Sitting on the banks of the Black Warrior River, Tuscaloosa, a thriving college community of 80,000, is home to the Alabama Crimson Tide – a member of college football’s elite. Just recently, Trip Captain visited Bama, to see what a Rammer Jammer weekend is like in SEC country.

Lay of the land
Rolling southwest from BMH International Airport on a Wednesday, October night, Trip Captain needed rest. He planned to see a ball game, kick back and relax in T-Town.

Getting there Tuscaloosa, Alabama is located in the western-central area of the state, 115 miles from Huntsville, and 283 miles from Knoxville, TN - home of the Tessessee Vols - to the north; 176 miles from Mobile, south, 168 miles from Hattiesburg, MS, and 133 miles from Oxford, MS - where the Ole Miss Rebels stay - northwest; 50 miles from Birmingham, and 248 miles from the home of the Georgia Bulldogs - Athens, GA, east; 100 miles from Montgomery and 132 miles from the Auburn Tigers, to the southeast. I-20/59 runs through the city’s southeast side, northeast to southwest, and US 82 cuts through, northwest to southeast.  Birmingham International Airport provides service to air travelers.

South on I-20/59 to Exit 73 on McFarland in Tuscaloosa, west to Campus Dr. and the Hampton Inn, next to the Wings Sports Bar and Grill.  After a quick tour of the area, he checked in and hit the sack. Cap was hungry, but first he needed sleep - he could make it until lunch tomorrow - at Dreamland.

TC awoke Thursday morning, rested. He was anxious to see the campus, but his first priority was to find a game ticket. This was a huge game, a tough ticket, and he was eager to put the ticket issue to rest.

He had read a book about fans - Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer, by Warren St. John – that chronicles the actions of Bama RVers. The author mentioned a ticket broker in the book, by the name of John Ed Belvin - Cap pulled out his cell phone and placed the call.

He got directions and soon found the place, 2123 9th St., Suite 207. The sign on the front of the building identified the office, "Need One Ticket.”

Cap bounded up the stairs on the outside of the building to the second floor office. The fella at the desk introduced himself as Corey.  Apparently, John Ed was not in. Cap glanced into John Ed’s office and noticed a huge framed picture of the cover of the book, Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer, on the wall opposite the desk.

Back to business. Corey said he had a ticket left in the north end zone, and one on the 25-yard line - 34 rows up. The price for the end zone seat sounded reasonable; the 25-yard-line seat was much higher than Cap had planned on paying. Tough choice.

Cap sat down in front of Corey’s desk and pondered. The end zone seat was among mostly Tennessee fans; the 25-yard-line seat was in the middle of Tide fans, and was a great view of the field. But the price...

"Well," he started, and the phone rang. Corey answered, "Yeah, I’ve got one in the end zone and another one on the 25 yard line…" "which I’ll take!" Cap blurted. Corey dropped the 25-yard-line ticket on the desk. "Sorry," he said into the receiver, "The 25-yard-line seat has just sold."

Cap counted out the purchase price, tucked the ticket gently into his wallet, and muttered to himself in the hallway as he left, "I wonder who was really on the other end of that phone call." Hmmm…

Buyer’s remorse nagged at him for about 30 seconds, but once outside, he took a deep breath, smiled into his car mirror, and said those three glorious words, "Ticket in hand.”

With that he was off, driving west to Lurleen Wallace Ave. (also 359), south to and left on Skyland, then right on McFarland to Jug Factory Road. He turned left in front of the Country Inn and Suites, and followed the winding street up over the hill to the original Dreamland Barbecue.

TC parked and found an open corner table. The famous eatery is located in an old building - once a house. The walls are covered with old photos, auto license plates, and signs accumulated

Sweet Home Alabama continued on next page...(click here)

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