Just Another Road Trip…Or Is It
Sports have shaped many of my long-standing hobbies, but I thought this series would highlight a lot of baseball stories. I have a bucket list of visiting every MLB stadium, and I am already more than halfway through it. I also used to have season tickets for the Toledo Mud Hens. They are the triple A affiliate of my favorite team, the Detroit Tigers. However, football keeps stealing the spotlight.
The NFL is set to announce today that Nashville will be the host of the Super Bowl in 2030. Not surprising with the Titans new stadium currently in progress. This announcement reminded me of a story from 14 years ago. It also happened in Tennessee, although this time in Knoxville.
On Friday, October 19, 2012, I almost added Peyton Manning’s autograph to my collection. The key word is almost.
Exploring Knoxville with One Goal in Mind
I decided to take a weekend road trip to Knoxville. The drive from Charlotte is just under four hours. I knew very little about Knoxville. I knew Pat Summitt coached the Lady Vols and that Peyton Manning played for the Tennessee Volunteers.
Naturally, my sports centered brain kept wondering if I might run into Peyton. The Volunteers were hosting Alabama that weekend. The Tide were ranked number one and would later win 44 to 13. Nick Saban coached Alabama at the time. He previously coached my Miami Dolphins in 2005 and 2006. My brain stores trivia like this for no reason other than personal amusement.
A Surprise Crowd and Guest
Around 4:30 pm that Friday, I was walking around Neyland Stadium. I noticed a small crowd forming across the street. A podium stood nearby. I had no idea what was happening.
Unbeknownst to me, Peyton Manning was in town to dedicate Peyton Manning Pass. The road is the main route for the Vol Walk. Fans line both sides as the team walks into the stadium. The road had been named for Peyton 14 years earlier. It had recently been painted to resemble Shields Watkins Field.
As I approached the crowd, Peyton Manning walked out in the flesh. I crossed the street to watch the dedication. After brief remarks from the Chancellor, alumni, and Peyton, he stepped into the crowd to sign autographs.
The Ink Explosion That Ruined My Moment
I wanted an autograph. But I had nothing for him to sign. I was prepared to sheepishly ask him to sign the UNC Tar Heels hat I was wearing. That alone should have disqualified me from the moment.
Unfortunately, but also fortunately, disaster struck. I pulled the cap off a ballpoint pen. The pen had previously exploded. Blue ink leaked out and covered both of my hands.
As a seasoned autograph collector, I should have known better. I should have borrowed a Sharpie from another fan. Many fans held expensive helmets and jerseys. I did not want to risk ruining anyone’s prized item. So, I kept my ink covered hands together and backed out of the crowd.
I did not get the autograph. However, I gained a story that still makes me laugh. Sometimes the near misses, similar to my previous Taylor Swift story, become the best memories.
Game Day Stories Series
- Post #1: Stadium #18 at Last: A Birthday Trip, Extra Innings, and a Legendary Delay
- Post #2: My 2019 NFL Draft Experience in Nashville
- Post #3: The Day I Almost Met Taylor Swift in Nashville
- Post #5: The Royals Claim the Championship in a 4–0 Showdown
- Post #6: Superstar Surprise on the Walk of Fame: A Game Day Story with a Hollywood Twist
- Post #7: Three Stadiums, One Coastline, and A Whole Lot of Baseball
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