Has anyone seen this yet? This sounds like it ought to be a blast! I ordered tickets today and am giving one to my brother as a christmas present. "A" Club BBQ cook-off :BigA:
"A" Club football BBQ cook-off
- Thread starter im4datide
- Start date
There were brochure's for it in the seats at the UTC game. I purchased tickets online the next day.:biga:
That was one of the most poorly organized events I have ever been to. Hopefully this year will be a learning experience and next year will be better.
There were no organized lines for the autographs. People were just pushing their way through everyone to get to whoever they wanted to see. The problems were magnified a great deal more around the more well-known guys too.
Also, the tables where the guys were signing were driectly behind the consession stands. so the lines for the BBQ were cluttered in with the lines for autographs. It was hard enough for me to move around in all that, much less for someone with a stroller or in a wheelchair.
As far as the free BBQ plates and samples went, the plates were good (at least the one I got was) but the samples were a complete waste of time. You stood in line for about 15 minutes and the sample was served to you in a small plastic sauce cup.
I dont want to sound like a Debbie Downer, because I did get a bunch of good autographs some free BBQ and hot dogs, but hopefully it will be planned out a little better next year.
ANyone else that have any thoughts?
Also, the tables where the guys were signing were driectly behind the consession stands. so the lines for the BBQ were cluttered in with the lines for autographs. It was hard enough for me to move around in all that, much less for someone with a stroller or in a wheelchair.
As far as the free BBQ plates and samples went, the plates were good (at least the one I got was) but the samples were a complete waste of time. You stood in line for about 15 minutes and the sample was served to you in a small plastic sauce cup.
I dont want to sound like a Debbie Downer, because I did get a bunch of good autographs some free BBQ and hot dogs, but hopefully it will be planned out a little better next year.
ANyone else that have any thoughts?
On a more positive note, I would like to say that I appreciate all the former players coming back and participating in this event. I'm sure some of them will end up with arthritis from siging autographs for 3 hours straight, not to mention putting up with all us crazy Bama fans.
S
superbamashane
Guest
Complete disaster! Absolutely no organization. I worked security at a limp bizkit concert once and got stuck in a mosh pit. Today was very comparable to that at times. Several advertised players not there and my very small bbq plate was cold. I appreciate the players that were there, but i should have spent my 50 bucks elsewhere. Today was the only time i regreted walking into bds. I swear i bleed crimson, but today was a huge dissapointment!
Posted via Mobile Device
Posted via Mobile Device
Well, I admit there were some 1st year clutter that I'm sure they will learn from, but I would say I had a great time. Just the opportunity to go into the locker room, get a picture with the National Championship trophy, get autographs from players dating back to the 60's. I really enjoyed the forum that Eli Gold and John Fourney (I think) held with each decade. They questioned them about their experience while playing for different coaches and how they felt about their Capstone experience. I just wish I had more time there. 3 hours is not quite enough to thoroughly enjoy everything you want. There were lots of lines and conjestion, but I'm sure the cold weather affected that to an extent. They tried to fit the BBQ and signing together and enclose the area in plastic to keep it warmer. I would say all in all, it was awesome. The kicker was UA beating UARK in B'ball after the picnic. Nice 1-2 punch.
Would definitely recommend it next year to anyone who asks.
Would definitely recommend it next year to anyone who asks.
First, the players that were signing autographs were awesome. The kids area were nice. And the chance to tour the locker room were worth the price of admission. And that's where the positives stopped.
Whoever organized the autographs lines (blobs) need to take some notes from other events. There were lines going in three or four directions at each table. People were going up and down the tables and from front and back. If they would have roped off some lines and had people follow the flow then it would have been much better. It was much easier to get autographs from players walking around on the field. I will also say this I have never seen people shove and push more than I have at this event (outside of a mosh pit). One of the players offered to take my 3 year old daughter behind the table with him because she was being run over.
Also, It would have helped if they would have allowed access to the field from more than one single gate on the West side of the field.
Additionally, the attraction to this event was that it was limited to around 3000. Well, there were many more people than that. It seems closer to 7500.
Finally, when you print a brochure with players that will be there... make sure they actually show up.
And I never got any of the bbq... I gave up on the lines and let my kids throw the football on the field and jump in the bouncers.
Great concept, great players... poor implementation.
Whoever organized the autographs lines (blobs) need to take some notes from other events. There were lines going in three or four directions at each table. People were going up and down the tables and from front and back. If they would have roped off some lines and had people follow the flow then it would have been much better. It was much easier to get autographs from players walking around on the field. I will also say this I have never seen people shove and push more than I have at this event (outside of a mosh pit). One of the players offered to take my 3 year old daughter behind the table with him because she was being run over.
Also, It would have helped if they would have allowed access to the field from more than one single gate on the West side of the field.
Additionally, the attraction to this event was that it was limited to around 3000. Well, there were many more people than that. It seems closer to 7500.
Finally, when you print a brochure with players that will be there... make sure they actually show up.
And I never got any of the bbq... I gave up on the lines and let my kids throw the football on the field and jump in the bouncers.
Great concept, great players... poor implementation.
I'm willing to cut them some slack seeing as how this was the first year of the event and all, but like others have said it wasn't a very thought out or more importantly executed event. I'm pretty sure there was way more people there than they actually sold tickets for too. If it had been more "spread out" (and by that I mean the food vendors and the autograph lines) it would have been much better. Being able to tour the locker room was worth it for me though, so I still had a good time.
How many 09 seniors were there.
Any?
Who were the notable players and notable no shows there?
Roll Tide guys and hope y'all had fun!!!:BigA:
Any?
Who were the notable players and notable no shows there?
Roll Tide guys and hope y'all had fun!!!:BigA:
In my original reply I said it was awful but I need to clarify that:
Organization was awful; the idea and players were awesome.
First of all, I was kinda dumb because I brought a 9-month old and a stroller. My wife is still in the "i can't leave the baby with anybody stage" and I wanted to go so we went. (I will say he did great the whole day)
There was a really long line when we arrived but when we went through the gate I was surprised that Wesley Britt and Derrick Oden greeted us and Oden asked if he could ride in the stroller.
I brought a full-sized helmet to get signed for my son so I wanted to get autographs first. This is where it got ugly. There were lines for BBQ running into the walkways which was congested from the autograph lines; and this was just in front of the 1650's players.
I wanted to get Brodie Croyle, JP Wilson, and Freddie Milons autographs so I jetted down to the 2000's players section with a stroller. When I got there, there were none there. Zero. So I went back up the 1990's. As I got in line I notice it didn't budge at all. There were too many fans cutting. This was about an hour into it so I told my wife I just wanted to get out and go onto the field. But she pointed me to Daniel Pope who was kinda signing off to the side. So I went and got it autograph and told him thanks and that my son would appreciate it. I told him he was 9 months and I wanted to get him started (becoming a fan) as soon as possible. Well, he felt sorry for me because I'm an idiot for bringing a baby there or something and he handed my helmet to last player signing. He told me just to follow it. So as a player signed, they passed it to the next. Unfortunately, I couldn't even see the players signing for the crowds in front of the tables. I would ask fans ever so often if there was a helmet on the table. It finally slowed down in front of Siran Stacey and I don't think he signed it.
At this point I really wanted to get out of the mad house so we went to the field and we got our pictures made with the BCS trophy. Next we decided to get our BBQ plate. You were supposed to be ale to sample different BBQs and show your ticket to your favorite and get a full plate. We just got in a line and got whatever they would give us. I probably would have downed a bologna sandwich if they gave it to me. As my wife waited in the BBQ line, I got some of the older players autos even though I didn't really know who they were. They were really nice though and seemed very happy to sign some autographs.
On a side note, Gary Britt who played from 74-77 is now an Elvis impersonator. He was just missing the white suit but he looked just like him.
After we ate, it was almost 2 pm. I didn't get to see the locker room unfortunately but we had a good time even though it was hectic. We then went to watch the b-ball game, but my son in his own unique way told us and everyone around us during half-time that it was time to go home; so we did.
All in all a good time. Poor organization but it was the first time so I expect they will adjust things next time.
Here are the players I have on the helmet (that I recognize):
Marvin Constant
Martin Houston
Paul Hogan
Wesley Britt
Derrick Oden
John Copeland
Evan Mathis
Daniel Pope
Michael Proctor ???
Jeremy Nunley
Matt Caddell ??? - He was supposed to be there but I didn't see any other 2000 players
Antonio London
Sam Collins
Lamanski Hall
Todd Bates
I'm not real sure about some of the older players.
Organization was awful; the idea and players were awesome.
First of all, I was kinda dumb because I brought a 9-month old and a stroller. My wife is still in the "i can't leave the baby with anybody stage" and I wanted to go so we went. (I will say he did great the whole day)
There was a really long line when we arrived but when we went through the gate I was surprised that Wesley Britt and Derrick Oden greeted us and Oden asked if he could ride in the stroller.
I brought a full-sized helmet to get signed for my son so I wanted to get autographs first. This is where it got ugly. There were lines for BBQ running into the walkways which was congested from the autograph lines; and this was just in front of the 1650's players.
I wanted to get Brodie Croyle, JP Wilson, and Freddie Milons autographs so I jetted down to the 2000's players section with a stroller. When I got there, there were none there. Zero. So I went back up the 1990's. As I got in line I notice it didn't budge at all. There were too many fans cutting. This was about an hour into it so I told my wife I just wanted to get out and go onto the field. But she pointed me to Daniel Pope who was kinda signing off to the side. So I went and got it autograph and told him thanks and that my son would appreciate it. I told him he was 9 months and I wanted to get him started (becoming a fan) as soon as possible. Well, he felt sorry for me because I'm an idiot for bringing a baby there or something and he handed my helmet to last player signing. He told me just to follow it. So as a player signed, they passed it to the next. Unfortunately, I couldn't even see the players signing for the crowds in front of the tables. I would ask fans ever so often if there was a helmet on the table. It finally slowed down in front of Siran Stacey and I don't think he signed it.
At this point I really wanted to get out of the mad house so we went to the field and we got our pictures made with the BCS trophy. Next we decided to get our BBQ plate. You were supposed to be ale to sample different BBQs and show your ticket to your favorite and get a full plate. We just got in a line and got whatever they would give us. I probably would have downed a bologna sandwich if they gave it to me. As my wife waited in the BBQ line, I got some of the older players autos even though I didn't really know who they were. They were really nice though and seemed very happy to sign some autographs.
On a side note, Gary Britt who played from 74-77 is now an Elvis impersonator. He was just missing the white suit but he looked just like him.
After we ate, it was almost 2 pm. I didn't get to see the locker room unfortunately but we had a good time even though it was hectic. We then went to watch the b-ball game, but my son in his own unique way told us and everyone around us during half-time that it was time to go home; so we did.
All in all a good time. Poor organization but it was the first time so I expect they will adjust things next time.
Here are the players I have on the helmet (that I recognize):
Marvin Constant
Martin Houston
Paul Hogan
Wesley Britt
Derrick Oden
John Copeland
Evan Mathis
Daniel Pope
Michael Proctor ???
Jeremy Nunley
Matt Caddell ??? - He was supposed to be there but I didn't see any other 2000 players
Antonio London
Sam Collins
Lamanski Hall
Todd Bates
I'm not real sure about some of the older players.
I didn't see any '09 seniors. Lots of '93 Nat. Champ. team there. Jay Barker, John Copeland, Antonio Langham, Lamanski Hall, Derrick Oden. Lots more, but enjoyed seeing the closeness those guys still have. Siran Stacey was one of my favorites because of his story and love for Alabama.
I bought two tickets but decided not to go and just gave them to a co-worker.
He called me about 6pm and said that it was the worst experience he had ever had for an Alabama event. And he would have demanded his money back if he had paid for the tickets.
He said the former players were trying their best but it was just too confusing on how to get their autographs let alone pictures. The dressing room was a cluster when they let people in and they would not leave making it feel like you were cattle in a fenced in area.
It was so crowded and confusing that they left and ate at Wild Wings which he said was the best part of the trip.
He called me about 6pm and said that it was the worst experience he had ever had for an Alabama event. And he would have demanded his money back if he had paid for the tickets.
He said the former players were trying their best but it was just too confusing on how to get their autographs let alone pictures. The dressing room was a cluster when they let people in and they would not leave making it feel like you were cattle in a fenced in area.
It was so crowded and confusing that they left and ate at Wild Wings which he said was the best part of the trip.
He was there. Tim and Simeon Castille were there too.
Nice helmet. I remember seeing it getting sent down the line.
Last edited:
I saw Eric Aynders and Brian Sellman.
Someone else told me they saw Mt. Cody but I never did.
This event was a nightmare. I went mostly to see/photograph players, sample the "all you can eat" BBQ, and maybe get a few autographs and meet a few players. No real ambition about autographs because I am not really a collector or anything, just thought it would be cool to spend a day in Feb in BDS.....What. A. Nightmare. Too many people, not organized AT ALL, not enough event staff, not enough food workers, way too many tickets sold,too few tunnels open, etc. So many things could have been done better and it could have been an amazing event. As it was, I almost had a panic attack from proximity. The only good thing I can say about it is that 99% of the players actually gave you the feeling they WANTED to be there. Only one exception, and I guess the NFL has given him a big head. The players gave it a ton, and the university let them and the fans down.
And for the record, the field looked like crap. Since it's the off-season and all....:wink:
And for the record, the field looked like crap. Since it's the off-season and all....:wink:
TideFans.shop - Get your Gear HERE!
Alabama Crimson Tide Car Door Light
Get this and many more items at our TideFans.shop!
Purchases may result in a commission being paid to TideFans.