NC State Football
Photo courtesy NC State University

Havin’ a Ball

In Do, September 2022 by Anna Beth Adcock1 Comment

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Football fans, rejoice! Football season is finally upon us! Looking for the best spot to find your fellow fans and catch your team? We’ve done the hard work for you. Whether you’re a Pack fan looking for an away game party with your pack (or find yourself without tix in coming weeks to CF) or you cheer for one of these other teams (but why—jk), game day is at a bar near you. Here’s where to go on *The Big Day* this weekend—and this season—so you can join the huddle with your home team to get blitzed (get it?) with your peeps. Time to put your game face on. Punt, intended.

NC State

They say the strength of the wolf is the Pack… and with its highest preseason ranking ever at No. 13, all eyes are on NC State. So if you can’t make it to Carter-Finley—or State is away—and want the fan feel, find your fellow wolves around Raleigh at such go-to game-day hot spots as Brickhouse (home of the Dave Doeren Radio Show), Carolina Ale House, Amedeo’s (swing by this Saturday for drink specials, a celebrity bartender and a halftime raffle!), Players Retreat (s/o to the OG) or Village Draft House for a howling good game day with your pack. #WITH amedeosrestaurant.com; carolinaalehouse.com; brickhouse-nc.com; playersretreat.com; villagedrafthouse.com

Game one, Saturday, Sept. 3: Pack sniffs out the Pirates in Greenville, noon, ESPN

UNC & Duke

If you must watch the Heels or the Blue Devils—we don’t hide our Wolfpack pride at Raleigh Mag—there’s a handful of spots around the Triangle to catch the game. Cheer on UNC while sipping from the signature blue cups at He’s Not Here in Chapel Hill, or, if Duke is who you choose, go “crazie” at Mavericks in the Bull City with a milkshake and BBQ. NTM, word on the street is Brier Creek’s Carolina Ale House is always a good game-watching spot for fans in blue. maverickssmokehouse.com; hesnotherenc.com; carolinaalehouse.com

Game one, Friday, Sept. 2: Duke takes on Temple at home, 7:30pm, ACC Network

Game two, Saturday, Sept. 3: Tarheels head to Boone to battle App State, noon, ESPN

ECU 

This is arrrrgh state?! You can’t spell parties without pirates. Hey, #PirateNation! The Pirates are back in action this year at Highpark Bar & Grill, so don your best purple and gold and get that Pirate pride on with fellow fans. #PiratesTogetherPiratesForever! Wake County, NC Chapter, ECU Alumni Association, piratealumni.com; highparkbarandgrill.com

Game two, Saturday, Sept. 10: ECU faces Old Dominion on its territory, 6:00pm, ESPN+

Ohio State 

O-H! I-O! Bond over bacon (AKA that ol’ pigskin) and $5 Buckeye bombs—plus $3 Miller Lite 16 oz. drafts, $5 Lunazul tequila shots, and plenty of grub—over at Brickhouse. Ohio’s alum club is bringing those Horseshoe home-game vibes to you via the fighting song playing on every score and DJs on deck for the big games. Go Buckeyes! The Ohio State University Alumni Club of the Triangle, triangle nc.alumni.osu.edu; brickhouse-nc.com

Game one, Saturday, Sept. 3: Buckeyes host the Fighting Irish, 7:30pm, ABC

Alabama 

Sammy’s Tap & Grill is the place for Bama fans, friends, food and brews to unite, complete with Bama music, cheers, shakers and more (like, I don’t know, making a drinking game out of the gazillion scores). Don’t miss the weekly raffle (we love some Bama swag!) to benefit the local chapter. Roll Tide! Roll Tide Raleigh, rolltideraleigh.com; sammystapgrill.com

Game one, Saturday, Sept. 3: Bama rolls over Utah State, 7:30pm, SEC Network

Georgia 

If you can’t be between the hedges swaying to the “Battle Hymn,” travel to Tobacco Road Sports Cafe in Raleigh. Catch the dawg fights all season and keep sniffin’ for some post-season play. Sic ’em, UGA. Good dawg. UGA Alumni Association – Raleigh Chapter, alumni.uga.edu, tobaccoroadsportscafe.com

Game one, Saturday, Sept. 3: The Dawgs meet the Oregon Ducks in the Peach Bowl, 3:30pm, ABC

Michigan 

Share your OSU distaste and shout “Go Blue” with fellow fans at Wild Wing Cafe in Brier Creek. With a fight song dubbed “The Victors,” solo watching is just not an option. Specials will keep you satisfied (plus, Wild Wing donates 10% of food sales to MTAC!) while you bop to beats and let the fight song to transport you to The Big House. And keeping Blue benevolent, be on the lookout for Wild Wing’s MTAC charity nights. Michigan Triangle Alumni Club, alumni.umich.edu; wildwingcafe.com

Game one, Saturday, Sept. 3: Wolverines takes on CAM the Ram (aka Colorado State) in Ann Arbor, noon, ABC

LSU 

In Louisiana, the 12th man is food—and Sharky’s isn’t here to disappoint. … Down some drinks (stay tuned for drink specials) and grub on some gumbo and po’boys all football season long. NTM co-owner Simone was born and bred in the Big Easy! So, “hot boudin, cold coush-coush, come on Tigers, push push poosh.” Geaux Tigers! sharkysnc.com

Game one, Sunday Sept. 4: Tigers take on the FSU Noles in Nawlins, 7:30pm EST, ABC 

University of Mississippi

Hotty toddy, gosh almighty! Cheer on those Ole Miss Rebels right down the road at Moe’s Original BBQ in Durham, where the owner just happens to be an Ole Miss alum (!). While Moe’s is no Vaught Hemingway Stadium, there’ll be plenty of barbecue and beer to go around for your whole squad. Game on. Ole Miss Alumni Association, olemissalumni.com; moesoriginalbbq.com

Game one, Saturday, Sept. 3: Rebels host Troy in Oxford, 4pm EST, ESPN 

Clemson 

While it isn’t Death Valley, you’re gonna wanna get your roar on with fellow alumni and fans at Lynnwood Brewing Concern at Dock 1053, where, if nothing else, the “Tiger Rag” will never get old. So scoot on in and “hold that tiger” (and find out if QB DJ Uiagalelei can meet those lofty expectations). C-L-E-M-S-O…N! carolinaalehouse.com

Game one, Monday, Sept. 5: Tigers prowl to Atlanta to play Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game (!), 8pm, ESPN 

Notre Dame

The luck of the Irish can be found at Trali Irish Pub—natch. “We are Irish. We’ve got Guinness. We’ve got TVs.” Pop a squat at the bar to watch the Fighting Irish “play like a champion today.” traliirishpub.com

Game one, Saturday, Sept. 3: Notre Dames heads to the “O-H-I-O” to take on Ohio State, 7:30pm, ABC

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Comments

  1. Well, that’s embarrassing for you, infuriating for me. Putting Mississippi State (ugh!) as a post for us is terrible journalism.

    Shame on You!!!!!

    UM Class ’80

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