KNOXVILLE (WVLT) - Big Orange fans had to pay some big green to get to Saturday's home opener at Neyland Stadium.

Fans of the Volunteers headed to Knoxville over the weekend to find several gas stations selling regular unleaded for about $5.00 a gallon.

"They're ridiculous and they're very high, so it's tough," said Ben Igou, whose family drove to the game from South Carolina.

Local stations blame Hurricane Gustav for closing their Gulf Coast refineries, which in turn made the priceless memory of walking into Neyland Stadium a little more costly for fans.

"We got what we needed before we left, just in case by the time we got here, it was higher than where we were," said Leslie Igou, who along with her husband spent more than $100 on fuel.

The trip was even more costly for members of the Volunteer Navy, who at each home game, either tie-up or drop anchors along the Tennessee River.

"We look forward to this all year, and there is nothing like it," said Julia Lickliter, who has decided to alter her weekly plan for going to games after spending more than $400 on fuel. "We're members of the Fort Sanders Yacht Club, which is about a half way to our home, so we're going to leave our boat there all week."

The gas prices also stopped some Volunteer fans game day plans all together. David Alonzo lives in Sharps Chapel, and decided to give up his tickets to the UAB game in order to avoid the 35 mile commute.

"With how much I have to drive, and with the costs, I will have to use the money to get to work next week.

On Friday, a barrel of crude oil had closed at $101.05. By Saturday, the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded was $3.73. In Tennessee it was $3.79 and in Knoxville it was $4.92.

Knoxville-based Pilot announced on Saturday afternoon that its travel centered had plenty of fuel, in spite of the fact that business was doubled the day before during shortage fears.