That is how many inches of rain were dumped during a 24 hour time span into the game. We have the “tropical storm game” from 1999 vs Nicholas State when Irene passed through which I witnessed. Then there was the game in 2005 vs Tulane that was moved to Friday because of Hurricane Wilma. However I’ll always remember this game as the wettest game I’ve ever sat through in person. O’Leary said it was the most rain during a game that he has ever been involved with. The rain started on Friday and never stopped for a single moment on Saturday, which meant it was a wet tailgate too.

Unfortunately I forgot my camera which is actually waterproof so I had to rely on just taking a few iPhone pics this time. As you can see there are some benefits to a rain soaked tailgate though! The picture above from the Orlando Sentinel tells it all from how it was during the game. Soaking wet.

Knights got a much needed win, beating Marshall 16-6, to start the Conference USA schedule in a game that wasn’t pretty but we did what we had to do. Huge props to the defense that pitched a shutout (Marshall scored off fumble return) and continues to dominate. Now it’s on to possibly the toughest test of the year @ SMU!

I would say this was definitely one of the best overall away trips I’ve taken and I’ve done a lot. Of course the way we did this one by hitting Vegas for a night, 3 days in Zion National Park, and ending in SLC certainly helped. Vegas was Vegas and all four of us left with positive gains, so it was a good 24 hour stop. Zion was simply amazing, one of best national parks I’ve been to and I’d go back anytime just for this place alone. The hiking and canyoneering here was a blast and the setting was beautiful! We did the two most famous hikes in the park with Angel’s Landing & Narrows, the later of which we had to rent shoes, neoprene socks, and a hiking stick to be properly outfitted. Just look at the pics and you’ll see why.

Provo (where BYU plays) was interesting to say the least. The people were outrageously friendly and it was fun to hook up with one of the few BYU tailgates running and likely the only that were accepting of us having a few adult beverages. Extra cool that we met Orlando Mayor Deyer while there. The stadium itself has the most beautiful natural backdrop I’ve ever encountered, what a gorgeous setting! After the game we got some funny responses when asking where a bar was and literally no one knew where one was or if one existed. We finally had to look it up on the Internet, and notice I said “it” because there is only one. Hitting that one bar in Provo was an experience as it certainly was the counter-culture stomping grounds for the area. I live band playing there started with the song “I want to be a polygamist” in an obvious satirical way. We ran into some other UCF fans there who were teaching the locals drinking games, but we found out that ultimately they got thrown out for bring too drunk. Yep, sounds about right.

Salt Lake City I think actually felt a bit smaller than Orlando, but I liked it. Definitely a huge clash of cultures there. Best summed up by our experience of getting a tour of Temple Square by some missionary sisters that would have been happy to convert us on the spot to walking just a few blocks and away running into the Utah Undie Run. The run was basically a protest against the heavy restrictions in Utah based on church influence. Thousands of mostly college age students (unfortunately half men and women) ran from a park down State St and around the Capital. Very memorable experience to say the least. We hit some bars in SLC Saturday night and couldn’t help but notice there doesn’t seem to be much middle ground. You have the Mormons that obviously aren’t partying and then you have a strong counter/alternative culture on the other side. A very very high percentage of woman out drinking had at least one tattoo as a small example.

Overall this was a fantastic trip that I’d do again in a heartbeat. Notice I said nothing of the game itself because I’ve already blocked it from memory.

Boston College Tailgate & Game Pics

FIU Tailgate & Game Pics

Additionally I have to make a quick post about how awesome Knight fans did on the red bandanna tribute. It was really touching and I’m so proud that everyone got behind this tribute to a wonderful man. It seemed like just about everyone had a bandanna and it was a fantastic moment when they were being waved while Welles’ sisters were on the field. Something I’ll always remember. Here is a cool pic someone uploaded on FB that shows the participation.

Here is a great highlight package down by brahman!
 

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6929979

Conference USA a showcase for college quarterbacks

• UCF fans throwing the red beads back on the street during parade
• All the delicious food which I detail below!
• Giving play by play updates to Knight fans in Gus’ chicken for Princeton BB game! We win!
• The sweet taste of victory over a traditional powerhouse to end an incredible month & year for UCF!
• Talking to D. Hallman after the game and letting him know what this victory means for long-time fans
• UCF chants and Zombie Nation taking over the Doubletree atrium/lobby after the game.
• Seeing Derrick again outside of hotel, then Jah Reid after the guitar dropped
• Buddha scaring the crap out of me in a top floor room at the spooky Earnestine & Hazel’s bar, never ever been to a bar like this before. 2nd floor bar tender was awesome.

FOOD REVIEWS:

Interstate BBQ : 5* – This was our first stop of the trip and I think most if not all of our pretty large group came away pretty impressed. Looking back I think this place was the most consistent in terms of having excellent sides and entrees. The pulled pork itself was 2^nd only to Commissary but the sandwich which had the most delicious cole slaw on it makes it a draw between the two spots in terms of a pulled pork sandwich. In addition to having the best cole slaw we had all weekend, I think the same can be said for its baked beans. I also like that the place has a bit of the hole in the wall charm to it! I’m going to proclaim this as my #1 overall favorite BBQ joint in Memphis! If I had to choose only one place on a future trip this would be the place.

Central BBQ: 5* – This place gets the 5 stars based almost entirely on how delicious the ribs were! We picked up food here on the way to the tailgate and I personally got a full slab of ribs (½  and ½ between wet/dry) along with beans and Mac N’Cheese. I loved these ribs, big time. In fact upon my first bite I jumped for joy because I thought they were so delicious and it goes for both the dry and the wet. I probably lean towards liking the wet better because I like my ribs that way but I can pretty confidently say either type are my favorite ribs I’ve had in Memphis. Also have to say the Mac N’Cheese here was fantastic. I would say this is probably my #2 favorite overall in Memphis, can’t wait to go back!

Commissary BBQ: 4* – I was able to try both the ribs and the pulled pork here and while both were delicious I have to say the pulled pork was the winner. Just in terms of the meat itself, it may be some of the most delicious pork I’ve had, I even was eating some without any sauce it was that good. The ribs were very good too, just not at Central’s level…although in fairness this was the last BBQ we had so some fatigue may have been setting in. All the sides I had I enjoyed a lot, and the Pigs Feet appetizer we got was incredible, definitely going to get those again next time! Great overall BBQ joint, would put in between my top two above and Corky’s which I hit on my previous trip.

Gus’ World Famous Fried Chicken: 4.5* – This was the most delicious fried chicken I personally have had. Sometimes the hype doesn’t live up, but for me it did in this case. The chicken has a great spice to it, the meat was juicy, but yet it didn’t seem like it was all that greasy. I’m going to dream of this chicken. Oh and you can get a 40oz here, which of course a few of us did.

Brother Juniper’s: 4.5* – We had this for breakfast on the final day and this is a return visit for me as I hit them back in 2007. This place is just awesome for breakfast; I wish I could take it back home with me to Orlando. They have a pretty inventive menu in terms of their open face omelets and potato dishes! The wife and I split our meal between the The Desperado open face omelet (Sauteed Tomatoes, Green Onions, with Black Beans and Salsa on a Bed of Avocado Spread topped w/ Mozzarella Cheese and Sour Cream) and P4 Potato Dish (w/ Spinach, Mushrooms, Green Onions, Tomatoes, Mozzarella, & Feta Cheese).  Absolutely fantastic, and I was able to wash it down with a café latte! I’m sold!

Missy Polly’s: 4* – This wasn’t on the itinerary but went here due to a timing issue and I’m very glad we added it in! I got the chicken and waffles here and it’s the first time I’ve ever had that combo. It surely won’t be the last, what an amazing combo! The chicken here is almost as good as Gus’ chicken and has a nice kick to it; somehow it fit perfectly with a waffle draped in butter & syrup! After the fact looking at the reviews, looks like people are very high on the fried pickles so next trip will have to come back and try them along with the fried green tomato sandwich!

Huey’s: 3.5* – We went here pretty much right after having “breakfast” at Miss Polly’s so we were stuffed, but I still wanted to try out the famous burger here so the wife and I split one. Let me tell you they have some pretty delicious burgers! Now it’s nothing that made me jump for joy like the ribs at Central BBQ did, but scanning in my head I’d be hard pressed to name a spot that definitely has better burgers! We also enjoyed spitting the tooth picks into the ceiling here!

Blues City Café: 3* – Keep hearing great things about this place from locals and other UCF fans, and it was good so don’t get me wrong, but I would say this was probably my least favorite meal of the trip. Nothing was bad, just nothing was absolutely incredible. I had the combo of ribs and fried catfish. The catfish was very good and I wish I only got that for my entire meal. The ribs were more like ribs I can get back in Orlando, good but nothing to write home about. I also really enjoyed the tamales, but others in my group thought they were disappointing. Just didn’t live up to some of the other spots we hit!

ATTRACTION REVIEWS:

Mojo Music Bus Tour: 4.5* – OK so I really loved this tour. This isn’t your typical bus tour for many reasons. 1) you can bring drinks on the tour 2) you can play an instrument on the tour 3) your tour guide is a local musician who gives you a good history of Memphis as you drive around the city and 4) the guide plays songs right out of that history he just discussed. Not a bad way to learn about the role Memphis played in American music history. Our guide was Gary Hardy who was playing later that night at the Blue City Café and has a musical history that is almost unbelievable. We Googled him and found out it appears he spoke the truth, although if he left out some of his more personal history I would have given this a 5* rating. Still you can’t ask for someone with more musical knowledge to be your tour guide and it was a fun and factual filled 2 hours! I Definitely recommend this tour!

Stax Museum of American Soul: 4* – The wife and I hit this Thursday morning shortly after we landed and we both really enjoyed it. I wouldn’t say it compares to Sun Studio, but we learned a lot about the development of Soul music and the role that Stax records played. The racial angle was fascinating in how the company was before and after the terrible assassination of MLK. We spent about 2 hours here and probably could have spent another 30 min had we had more time.

Memphis Zoo: 4* – Memphis has a real gem here, I can see why it was the #1 rated zoo by TripAdvisor in 2008. I’m hardly a zoo expert and I don’t usually go to them when traveling, but from my experience this zoo has some of the most diverse animals I’ve seen. Everything from pandas and giraffes to polar bears and grizzly bears. Not only do they have lots of variation in animals, the settings are pretty grand so the animals aren’t just locked in some small cage. It’s seemed like this was kind of halfway between a normal zoo and an animal-based theme park like SeaWorld/Bush Gardens. Obviously no rides or anything just some great looking exhibits that I don’t typically associate with a standard zoo! Plus it was half-price due to the time of year so it cost the two of us $15 in total to get in.

Overall this was another fantastic trip to a city I really enjoy after first visiting back in 2007 for our first Liberty Bowl. The only disappointments were I felt the live blues music wasn’t quite as good this time around and the guitar dropping early on NYE causing us to miss the countdown. But hey I guess we’ll always remember getting poured and not getting a NYE countdown, so it created a memory at least. I had a pretty aggressive itinerary in terms of food and I’m happy that I accomplished it because it was all so very good. I’m already looking forward to going back for more BBQ, blues, and music history when UCF wins C-USA again!

(from Orlando Sentinel)

I’ve been working on a travel document for our group, but that I’d share the food portion of it for others. The base was a post on the Rivals UCF forum and I then compiled additional information that may be helpful to other Knight fans going to Memphis as it includes address, phone, holiday hours, and ratings info for many top choice food stops!

My Memphis Eating Guide