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It's More Than College Football

Tribune photo by JULIE BUSCH

University of Tennessee sophomore Sierra Gordon pulls hard in a tug-of-war against the University of Wisconsin dance team. She soon ended up in the water pit anyway. Fans of both teams flocked to Outback Bowl Beach Day on Sunday.

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By NICOLA M. WHITE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 31, 2007

Updated: 12/30/2007 11:56 pm

CLEARWATER - They met 45 years ago, two women in the same dorm and the same sorority.

They're still friends. The secret? Tennessee football: The longtime pals never miss a home game.

And they'd certainly never skip seeing their team go to a bowl game -- both for the football and the festivities surrounding it.

On Sunday afternoon, Marilyn Pomphrey and Patricia Schneider joined thousands of University of Tennessee fans and their University of Wisconsin counterparts at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort to celebrate the lead-up to Tuesday's Outback Bowl.

The beach festivities, which included everything from marching bands to skydiving demonstrations, were a sun-kissed precursor to the football game - and, to many, just as much fun.

"We're football fans, but we come for the beach and the weather," said Pomphrey, of Dickson, Tenn. Schneider lives in Columbus, Ga.

The weather cooperated, for the most part. A few clouds drifted across the sky, and the wind whipped at the sand. The 78-degree temperature and constant sun, though, were welcome companions to the afternoon's activities.

Count all those Badgers fans as most grateful for the balmy weather.

"Put it to you this way: I just shoveled 8 1/2 inches of snow," said Chris Smolek of Mosinee, Wis., who came to Clearwater with her husband, Steve, and son, Brad.

"You can't do this in Wisconsin," Steve Smolek said as he lounged in a beach chair.

Every year, the days leading up to the Outback Bowl game are filled with activities for fans. On Saturday, the players from both teams went to Busch Gardens, as did many fans. Today, fans will line Ybor City's Seventh Avenue for the TECO Energy Parade, which features 20 marching bands.

Business leaders tout the bowl as a boon to the Tampa Bay area, as football lovers fill hotel rooms and pack local restaurants.

This year, they're definitely a visible bunch. The Volunteers crowd dons bright orange; the Badgers' backers drape themselves in red.

The Wisconsin folks deck themselves in significantly less red apparel than they'd usually wear for chilly football games at home.

"You feel a little freer," said a T-shirt and shorts-clad Leo Schmitt of Manitowoc, Wis., who traveled to Clearwater with his wife, Deedee, and son, Michael, to see daughter Clare play the trombone in the Badgers marching band.

"It's a whole lot less clothes," he said.

The game kicks off at 11 a.m. Tuesday and airs on ESPN.

Reporter Nicola M. White can be reached at nwhite1@tampatrib.com or (813) 779-4613.

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