room in Meridian, MS which is easier to get to after the game than Bham. Hampton Inn and Hilton Garden Inn have rooms in Meridian.

If someone introduces you to his girlfriend, don't ask to meet his sister, because they are the same person.

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I've found this is because 1. the students are about 60% out of state and aren't born and bred with the passion of SEC fans like the local kids are. And 2. Their fans are SO incredibly afraid of losing it's like they're on pins and needles all game until they either (god forbid) win or (god forbid) lose. In which case you'll hear about it and neither is fun for someone not in the cult to be around.

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I dunno about that. The place wakes up when it needs to.

I was there for the 2011 game. The place was ridiculously loud that night, and no one ever sat down. Even the old folks who've sat on their hands every week for the last 50 years, were cheering. It was louder than any stadium I've ever been in. Though admittedly, I haven't been to Death Valley. On one hand I wish we would have sold our 2 tickets for $2,000 (really good seats, and were free for us). But I am so glad I was there, greatest atmosphere I've ever been in for a game. I swear there were a 175,000 people around the stadium. It was an insane crowd. So much fun. After the game some younger LSU fans were driving down Bryant Drive talking shite to Bama fans at the top of their lungs, and a group of older LSU fans walking next to us offered to kick their arse.

Saw nothing but fun and respect between the vast majority of both fanbases that night. I think everyone left thinking both teams were fairly close in talent, and that they were the 2 best teams in the country.

Back to the OP, the post game lines for the bus to University Mall can get fairly long, but they go quickly. They have around 20, 50 passenger buses in the rotation, and they have the route and timing, of the buses getting in and out, down pat. The longest I've sat in line waiting was 20ish minutes, but we went to look at a few of the vendors around the stadium before getting in line.

Trust me, waiting 10-20 minutes to get on a bus, is WAY better than sitting in your vehicle for an hour or longer before getting to the interstate. Longest it's taken us to get to the stadium from the Mall is 15 minutes. Last time I parked near the stadium it took us an hour to see the interstate, and that wasn't an LSU game. Which is always one of the largest crowds for home games. The Iron Bowl is the only one with a consistently larger crowd.

Also, unless y'all have other plans in the direction of Birmingham, I too would advise heading towards Meridian. Though if you drive a little farther there are a few hotels in Newton, MS as well. There is a lot of construction on 20/59 closer to Birmingham. Plus, something compounding the issue a bit, is that it's a night game. Everyone will be leaving at the same time. There won't be a fairly large group of people doing a post game tailgate like there is for day games. 75%-85% of Bama fans coming in for the game will come from Birmingham's direction.

Have fun guys, enjoy the trip.

I agree with Wannabe, it is one of the best road trips right up there with UGA, even though the last two times there Bama ended up winning big in the second half. I went 2 years ago and, on the whole, the Bama fans were pretty cool. Any school you visit will have at least a few jerks you will come across, but that's no big deal.

The stadium is very nice, as is the campus. That place has come a very long way in the last 10 years. It's impressive. Winning will do that.

I agree with the people on here saying the in-game experience is not good. They have all of these obnoxious sound effects and terrible music -- and all of it is very loud. It's surprising Bama fans are okay with that stuff. It's truly horrendous. Also, just as an aside, LSU's new South Upper Deck blows away Bama's endzone upper decks (where they stick the visiting fans).

I am a big fan of staying in Birmingham, despite the post game traffic issue. I just like staying where there are decent hotels and restaurants. There are some cool spots in Birmingham you can hit Friday night. Beats Meridian.

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The best time of your life if there is a miracle and we win

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Agree with all the above but especially this. Was also there for 9-6, every single bar was shut down after the game. The police tried to corral and bully all the LSU fans who were celebrating with each other. A lot of drunk in public arrest made right after the game ended and majority of these people were just jumping up and down and hugging one another. Tuscaloosa is a shitehole.

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I lived in Demopolis several times

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I'll be in Faunsdale drunk as hell on yellow hammers that weekend. Looking forward to the endless harassment in Ttown Saturday.

Role Todd

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every single bar was shut down after the game.

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Remember, the game was over well after 11 pm local time, and Tuscaloosa was a dry city on Sundays back then.

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The police tried to corral and bully all the LSU fans who were celebrating with each other.

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I didn't see anything of the sort, but I don't think it's an exaggeration to say there were a minimum of 50,000 extra visitors to T-town that weekend. So cops trying to err on the side of caution and keep things calm, is understandable with between 150,000 and 200,000 fans in town.

Again, I saw college age guys screaming at fans from their car while driving down Bryant Drive after the game. At times, the kids in the backseat were actually half out of the car, sitting on the car door's window sill, and no cop made a move in their direction.


I don't think all of the music is as bad as some are saying, but the piped in "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah," from Scott Cochran is ridiculously loud, and even annoying to me most of the time. It also depends on where you sit, some areas are louder than others.

Definitely have better concessions than Tiger Stadium by a looooonnnnnngggggggg way. I've been to every road game there since 2007. Don't sleep on the BBQ Nachos. I think thats why I've never gotten the hate for dreamland. I've never had anything there except for their BBQ nachos...and I love those things

I agree with everyone saying to stay in Meridian. That is my town of choice for lodging. Especially this year as I have to make the trip back down to BR, pick up the wife and pups, and head over to Waco in the same damn Sunday. Gonna be a long day on the road.

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My G/F

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