Welcome to Tuscaloosa and the University of Alabama. I know you will enjoy the game and your visit. Some quick ideas to do while on campus:
Friday night there is a riverboat cruise pep rally with the cheerleaders, Big Al, and the MDB pep band. The trip includes snacks, cokes, and beer. It is a blast and sponsored by the local Alumni Chapter and all money raised goes to student scholarships. The cost is $20. It is well worth it. The boat only holds 150 including the band and cheerleaders so it is an intense fun trip. Space is limited but if you are interested but there will be two trips on the Black Warrior River. You can find more information and register for the trip on the University website under Parents' Weekend. Everyone is invited.
Walk the campus and enjoy the history and the beauty. Read the historical markers around campus to get a feel as to why Alabama is so special to those who love the University. The campus is centered around the Quad where Denny Chimes is located. Visit the base of the Chimes to see the cleat and hand prints of all former football captains since 1946. Visit the four buildings (the President's Mansion, the Gorgas House, the Round Guard House, and the Maxwell observatory) that survived the burning of the campus on April 4th, 1864 by union troops. Read the historical marker in front of the Gorgas Library honoring the students who were annihilated when they went out to face the advancing union army to defend the campus. If you are interested in civil rights history, go stand in the door where former Governor Wallace stood in the school house door at Foster Auditorium on June 11, 1963. There is also a gravesite of three former slaves that is very well preserved on the side of the round Biology building. You can view campus maps on the University website.
There are campus tours but the last one on Friday is usually at 2:00 PM. You can arrange a campus tour or simply follow along with one when you see a Capstone man or woman leading one. Look for students in dark grey suits or the girls in crimson suits leading a group. They will be walking backwards talking to the group.
Visit the Bryant Museum to understand our football history. If possible do it Friday afternoon or early Saturday morning, when it would be less crowded -but it will be very crowded. In addition to looking at the exhibits, watch the videos and listen to the broadcast recordings. There is a gift shop inside the museum that has some items found no where else on campus or Tuscaloosa.
Saturday before the game make sure you go to Kick Off on the Quad. It will be the center of all game day activities. Don't miss it. There is some fantastic food at the event. My personal favorite is the Blackened Ribeye Steak sandwich. I eat at least one every game. There will be a pep rally on the Quad right before the game with all the cheerleaders and the MDB. The fun starts early so plan to be there early.
You can visit the original Dreamland BBQ where you can enjoy the atmosphere and ribs. It will be extremely crowded so expect to spend two or three hours waiting and eating. The Waysider for breakfast is also good but once again the experience will take close to two hours. Most anyone can give you directions to both. I would not go there on game day since you would miss too much on campus.
You can find souvenirs on the strip or Bryant Drive. The Supe store on campus in the Ferguson Center has by far the greatest selection. The strip also has numerous bars and grills if you are interested.
Finding a place to stay will be a challenge. Good luck. I am assuming you will have to stay 40 or 50 miles away from campus. Rumor has it this will be a 11 or 11:30 kickoff so you will have to leave by daylight to get to the Quad and the game. Traffic will be terrible so pray there are no accidents to make it worse.
You are going to have a great time on campus and you will love it.
A quick story. Two years ago when we played Oklahoma in Tuscaloosa, two OU grads living in Dallas came to the game with their high school daughter who had attended every OU game with them since she was 5 years old. It was their first visit to the campus. On the way home the daughter informed her parents she wanted to go to Alabama. The dad replied, "I don't blame you honey -I would too!" She is now a junior at the University of Alabama.
This is a special place and I am excited you are going to experience it.
