NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 28, 2023) - As the Tennessee State football team lined up for a showdown vs. Lindenwood, one lucky football fan was gearing up for the ultimate game-day experience.
Russ Connelly, the winner of a Notable Live on eBay auction, scored a once-in-a-lifetime VIP pass to a thrilling gridiron showdown with Tigers Head Coach Eddie George and his team. The all-access pass included pre-game field access, prime suite tickets, and a meet-and-greet with the Coach himself.
“Oh man, if my expectations were here, it’d be sky high,” as Connelly points to the top of the stadium. “It’s been absolutely amazing, I’m having the time of my life. This whole experience has been a dream come true for me.”
The day began early for Connelly and his wife, April, who arrived at Nissan Stadium for pregame warm-ups. Their early arrival meant they had the field almost to themselves before the teams started trickling in. Connelly even had the chance to snap an unexpected bonus photo with Titans legend and former head coach Jeff Fisher, whose son is the defensive coordinator for the Tigers.
When game time rolled around, Connelly and his wife were in prime position—suite seats right on the 50-yard line, where they hung with George’s family and friends. “You get the bird’s eye view. You get the shade. It’s been kind of hot here today, but the food is amazing. Everything is just awesome in the suite,” Connelly said. “Got to spend time with Taj, his (George’s) wife, which they were super hospitable towards me and my wife.”
Russ, April, Taj, and the rest of the suite had plenty to cheer about on that Saturday with Tennessee State dismantling Lindenwood 43-20. This victory not only marked the first winning season for George while at Tennessee State, but the Tigers first winning season in six years.
After the final whistle, Connelly and his wife watched the post-game press conference from a few rows back. When the media cleared out, he had his moment with George, reminiscing about the Titans’ glory days. Connelly presented George with a large canvas featuring a drawing he had made of him from his Titans days, and George signed a mini version for Connelly.
Connelly was pumped, saying, “The biggest moment has got to be meeting Eddie. I’ve been a huge fan of his since ‘98, somewhere along there, so it’s been awesome,” the superfan said.
Although this was Connelly’s second encounter with the Titans legend, the experience was just as memorable. “I met Eddie once before…and he was such a cool guy meeting me and my brother. We had our photo taken. We were the first fans that were ever on his website and that was a moment that I’ve always taken with me over the years, but to have this opportunity to meet him once again, I couldn’t pass it up. It was another once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
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