re: Tennessee Peeps: what's gameday like?

For Friday night I'd recommend the Market Square/Gay St area. There should several places to suit your taste as long as you aren't looking for a club. Some decent eateries down there too.

As has been mentioned, the Vol Walk is like any other and most people want to check out Calhoun's and the Vol Navy. Really though, there will be ample tailgating going on all around the stadium (west side). I would recommend getting in the stadium in time to see the band pregame an running through the T...idk, I still think it's fricking awesome after all these years.

Knoxville does have a certain "charm", and there are some bums but they're harmless. And there will be ongoing construction, but you would have to be a real a-hole not to have a good time still.