AJC > Blog > Archives > 2005 > September > 21 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USStumblin’ over to Starkvegas
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ah, Dawgs fans, just what you’ve wanted for your first road trip of the season: a perceived patsy in the other canines of the SEC.
That’s the good news. The bad news is you’ll have to go over to Starkvegas to get it. On top of that, the friendly folks at ESPN2 have designated an 8 p.m. (Central) starting time, meaning there’ll be plenty of time in the county seat of Oktibbeha County to kill during the day, as the cowbells gradually generate their deafening game-time clamor.
More good news: since the last time Georgia played there, it is no longer against the law to sell chilled adult beverages in convenience stores, etc.
For those making the grinding 300-mile-or-so trip, here’s the Mapquest guide to getting there.
Keep in mind that while Tuscaloosa is usually a good base from which to migrate to northeast Mississippi, the Crimson Tide will be playing at home Saturday at 11:30 a.m. central time against Arkansas. Finding hotel rooms might be tough (think Birmingham, the halfway spot), but getting a slab or two of ribs to go for the tailgate from the fabulous Dreamland BBQ emporium can probably be done with little problem after noon.
And then there’s that drive on Highway 82 that takes only two hours but seems like seven. How to get through it? The Great Tomato Blues Package 2-CD set works for me. By the time Big Mama Thornton is belting out “Ball and Chain,” you’ll pass the exit for Ethelsville, and you’re halfway there.
As for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, they’re 2-1, with wins over Murray State and Tulane and a whopping loss to Auburn. But for coach Sylvester Croom’s rebuilding program, the schedule from here does them no favors, with LSU coming to town next and a trip to the Swamp looming after that.
Permalink | Comments (27) | Categories: UGA, UGA
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By kendall
September 21, 2005 10:17 PM | Link to this
We are staying Tupelo. There were no rooms in Tuscaloosa, Meridian, or Jackson. Go Dawgs (the real ones)
By JB
September 21, 2005 10:42 PM | Link to this
I moved from Mississippi to Atlanta. My hometown of Greenville is actually on Highway 82 about 3 hours west of Starkville. I have a tip and an update for you. The update is that Highway 82 now bypasses Starkville so be careful not to miss the exit to Mississippi State or you’ll end up on the other side of Starkville and have to turn around and come back. The tip is that you might be able to find a room in Columbus, Mississippi. Columbus is probably 30 miles east of Starkville and it’s also on Highway 82.
By Kevin
September 21, 2005 10:58 PM | Link to this
My buddies and I are staying in Columbus, although I don’t know what the room availability is like now. We’re going to see Alabama and then drive to Starkville to see the DAWGS! Woof! Woof!
By kat1dawg
September 21, 2005 11:11 PM | Link to this
If anyone gets a chance to hang in Tuscaloosa before going to the UGA game, Dreamland is well worth it. I grew up a Dawg fan, but attended University of Alabama, and the Dreamland in Tuscaloosa is the original, sure there is one in Atlanta, but it isn’t the same as the one in T-town. Alrighty my fellow Dawg fans, go Dawgs, and I hate to say it on here, Roll Tide too! :)
By Bad John
September 22, 2005 12:28 AM | Link to this
Hey kat Dawg you are right on about the ribs at Dreamland in T town. The last time I was there I waited in line for an hour but it was fine. I am a Red and Black Dawg fan but I always pull for Bama unless they are playing UGA. Especially against AUBURN!!
By D-man
September 22, 2005 12:55 AM | Link to this
Ah, gotta spend my 2 cents here…I too have a bit of experience with Dreamland in Tuscaloosa (I worked for the University of Alabama for 11 yrs). Even so, I was never a BAMA fan (I grew up in Ga - always a Bulldogs fan!) Imagine my co-workers reaction there when in my office, there was Ga stuff EVERYWHERE) and I was working there the last two times the two teams met (Coach Fran and Shula) the coaches…but Bulldog victories!!! But back to Dreamland. It is awesome stuff - the ribs are outta this world. In t-town the place is located in the middle of nowhere in a shack..but well worth it! GO DAWGS!
By HanDawg
September 22, 2005 09:05 AM | Link to this
I actually like the sandwiches the best at Dreamland (locations in Tusc., B-Ham and North ATL) The bun can’t hold all that good pork, so get extra white bread and extra sauce for cheap. Get two and skip a side item; it turns into many sandwiches as the pork falls on your plate. I predicted Bama to lose to UGA in the Dome this year, and I still like that. Forget about LSWho and AUBURN stands for Alabama Usually Beats Us Red Necks (again, I hope). Gators/VOLS both play at Bama and LSU. We don’t. I’m not a Tide fan by the way: DAWGS only, well UGA and good BBQ, that is. Mississippi gets the REAL dogs this week, and the victory bell in Athens will drown out any cow noise in Suckville. GO DAWGS!!!
By dan
September 22, 2005 09:41 AM | Link to this
Try the Golden Rule Bar B Que in Birmingham. It is great. Sick em Dogs!
By Jim
September 22, 2005 09:55 AM | Link to this
Hey guys, If you don’t get to stop at Dreamland,, Little Deweys in Starkvegas is a great place to pick up your tailgate supplies, Or drop by the Bulldog Deli for some great food, Not a big town but lot’s of Great food.. Go Dawgs(MSU)
By Chambers in Macon
September 22, 2005 09:55 AM | Link to this
We are staying at the UNiversity Inn in Starkville, which as of las tnight, still had two or three rooms. It is a dump, but cheap. I stayed there three years ago when I was in Starkville interviewing for a teaching gig/masters program at MSU and it is what you pay for. $50 a night w/ a two night minimum this weekend…Where are the GA fans tailgaiting?
By merv
September 22, 2005 09:59 AM | Link to this
We are staying in Starkville at within steps of Scott Field. I’m looking forward to some great hospitality from the Pendley’s and the rest of our SEC brethren from the Magnolia State. Go UGA Dawgs!
By dave
September 22, 2005 10:44 AM | Link to this
forget dreamland…hold out for lil’ dooeys in ‘vegas…or go down highway 12 to petty’s…you won’t be disappointed
By Scott
September 22, 2005 11:33 AM | Link to this
My wife and I are both UGA grads living in Jackson, MS now. We’ve got a group of 10 or so heading up to Starkville this weekend and our tailgating location fell through. Any recommendations? Any other Dawgs heading up from Jackson?
By Dogtide4
September 22, 2005 01:05 PM | Link to this
Here’s another tip from a DAWGS fan who lives in Tuscaloosa: there is a NEW Dreamland location in Northport. As you travel west on 82 through town, turn left on Hwy69S (Lurleen Wallace Blvd.). Go a couple of miles and take the downtown Northport exit, then turn left to go under the overpass. Take the next right and a NEW Dreamland is right there on your left (by the river). Enjoy! Go DAWGS!
By MSU Dawg
September 22, 2005 02:25 PM | Link to this
Dreamland is good, but if you are in StarkVegas stop by and enjoy the BBQ at Little Dooey’s. Yes Starkville is like Auburn a town supported by the University, but you can find some good eats and drinks. Also ck out the Alumni building (aka Starship Enterpise).
By JWC
September 22, 2005 02:40 PM | Link to this
To Kevin…thank you for the advice. On a personal note…how awesome a day you have in store. The Bama game and UGA…back to back live and in person. Good luck and have a great time…go Dawgs!!!
By Mikey
September 22, 2005 02:48 PM | Link to this
Having made several trips to Starkeville for games I want everyone to know that the MSU fans are some of the most hospitable anywhere, there might be a couple of bads ones mixed in but very few.
By alicia
September 22, 2005 04:38 PM | Link to this
I am a graduate of both Mississippi State (bachelors) and Georgia Tech (masters). Either way, I would enjoy nothing more than to see UGA lose in Starkville.
By Keef
September 22, 2005 04:56 PM | Link to this
Hey Alicia, why didn’t you go to college instead of those two ‘schools’?
By Justin
September 22, 2005 05:03 PM | Link to this
Dreamland is good, but also try archibalds, (its in the boonies, if you need directions email me. Woodrows on university blvd downtown is good to, if it hasnt burned down. Dont forget the $3 pitchers at the houndstooth. Roll tide
By MsuDawg
September 22, 2005 06:28 PM | Link to this
Hey Keef, she has two degrees, from two of the top Engineering schools in the Nation! Is yours from UGA, one of the top “party” schools??? Guess we know which “schools” have their priorities in the correct order!!!!! Education over Athletics is better any day of the week!
By Brandon
September 22, 2005 06:31 PM | Link to this
Justin is right. Dreamland carries the ‘name,’ but Archibald’s ribs are no contest. They are incredible. We were setting up the locker room on Friday in 2002 at the stadium in Tuscaloosa, and somebody brought our staff ribs from Archibald’s. We couldn’t believe it. So go against the grain and ditch Dreamland. Then you can tell your friends that you’ve found the hidden gem. Trust me on this one. (However it is a little tough to find. You will probably have to stop and ask for directions.)
By Kevin
September 22, 2005 10:50 PM | Link to this
JWC, thanks for the nice blog. You sound like a class act! I feel blessed to be able to go see two high quality institutions (Alabama and UGA) compete on the gridiron in the same day. I grew up with the guys that I’m going with so it should be fun. MsuDawg, as for “Education over Athletics”, I believe that was Jackie Sherrill’s motto, also!!! Isn’t that the reason MSU’s football program is in “rebuilding” mode (can you say PROBATION)? As for Georgia Tech, that was supposedly their motto, too, but they’re about to learn how to say PROBATION, also. At least MSU has a class act as a coach now.
By Eric S
September 23, 2005 09:36 AM | Link to this
Ah….a Dawg blog full of BBQ advice…damn I love the SOUTH. GO DAWGS!!!!!!
By Harriett
September 23, 2005 11:22 AM | Link to this
I’ve been to Starkville several times but can’t for the life of me figure out why it’s being referred to as StarkVegas…give me a clue!
By MsuDawg
September 23, 2005 06:46 PM | Link to this
Kevin, have you read the paper in the last 6 months in Athens? Have you seen how many UGA Players have been arrested on various crimes???? So is their motto “as long as the team’s record is winning, we don’t care about your criminal record?” I admire Coach Croom for trying to instill discipline at State; maybe Richt should take some lessons!!!!!!
By MsuDawg
September 23, 2005 06:49 PM | Link to this
As for my comments about the person that attended Tech and MSU, I was commenting on the two universitites’ emphasis on the high caliber of their respective academic programs, not their suposed emphasis by the athletic teams on the players’ academic prowess. Oh, did I use too many big words for you?