Volunteering in Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers vs. Belmont Bruins (NCAA)
Lindsey Nelson Stadium-Knoxville, TN: The first game of our trip this year (not a pure baseball trip, but vacation non-the-less), was a college game in Knoxville. Knoxville is a beautiful town, and the Tennessee campus is great. The only real beef I have with this ballpark is that they didn’t let be bring a bag inside. For many of us that attend games, we know we must have all of our ‘stuff’, including baseball gloves, sun block, camera, rain ponchos, etc. Working for DHS, I understand safety protocal, but not allowing fans to bring their ‘stuff’ in is simply laziness of the security staff, and not wanting to do their jobs.
On a more positive note, Brian did get a game ball…
As for the game, the Volunteers were hosting another Tennessee team, the Belmont Bruins. This was a solid game for the home team, as they put up some runs. Leading the way for the Volunteers were Justin Ammons, who went 2-3 with two runs scored, and Jay Charleston, who went 1-2 with a run scored and three RBI’s. On the mound, Will Heflin earned the win. He pitched three innings allowing one run, and striking out one. FINAL: Volunteers 6, Bruins 2.
The night ended on a good note, as well, as we were reunited with former West Michigan Whitecaps and Traverse City Beach Bum Ross Kivett, who is now a coach with the Volunteers.
Photos property of Minoring In Baseball
Minoring In Baseball 
Not being able to bring a bag in is very odd. Virginia established a “clear bag” policy for all its events a few years ago and that seems to work well. You can put a lot of baseball necessities in the clear bag (there is a size limit on the bag … but it’s big enough to cram in a scorecard, camera, raincoat, and other essentials). And, it’s easy for the security folks to examine the bag as you enter.
Maybe because my bag wasn’t clear then? Not sure, but didn’t make sense to me at the time. It’s tough to carry around different bags for different ballparks. We still had a fun time at the game, though.
It was weird the first time it happened to me in Oakland at the Raiders game (we can still take any bag into baseball games) I knew there was a size limit – which tbh, I found to be a little restrictive and I brought my smallest purse and according to the measurements it should have it the requirements but as I went through security they said it was an inch too big. I was a bit taken aback – as they had just started the new rules and you could take bags that were not clear (now that I have one I don’t really mind much). However, this time I’d taken BART to the game so I didn’t have a car to leave my purse in and I wasn’t thinking straight at all because my friend pointed to my emergency bracelet (I’m epileptic) and said, “She’s epileptic and needs to be able to take her medications in with her.” I wouldn’t have had the wherewithal when caught off guard like that to have even remembered that that was absolutely true. They did let us in with my teeny tiny Coach wristlet – but I was asked about it by every security person in the stadium (one dude wanted to have me arrested!! I was like …. “say what now?” and was freaking out! Thankfully my bracelet is seriously legit – like you can scan it & it give you all my med info – so he kinda got put in his place but talk about scary. I don’t wanna be arrested!) which was so foreign (I don’t go to Raider games often – I support The Town but I was born in Texas and had no choice but to be a Cowboys fan(I wear Raider gear to Raider games, I love Oakland and am not dumb! LOL!). And when I am at A’s games I like know everyone that works there and they are all aware of my condition and never would have asked. Sorry for the long comment but that was my first experience with it . I think it’s odd but makes sense at the same time. Personally i think they should let small purses in and if you wanna take more – then get a clear bag because thankfully they usually sell them somewhere nearby if not inside!
It seems like teams are making it harder for fans to come to the games, or even want to come to the games. Personally, I don’t watch a lot on TV, but love the live experience, but there needs to be some logic and common sense when it comes to ballpark rules.
Also, I’m jealous! I wanted to go to Nashville so badly when the A’s Triple-A Affliate was The Sounds (heard the park is gorgeous!) – Who’s affiliate is Nashville now? (sorry – read this a while ago, had a lot going on and I honestly don’t remember much but I could relate to your bag comment) I just found out that my parents get to go to Nashville like next week for some conference and I am beyond jealous! I’ve only heard amazing things about it and I have two friends that live there full-time and one who lives there part time writing songs for artists (he was in band in the 90’s and now owns a bar in SoCal and writes for other people – he’s like hella good friends with Jamey Johnson which I think is like too cool because he is amazing! LOL! Not that I’ve met him or trying to brag, I’ve just always heard the most wonderful things about Nashville!)
Yes, the Nashville Ballpark is amazing! We were there in 2017. It’s expensive, but really nice. We’ll probably see another game there next time we’re in that area. I do believe the Sounds are affiliated with the Rangers now, too.
Also, I’m jealous! I wanted to go to Nashville so badly when the A’s Triple-A Affliate was The Sounds (heard the park is gorgeous!) – Who’s affiliate is Nashville now? (sorry – read this a while ago, had a lot going on and I honestly don’t remember much but I could relate to your bag comment) I just found out that my parents get to go to Nashville like next week for some conference and I am beyond jealous! I’ve only heard amazing things about it and I have two friends that live there full-time and one who lives there part time writing songs for artists (he was in band in the 90’s and now owns a bar in SoCal and writes for other people – he’s like hella good friends with Jamey Johnson which I think is like too cool because he is amazing! LOL! Not that I’ve met him or trying to brag, I’ve just always heard the most wonderful things about Nashville!)
My apologies for the duplicate comment … my computer sux! 😦