Photographed in Roswell, GA
Raised in:
Louisville, Kentucky
Lives in:
Prior to August, I lived in Austin for two years and Washington D.C. for two and a half years after graduating from Rhodes College in Memphis. While I feel welcomed across the South in every town, it still feels best to call Kentucky home.
Favorite city from the tour:
It’s impossible to choose just one favorite city, they have all been more wonderful than I ever imagined. Each city, town and community was hospitable in their own way. I’ve never been met with more generosity, kindness and support than when I was on the road.
Now would ya look at that:
Meet Christie, the author of Gridiron Belles: A Guide to Saturday’s in Dixie. Her genius book covers the basics of football in a way that women can relate to and men can appreciate. I vouch that both those things are true, as I got in bed the other night and found Mark reading it and telling me how great of an idea it was. “Consider this a romance novel, a fashion guide, an etiquette handbook, an advice column, and a rulebook all rolled into one pretty package.”
In her own words: “I wrote this book to help women of all backgrounds understand the traditions and obsessions that Southerners have about football. And there just so happens to be a little bit about the game in there, too! A sorority sister of mine in college wanted to be dating this Tennessee fan but didn’t have the slightest clue about the game, nevertheless what to say to him about or during the game. Surprised to learn that not every Southern Belle understood football like I did, I crafted her a book in the form of a little preppy scrapbook and explained the X’s and O’s. Turns out, it worked! They’ve been married for two and a half years now all because she knew what to say (or not to say) during UT football games!”
And of course, regarding her good look: “For one of the first times all season, I decided to forgo wearing a dress and put on some cigarette pants. The idea was to have a feminine Audrey Hepburn look with the pants, but keep it colorful and cozy up top. Of course, I haven’t worn anything put pearls since I got on the road. I’m starting to think I was born with them in my ears!”
To win a signed copy of Gridiron Belles, please leave a comment on this post (make sure to include your email) with why you, or someone you want to gift this to, should read this book. Christie and I will pick our favorite answer, so make ’em creative.
Royar says
I would love this book to read and brush up on my football! I am a huge SEC fan, mostly for the Alabama Crimson Tide! XO
Adam says
I’ll admit it! I’m a damn Yankee! However, after my undergraduate education I am staying down South and never looking back. I honestly thought that coming to this unnamed university in Durham, NC would expose me to the ‘real South’ but boy was I wrong! With a lack of great football and an international campus (by no means a detriment my college experience) I lacked that Old South feel I came searching for and have instead learned about the enriching Southern culture through my wonderful friends hailing from Raleigh, to Charleston, to Hilton Head, to Augusta, to Tuscaloosa. I need all the help I can get to fully immerse myself in the culture to be fully accepted into this awesome world below the Mason-Dixon.
Amy says
I definitely want this for myself, but I would absolutely share it with my friends- many of us are Texas A&M grads and will be new to the SEC as of next fall!
jean porco says
Growing up in Pittsburgh I was taught at a very young age to become a Steeler fan. My fiancé’, who also lived in Pittsburgh, received a football scholarship to the University of Louisville. I have gone to every U of L home game whether there were 4,000 fans in the stadium until now, when there are 40,000 fans attending the games.
We married, had four children and nine grandchildren. One of my granddaughters is an avid Steeler fan, extremely proud of her grandfather, who has broken records at the University of Louisville and achieved the award for the outstanding player in the Sun Bowl in 1958. This granddaughter took all of the football knowledge that she acquired from our football family plus did tremendous research on the SEC teams, her favorite conference, to create this awesome publication, GRIDIRON BELLES. We are so proud of Christie for her perseverance to create such a well written book for guys and gals alike who love the SEC as much as she does. Christie’s grandmother
Allison Waldron says
I would get a copy of this book for all of my friends who have moved away from the South and for the ones who live here too! The ones who have moved away: they get it, they understand why football is so huge in the South. They know why tailgating is important, why you should put makeup on, and how men are impressed by a gal who knows what all the fouls are. Also, a lot of my friends in the South get it, but a lot of them don’t. This book would help them be more “in the know” about why all of us don our favorite shirts and sit around cheering every Saturday in the fall. The book may also explain why Saints fans wear their Who Dat gear in June.
Lastly, I would get one for myself and read it aloud to my dog. She hates football; as in sits under furniture and shivers while it’s on. Maybe reading her the book would help ease her fears of football.
jaclyn says
My husband should read this because, even though he is from the south, he looked at me like i had three eyes when i contemplated wearing a dress to the Georgia Auburn game. You can bet I kept my mouth shut about the bow tie after that.
Ryan Lee Waldron says
This book sounds PERFECT for my lovely wife. I’m sure that she’d love it, and I’d be an awesome husband if I gave it to her.
Heather says
I am in serious need of this fabulous book. I am not from the south but recently lived there and am planning a move back to the south. Football was never a big thing for me growing up because I wasn’t surrounded by it. When I lived in Georgia, I had roommates always talking about Football and Saturdays and I had no idea what was going on. I really didn’t know that SEC football and saturdays is a true culture. I still don’t know the whole scope of it. Because I’m planning a move back to the south, I want to be fully prepared for SEC saturdays so that I can enjoy in the season as well as pass it on to my future children who I defanitely plan to raise growing up with the SEC saturdays.
Whitney Walker Alexander says
My older brother and I are both University of Alabama alums (Class of ’08). After graduation, I married an Auburn fan in a moment of sheer stupidity (just kidding- he’s wonderful!!) and my brother moved to New Jersey– a place where he could use his marine biology degree. A couple months later, my brother got engaged to a sweet girl from NJ who we all love, but she has NO idea about football…much less SEC football. I need this book for her to help her be able to survive Saturdays in the fall. The poor girl needs help!!
Virginia says
While it’s Christmas, and I should share my love of football with my non-Dixie friends, I have to say that I would probably keep it for myself! Living up north (D.C., but that’s northern enough for me), my non-Southern friends make fun of my obsession with football and all things Dixie! :( I could use Gridiron Belles to prove to my doubting friends that where I come from, knowing the blitz defense is just as important as anything!