| |
Vol Fans vs LSU Fans - John Dunn
FOX 17 News – By: John Dunn
Vol fans are getting ready for the game of the year, but the rivalry with LSU isn’t just on the football field.
Some fans are taking their school spirit home with them.
Bill and Linda Penny’s home decor tells you all you need to know. The Penny’s are big time Big Orange fans.
"At some point our friends talked us into getting season tickets, and from there it has just been magic," says Bill Penny.
Tennessee trinkets seem to magically appear around their West Meade home…even behind closed doors.
"This is our big orange closet," says Linda Penny.
The Penny’s haven’t missed a home game since 1991, and for the past few years they’ve gone to all the away games too.
They’ve accumulated a lot of clothes from head to toe.
"These are orange shoes. Some you wear when you go to dinner the night before, or something, or some you wear for the game," says Linda Penny.
"It's just been an accumulation of things that we really liked to display and have on hand…just kind of remind us of who we are," says Bill Penny.
The Penny’s wear their school spirit on their sleeves…literally.
"Well I wear two watches, one is Neyland Stadium time, and one is Nashville time, and I wear them like that all the time," says Linda Penny.
Saturday, all of the orange will clash with plenty of purple and gold.
From the moment you pull up to Rob Chandler's Antioch house you know exactly where he stands, it's LSU all the way.
"I like to represent, it's all about representing your school and your pride, show your pride for your team and your colors," says Rob Chandler.
Rob Chandler is the president of Nashville’s LSU Alumni Association, and a true fan of the tigers.
"If you know any LSU fan, we don't halfway go -- it's all the way or it's nothing," says Chandler.
In his home you’ll find LSU lamps, highlights, and headlines…all things big and small. There’s even an LSU Christmas tree.
"Christmas to us is purple and gold, so it just depends on what colors you like, I guess," says Chandler.
Rob is watching highlights from the 2001 SEC Championship game, where the Tigers topped Tennessee.
Of course those in Big Orange country hope for a different result on Saturday, and maybe a new decoration for their homes.
"I'm working on redecorating the living room, to bring in more fall colors," says Linda Penny.
"How much is that gonna cost," says Bill.
"Trust me, you'll find out," says Linda.
We’re not sure we want to know.
Bill and Linda Penny have also taken their love of UT to the internet. Linda developed the fan website volhouse.com.
You can find Rob Chandler and his fellow LSU alumni watching the big game every week at “On the Rocks Bar and Grill” on Demonbreun.
You can visit the alumni group’s website at www.lsunashville.com. Chandler says the group is open to all Tiger fans – even if you aren’t an alum.
Vol Fans vs LSU Fans - John Dunn
|
|
