Week 5 Recap: Dixieland Delight Indeed!

As predicted, Hurricane Helene threw a wrench in our plans last weekend. The Dons of Danville were supposed to fly into the Redneck Riviera on Thursday for some beach time before heading up to Tuscaloosa for the Alabama vs. Georgia showdown. Unfortunately, Panama City Beach airport shut down all incoming flights that day, leaving the crew scrambling. Only one Don, Chris DeSimone, managed to fly directly into Birmingham on Friday. So, I made the call and drove up to Birmingham for the night, where we grabbed dinner at Saw's Juke Joint and enjoyed some stellar barbecue. My prayers are with those affected by the storm especially in the North Carolina mountains and Eastern Tennessee.

Saturday started early. I needed to be on campus at the University of Alabama by 9:00 a.m. for my live interview at 9:45 a.m. on Sirius XM Radio's Jimmy Mack Show, channel 146, broadcasting from our tailgate. Afterward, we strolled over to catch a bit of ESPN College GameDay. Terry Saban, Nick's wife and a revered figure among the Crimson Tide faithful, was the guest picker.

Dan on the Jimmy Mac Show, Joe and Dan repping Tailgate Connect!

Back at the B.U.T.T. tailgate, hosted by Randy Darby, we welcomed over 100 guests through Tailgate Connect®. The food, catered by Shelly’s Kitchen, was phenomenal—baked chicken, loaded potatoes, buffalo chicken dip, green beans, and an assortment of beers and cocktails. The DJ kept the energy high, and the people-watching was top-notch as tens of thousands passed by, many stopping to dance to the tunes. The campus buzz was as electric as I've ever felt, with anticipation through the roof for both teams.

The B.U.T.T. and the Goodyear blimp in the sky

Brad showing the horse soldier bourbon, Randy Darby the Legend, Butch Ferguson, played for the Bear.

Best ESPN Gameday sign, the gate in full swing, the fellas taking in the ESPN scene.

People keep asking, "How much did I pay for my game ticket?" Well, let’s just say, knowing someone like my good friend Alabama Al helps. What would’ve cost $500-$600 on the open market, we snagged for $200 each—Row 16, 20-yard line behind the Alabama bench. And the perks didn’t stop there. We had a front-row view of Hank Williams Jr., Kid Rock, John Daly, as they were in front of us for the 2nd quarter on the Bama sideline. Even  former President Donald J. Trump was in attendance for this epic game. The security presence was intense, with Secret Service agents seemingly everywhere.

The F18 flyover, the flight crew, Hank Jr. and all his rowdy friends!

As for the game, well, what a rollercoaster! Alabama dominated the first half, jumping out to a 28-0 lead, leaving many viewers assuming it would be a blowout. Jalen Milroe was unstoppable, and his favorite target, 17-year-old phenom Ryan Williams, looked “uncoverable.” But Georgia, under Coach Kirby Smart, made all the right halftime adjustments. Carson Beck, who struggled in the first half, came alive, leading the Dawgs to three second-half touchdowns. Georgia cut the lead to 34-28 and even took a one-point lead late in the game.

Battle in the trenches, the crew, Lt. Dan and Forest reunite, the celebs.

However, Milroe and Williams had one more trick up their sleeve. Williams broke away for a stunning go-ahead touchdown, leaving Georgia with less than two minutes to mount a final drive. That drive ended with an interception in the end zone, securing Alabama’s victory in what’s already being called an instant classic. We managed to beat the traffic and headed back to our hotel in Birmingham, high on the adrenaline of such an epic day.

Around the Country
Friday night delivered two big games. Virginia Tech got robbed in the final seconds of their game against Miami, with a controversial reversal of a Hail Mary touchdown that many believe was ACC interference to preserve Miami’s playoff hopes. On the same night, Rutgers knocked off Washington, going 4-0 for the first time in my lifetime. The biggest upset came when Kentucky stunned Ole Miss, thanks to a botched field goal. Arizona shocked Utah in Salt Lake City, and Oklahoma squeaked by Auburn despite lacking much offense. Meanwhile, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty continued to put up video game-like stats in their win over Washington State.

In FCS action, Montana beat Eastern Washington in a thriller on the “red inferno,” and in D2 action, Frostburg State improved to 4-0.

Bieber Award
Plenty of candidates for this week’s Bieber Award—Hurricane Helene, the ACC’s bad call, or even me for forgetting to mention Mrs. Tailgate during my Sirius/XM interview—but none come close to what former UNLV QB1 Matthew Sluka did. After leading UNLV to a 3-0 start, Sluka demanded $100,000 in NIL money, allegedly promised to him. When UNLV refused, Sluka quit on his team midseason. The slippery slope in the world of NIL that Sluka possibly has created will have effects that are far-reaching for a long time unless guardrails are put in place ASAP. Poetic justice was served when UNLV’s backup led them to victory on Saturday. Congratulations, Sluka—you’ve earned this week’s Bieber Award. Enjoy your new Bieber hardware, because it’s probably the last trophy you’ll see in your college career.

Ginger Award
This week’s Ginger Award goes to The Final Mile, a charity that supports truck drivers and their families during times of need, especially when a driver passes away far from home. Two gentlemen from the organization, Randy Dye and Brad Bentley, were part of the 25-person group from the truck driving industry attending the B.U.T.T. tailgate. We ran a raffle Saturday to help raise money for The Final Mile. Please consider visiting their website and making a donation: The Final Mile. This is one badass organization.

Next Up
After six straight weekends of games, I’m seriously considering taking a breather. October is going to be packed with travel, and I might need to recharge. That said, if I can be persuaded, I could be tempted to drive to Gainesville, Florida, for Saturday night’s Gators vs. UCF showdown. What do you think? Should I take the weekend off, or keep the streak alive?

Happy tailgating!