Welcome to “Senior Insights,” a series written from seniors’ perspectives all about life on Rocky Top! We will cover everything from our favorite spots on campus to conquering the first home football game. We are here to provide you with all of the insights that we have discovered throughout our years at the university. Make sure you follow us on social media @utkstudentlife to get updates when we add a new story!

Attending your first college football game as a student can be exciting and thrilling. There is everything from making a ticket-request group to the actual day of the game when you are wondering what time to be there and how to get in. We are here to calm your nerves with our most useful tips on how to have a fun and safe game day!

Items to bring with you to the game.

To be able to get through the gates and into the game you will need your VolCard and ticket ready to be scanned. Most students will screenshot their ticket and have it on their phone but in the instance that your phone dies or you cannot pull the ticket up, you will not be able to get into the game. We recommend printing an extra copy of your ticket just in case. Which leads us into our next tip.

Make sure your phone is fully charged.

Some gamedays start earlier than others so it can end up being a really long day. Students and families will host tailgates that can be held multiple hours before the game is scheduled to start. After attending these tailgates and then the game, your phone has the potential to lose its charge. So, make sure your phone is fully charged before you head for the gameday festivities. You can also bring a portable charger if your phone is known to die quickly!

Get to the game early.

Plan to get to the game about an hour to an hour and half before kickoff. The most frustrating situation is when you arrive to find other students standing in your seats because you did not show up early enough. So, show up early to claim your spot!

Drink water and wear sunscreen. It will be hot!

Most of Neyland will be in the sun for the majority of football games. Be sure to wear sunscreen and drink plenty of water before heading to the stadium. The last thing you want is to be sunburnt and dehydrated by halftime!

Be responsible.

We know how fun it is to attend tailgates while celebrating the Vols before the big game but we want to be sure everyone is aware of the alcohol policy. Beginning with the BYU game, Neyland Stadium will start selling alcoholic beverages but we still remain a dry campus. Linked below are the changes for the implemented alcohol sales.

Make sure you have reviewed the alcohol, clear bag, and containers policies for Neyland Stadium, to be sure you have a fun and safe game day! As always, Go Vols!

Noah Redmond is a senior majoring in marketing with a collateral in entrepreneurship. He has worked for the university in multiple capacities for three years. He loves sports and is always trying to learn new things.

Kiera Przygoda is a senior at UT majoring in communication studies. She is the undergraduate public relations intern for the Office of Communication and Marketing. She has a passion for writing and media and a love for Disney. Kiera is also a student assistant at SEC Network and VFL Films.