Well guys, the best time of the year is just around the corner. No, I’m not talking about Spring Break, or Mardi Gras. I’m talking about the 35th annual Ace Miller Memorial Boxing Tournament hosted by SAE. From Feb. 26–28, UT Greeks are going to be taking part of what has been dubbed “the biggest party weekend in the South” and I personally could not be more excited.
Boxing Weekend has been a UT tradition for over 30 years and for the last three, has been one of my absolute favorite memories as a Greek at UT. It’s important to point out that, first and foremost, Boxing Weekend is a charitable event. SAE donates all the proceeds to the Golden Gloves Charities, so that’s something to love. As if charitable donations weren’t exciting enough, we get to go watch some really attractive men from all of UT’s fraternities duke it out in the ring. Luckily, there are 11 separate weight classes, which means a wide variety of man-beauty to gawk at. Like, thank you SAE. Thank you.
Along with the tournament, the weekend itself plays host to blurry bus rides, blossoming friendships within port-a-potties, and a bounty of airplane bottles (for those ages 21 and up, of course). There are always incredible lineups for post-tournament entertainment that aid in setting this weekend apart from the rest at UT. Collegiate students and alumni alike come from far and wide to take part in this rowdy, yet respectable, event. The tickets are set at $40 a pop for weekend passes, or $20 for a single night. As a person who has been in attendance for the past three years, it’s worth every penny.
One thing to keep in mind for these events, however, is that each one of us need to be proactive about our safety and the safety of our friends. As mentioned before, the boxing tournament brings in people from all over to take part in our UT festivities. This being said, be ultra cautious about going off with people you may not know. The event is being held off campus at the Expo Center so it might be a good idea to have a buddy system in place, especially for those who have not attended before. Fraternities on the row usually have buses to transport to and from the event, which is great, but that doesn’t mean make it a personal goal to down a fifth of tequila before hand. (Side note: downing a fifth of tequila is generally never a good personal goal to have.) Know your limits and be responsible- because as great as this event is, you’re going to want to remember it. Trust me. Plus, even though this is hosted by a Greek organization, there are non-Greek and non-UT students in attendance. We are always wearing our letters, whether they’re stitched onto our frockets or not. It’s crucial to show these people that UT Greeks can have fun, while maintaining some class at the same time.
With that being said, here’s to making the 35th Ace Miller Tournament the best one yet! Cheers!
