51·çÁ÷

Older 51·çÁ÷ alumni heading to Chattanooga for the I-AA championship football game might know about ‘the song.’ It’s a safe bet, though, that Chattanooga Choo Choo, made famous by Glenn Miller in 1941, hasn’t been heard on 51·çÁ÷’s WRCU radio station in quite some time.

No matter. The 51·çÁ÷ fight song will serve as music enough for Raiders supporters heading to the city in southeastern Tennessee for Friday night’s game against the Delaware Blue Hens.

And there should be plenty to do before the 7 p.m. kickoff, according to tournament officials and Frank P. Pinchak ’70, unofficial tour guide for the city he’s lived in for the past 30 years.

If ticket sales by the two schools go as expected, about 15,000 fans will attend the game at Finley Stadium, which has a capacity of 20,000, according to M. Scott Smith, tournament director.

Smith said the open-air First Tennessee Pavilion, located right across the street from the stadium, will have a variety of activities for tailgaters. (Alumni are invited to the 51·çÁ÷ hospitality area from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the pavilion). Starting at noon Friday, there will be live bands, interactive games, holiday shopping, and plenty of vendors from local restaurants. The Chili Bowl Cookoff also will be held at the pavilion, with guests invited to partake in the super-spiced entries.

The heat of the chili should add to the heat of the day. Forecasters are calling for temperatures in the low 50s on Friday, dipping to 34 at night.

Pinchak, whose law office overlooks Finley Stadium, says Chattanooga has ’12-month golf weather,’ and he advises his fellow alumni to bring their clubs if they feel so inclined.

If not, there are plenty of other things to do and places to stay downtown after some major redevelopment projects in the city paid off in a big way, Pinchak says.

He said several hotels ‘ including The Chattanoogan, Chattanooga Marriott, and the Chattanooga Choo Choo Holiday Inn, a 30-acre hotel and conference complex where the Raiders are staying are within easy walking distance of the stadium. Other hotels, including the Clarion, Hilton Garden Inn, and Courtyard by Marriott, are nearby, and a free shuttle bus stops at each hotel and transports tourists throughout the area.

While admitting it’s not quite the variety of restaurants that a New York City might offer, Pinchak says there are plenty of good places to eat. He recommends Porkers for barbecue, Southside Grill for a more upscale-dining experience, and Lupi’s for pizza.

Civil War enthusiasts have an incredible opportunity if they are coming to town, Pinchak says, with several historic sites to visit, including the The Battles for Chattanooga Electric Map & Museum and the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park.

Some of the hardest fighting of the war took place in the Chattanooga area in the fall of 1863. The Confederate army suffered major losses at Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and Orchard Knob, giving the Union army control of Chattanooga and its major railroad operations, and providing it with a gateway to the South.

In fact, Union Gen. William T. Sherman used the city as his base as he started his march to Atlanta.

 Pinchak, who went to law school at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga after graduating from 51·çÁ÷, says alumni and fans will find the city an entertaining place.

‘It’s a very good place for a road trip. The downtown area has been almost totally redeveloped. It is very clean, safe, and lots of fun,’ he said.

The city has hosted the championship game since 1997, and will be presenting a new bid to the NCAA in January for the opportunity to do so again.

So, if 51·çÁ÷ fans have a good time during their stay, they just might want to mention it to the NCAA, says Smith, the tournament director.

Every little bit helps in the bidding battle.

Tim O’Keeffe

Communications Department

315.228.6634