The Ultimate Fanrun Tennessee Night at Truist Park
Fanrun Radio made its second appearance at an Atlanta Braves game in 2024 for University of Tennessee night at Truist Park.
The Drive broadcasted live from Sports & Social in the battery ahead of the game, so of course Russell Smith and the Vol Rumor Mill were present in Atlanta.
Young Tucker Harlin was also sent by upper management to join them, and the one and only Cody McClure made a surprise appearance in Atlanta.
The trip began roughly around 10 AM Wednesday and concluded just past 1 AM Thursday.
This is a rough timeline of events that occurred over the course of the day.
10:04 AM- Russ misses turn to get on Pelissippi Parkway
The boys got off to a tremendous start as the captain missed a turn to exit the Fanrun annex
10:14 AM- Russ yells at a driver in the left lane, “well do it if you’re gonna do it asswipe”
If you aren’t actively trying to pass people on an interstate, you should get over.
This was a reasonable gripe as this person was camping in the lane instead of trying to pass
10:26 AM- arrive at Twin City Hyundai dealer
The transport for this endeavor was a black Hyundai Santa Fe.
The rearview mirror was actually just a camera, something that Russell had to get used to. The captain chairs in the second row had reclining features, something beneficial on the drive back.
And once again, the rental car asked Russell 15 times if he wanted to take a coffee break.
10:34 AM- Russ pulls into oncoming traffic Cody’s Zyn fell
The captain made an ambitious decision to hastily drive into fast moving traffic, something that made Cody drop his Zyn can on the passenger side.
Houston had to recover the Zyn by contorting himself into Tucker and reaching underneath the seat.
10:44 AM- Tucker breaks window frame
He didn’t actually break it, but Tucker had a hard time pushing down the window screen so he could see outside.
11:00 AM- discussions of comedy, radio, and local history
Cody detailed his several of his best gigs while on sabbatical and discussed his favorite comedians.
More discussion about the radio industry in Knoxville over the years ensued over the next hour and a half.
12:40 PM- Bucc-ee’s, Cody consumes a sausage
No trip with Russell W. Smith is complete without a stop at a Buc-ee’s.
Among the food items purchased at the Walmart of gas stations, none was more memorable that the tortilla-wrapped sausage on a stick that Cody consumed at approximately 12:43 PM eastern daylight time.
This was of course after a brief photoshoot of Cody wiggling the sausage on the stick.
1:13 PM- Lithium Radio
The captain turned on his favorite radio station and jammed out to 1990s music.
There was a minimum of four Vedder impressions.
1:28 PM- Houston tries a Zyn
Cody offered everyone in the car one of his Zyns.
Houston was the only one who decided to have a Zyn, and he was pleasantly surprised, saying it might help him quit the stick.
~2 PM- arrived in the Atlanta battery
The boys got the remote set up next to the DJ booth in Sports & Social in the Atlanta battery about 50 feet away from the right field gate.
After struggling to find some chairs that weren’t barstools, they were fortunate to find some in a restaurant connected to the establishment.
2:49 PM- Cody ventures to the Latin bar for a beer bargain
The $9.81 for a Coors light was too pricey for Cody and he decided to search elsewhere for a better deal.
So instead, Cody found a bucket of five Coors lights for the price of $20 at El Super Pan.
3:20 PM- Greg McMichael joined The Drive
Webb Spartan, VFL, and former Atlanta Braves pitcher Greg McMichael made his second ever appearance on The Drive.
Among other things, he promoted his Braves alumni golf tournament on August 12 at Egwani Farms.
Sometime between 3:30-5 PM- Bear freaks out over connection
Bear had his hands full on Wednesday, trying to win over two different interns while producing a show three hours away.
The connection became choppy, and the boys flipped to Russell’s hotspot to save the day.
4:03 PM- the DJ booth comes to life
The Drive was warned the DJ booth would be in use sometime in the 4:00 hour, and sure enough, the music began blasting throughout Sports & Social.
Fortunately, it was not unbearable noise for the trained radio professionals.
5:11 PM- Cody emerges
Fresh off his five bears at El Super Pan, Cody reappeared at Sports & Social.
He then made a cameo on The Drive, and Russell and Cody’s deal to participate on one another’s trivia games was discussed.
5:30 PM- Russ forgets who Nick is
On a trip to the restroom, Russell met dear listener Nick Davis and his wife, who were enjoying the fine dining experience of Sports & Social.
In the early stages of the 5:00 hour, the captain said he met a listener but also mentioned he already forgot his name.
Don’t worry Nick, you won’t be forgotten again.
6:00 PM- The Drive ends
The Drive ended and the boys deconstructed the setup and left Sports & Social.
Houston and Tucker had to take the chairs back to the connected establishment through a crowd of people.
6:05 PM- arrived at the parking garage
The remote equipment was dropped off in the Santa Fe, which was in the red parking garage.
The first floor of the garage smelled eerily similar to a men’s restroom that hadn’t been cleaned in years.
After leaving the equipment in the car, the captain decided to move the Santa Fe closer to the exit.
In doing so, a woman in a Dodge Charger greatly hindered Russ’ ability to park while steering rather closely to Tucker and Houston.
6:22 PM- Tucker meets friend at gate
The boys had two extra tickets, so Tucker called up his friend from high school that had moved to Atlanta after college.
Everyone else was startled to learn that he was an Auburn graduate, but what Tucker didn’t tell them is that he was secretly a Vandy fan.
6:25 PM- entered stadium
Immediately upon entry, Tucker, Houston, and Cody found drinks.
Hotdogs, burgers, and chicken tenders were among the food consumed that night.
It was a warm day in Truist Park as high temperatures reached the mid 90s and it was ridiculously humid.
7:20 PM- game begins
The game began at Truist Park.
It was a slower paced game than most MLB games with the new pitch clock rules.
The Drive witnessed its second managerial ejection in as many games as it attended in 2024.
The Brewers won 8-5 over the Braves.
7:26 PM- cop gives old man a free water
An old man was struggling to climb up the stairs in section 131.
He stopped near the top of the steps, and an officer handed him a free water.
Again, it was 94 and humid.
8:17 PM- Tucker purchases a water
After already having spent over $30 on concessions, Tucker was awfully thirsty but trying to resist the urge to buy more.
He ultimately caved in and bought an awful Dasani water.
10:13 PM- the boys head home
The game was getting out of hand for the Braves, and the road ahead was long, so they decided to head out in the bottom of the eighth.
11:11 PM- more road raging
Another drive, another left lane camper.
A semi-truck was flying past the Santa Fe while one car sat in the passing lane.
12:08- Circle K
Snacks, gas, drinks, and Zyns were secured at the Circle K in Ringgold, Georgia.
Houston received a foul glance from an undesirable upon entry, and the boys watched as he sped off into the night.
1:15- arrive back in Knoxville
Somewhere in the darkness a wolf begins to howl as another Hyundai Santa Fe returns safely to its destination.
