A Student's Perspective (Warning - Long)

#51
#51
utvolpj said:
there's no real Knoxville bar personality down there anymore. I can understand them not knowing how to do it based on the resources available
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I witnessed this 1st hand this past weekend. It was weird not having to push through a thick crowd to get a beer. You could walk right up and order. Maybe the old city is where all the celebrating goes down now...I don't know. But the strip was definitely not hopping by any standard.
 
#52
#52
You get to attend a football game in Neyland stadium, surrounded by hot girls who have been drinking.



No slack
 
#54
#54
dimera23 said:
Respectfully, it sounds to me that your generation should learn to love something even when you don't win. It builds character that will benefit you greatly in life.
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The Dooley era was a teaching tool about consequences and an aspect of life. Loyalty is an underrated trait. I have tons of experience in losing as an A's fan.
 
#55
#55
RockyTop22 said:
what do you think we do, jetpack to class? Rockclimb up the hill??
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OT: I recall rappelling off the side of one of the buildings near the center of campus. Forget which building but it was fun (and drew a lot of attention).
 
#56
#56
utvolpj said:
there's no real Knoxville bar personality down there anymore. I can understand them not knowing how to do it based on the resources available
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I think KPD has something to do with this also. In the early 80s they would stop cars so groups of drunken fans wouldn't get hit crossing the street.
 
#57
#57
YorkVol said:
I think KPD has something to do with this also. In the early 80s they would stop cars so groups of drunken fans wouldn't get hit crossing the street.
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What's up with the avi???

How did the rest of that series turn out? :)
 
#58
#58
OrangeByBirth said:
When I was at UT, we had not won a national championship in my lifetime. I have attended games since I was 5 years old. I continue to go even though I have moved away a bit. I don't go just to see us win. I go to help us win.
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Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#59
#59
I can totally relate to the OP. Even though. I have had to put up with some awful performances since becoming a VFL, it made the SC victory all the more sweet. I will NEVER forget that game and how awesome it was to witness. I have seen my Heat win two titles, Hurricanes win one and Packers win one but that win last Saturday was just un real. The last time I was that happy after a game was after Super Bowl 45, and you know what I think I enjoyed beating SC just a little more.
 
#60
#60
stephenk24 said:
I can totally relate to the OP. Even though. I have had to put up with some awful performances since becoming a VFL, it made the SC victory all the more sweet. I will NEVER forget that game and how awesome it was to witness. I have seen my Heat win two titles, Hurricanes win one and Packers win one but that win last Saturday was just un real. The last time I was that happy after a game was after Super Bowl 45, and you know what I think I enjoyed beating SC just a little more.
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Bandwaggon? Only were a fan for the last 2 titles?
 
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#61
#61
RockyTop22 said:
what do you think we do, jetpack to class? Rockclimb up the hill??
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I don't know. How do you research papers? Google and you are done. We had to hike it to the library. I also assume there are many online classes where students don't have to get themselves up and moving. Or send one student to take notes and email to erybody else.
 
#62
#62
Thanks OP. I'm 42, with my childhood Vol memories going back to about 1980-ish for the most part. Early Johnny Majors years. Grew up on the state line, living in TN but going to school in Bama.

Really interesting to see it from your perspective. Glad you shared.
 
#63
#63
ShoalCreekVol said:
Thanks OP. I'm 42, with my childhood Vol memories going back to about 1980-ish for the most part. Early Johnny Majors years. Grew up on the state line, living in TN but going to school in Bama.

Really interesting to see it from your perspective. Glad you shared.
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You're welcome :hi:
 
#64
#64
RockyTop22 said:
Bandwaggon? Only were a fan for the last 2 titles?
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I became a Heat fan when they announced they would play in London in 2007 and my dad got tickets. I didn't know anything about the NBA at the time except I had heard of Shaq, so I latched onto the Heat. I didn't even know they had won in 06 at the time and had never seen a basketball game before. I became a fan two years prior to Bron moved.

Call me bandwagon if you like, but I don't consider it. I did have to sit through two awful years before we became a powerhouse.
 
#65
#65
SmokeyX said:
A Student's Perspective (Warning - Long)

Dear Volnation,

I started writing this as a reply to another thread, but it got to be a little long so I decided to make my own thread.

I thought Volnation might enjoy seeing things from my perspective, so here goes...

Background

I'm 22 years old (born 1991)
I'm a Senior Mechanical Engineering Major at UT
I grew up in Knoxville
My parents were season ticket holders for most of my childhood
I played 10 years of football and have two state rings

Titles

The last time we won a National Title - 1998 - I was 7 years old

The last time we won a Conference Title - 1998 - I was 7 years old

The last time we won a Divisional Title - 2007 - I was 16 years old

Translation?

We have not been nationally relevant since I was a sophomore in high school

Let that sink in for a minute before moving on


Childhood Experience

Yah, we're awesome!

Everyone who was anyone was a Vols fan and proud of it!

High School Experience

Meh, we're ok.

Most of my friends were fans of other teams… including bama (ugh…)

It wasn't "cool" to be a Vols fan

College Experience

We are terrible. What have we done to anger the football gods?

Being a Vols fan has been downright embarrassing the past few years. Most of my high school friends went to either bama or georgia for college, so yeah… getting together to watch games for the last few years has been painful. Also, my mother's side of the family are all die hard LSU fans…

Just to hammer home my college experience, here's some bold face facts

Since I have been a student at UT...

We have not had a winning season

We have been unranked except for a single week as #25 in 2012

We have been to exactly 1 bowl game, which we lost

We were beaten by a combined 107 - 27 by Oregon in 2010/2013

We were beaten by a combined 122 - 29 by Alabama 2010-2012

We were beaten by a combined 132 - 77 by Florida 2010 - 2013

Until this year, I have not seen a single game where the Vols "gave their all for Tennessee"

Every year, I have watched as a flood of "fans" left the stadium in the 3rd/4th quarter

We didn't beat a ranked opponent until October of my senior year

We were beaten by Kentucky with a WR as a QB

We were curb stomped by ****** VANDY!


So, for all of those repeatedly calling out the students and saying "well in my day…", heed this. I've sat in the student section in every home game for four years for every snap. For every student who came in when I did, all we've known is losing. All we've known is heartbreak. We didn't have the privilege of seeing Peyton play. We didn't get to see a nationally relevant team. We didn't get to enjoy beating any of our rivals. We didn't get to see the Vols win at anything. Instead we got Dooley and the amazing disappearing vols. It's been the norm for us to play for a half or a quarter of a game and then fold like a cheap tent. So excuse me if I don't blame my fellow classmates for not coming to games. or being apathetic.

Butch certainly has the team on the right track and is doing all of the right things. However, the taint of the last few years isn't going to magically disappear. We are going to have to build this team back "brick by brick", and teach this team how to win. This includes the fans! When we beat South Carolina, most of the students had no idea how to celebrate. Trust me, the excitement is there. The desire is there. We just have to let Butch show us the way to win.

For the student section to be back and rocking like it used to be...

We don't even have to win!
We just have to have a reasonable expectation to be competitive (i.e. not quit halfway through a game or get beat like dogs)

Moral of the story?

Cut us some damn slack. It's been a tough few years to be a student fan.

So, that's my $0.02. I hope it gives a few of you some perspective

Sincerely,

SmokeyX
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Not to be a butt but why is it the students at UT think what have you done for me lately. Look at some other schools that have not won or been relevent in the same timeframe but you know what, they still went to the game and cheered for their school. Your on campus and there and I drive 2 hours to come and see my beloved Vols play through the good and the bad when I am fortunate enough to be able to afford the trip and a ticket. The kids on the field are busting their rear ends and the least we could do is back them. Not just when they are winning. Not saying you but these kids that think they only back this team when they win seem to me like spoiled brats. SMDH! Sad :no:
 
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#66
#66
I'm 22 as well and I know exactly what you mean. High school was average and college has been the worst up until this year. Go Vols and Butch is going to bring us back to the Top!!!
 
#67
#67
dimera23 said:
Respectfully, it sounds to me that your generation should learn to love something even when you don't win. It builds character that will benefit you greatly in life.
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And odds are your generation was full of racism, segregation, sexism, no tolerance for anything different then yourselves, and constantly allowed government spending to bankrupt the current generation and future ones.... but yea you guys are great
 
#68
#68
volfanhill said:
And odds are your generation was full of racism, segregation, sexism, no tolerance for anything different then yourselves, and constantly allowed government spending to bankrupt the current generation and future ones.... but yea you guys are great
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you are a blind idiot imo.
 
#69
#69
I am also 22 and I think the OP hit this spot on I can remember watching the big games with my whole family, never really had enough money to attend the games or even attend UT as a student. As I got older the family Saturdays have faded as it just seemed to end in disappointment. Never once have I missed a UT game even if I had to invite friends over to split the ppv bill. I have watched in heart ache for the most memorable part of my life just wishing for those childhood teams, seems almost like dreams, to come back. After the win yesterday I didn't know what to do my wife asked me y are u acting so weird in which I replied idk what I need to do or how to do it idk how to even celebrate anymore. But my how sweet this week has been.
 
#70
#70
YorkVol said:
This concerns me. Are there no more small bars with names like "Ivy's" where they play Rocky Top and let you dance on the tables? Do you not know the words to David Allen Coe's "You Never Even Called Me By My Name"? Are there no young co-eds who find winning gives them a certain feeling in their nether regions? I weep for Knoxville.
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i know all the words to that song, including the bonus verse at the end. All hope is not lost.
 
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#71
#71
stephenk24 said:
I became a Heat fan when they announced they would play in London in 2007 and my dad got tickets. I didn't know anything about the NBA at the time except I had heard of Shaq, so I latched onto the Heat. I didn't even know they had won in 06 at the time and had never seen a basketball game before. I became a fan two years prior to Bron moved.

Call me bandwagon if you like, but I don't consider it. I did have to sit through two awful years before we became a powerhouse.
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Stephen, if you have related the story previously, I have not read it. What is the history behind your wise decision to adopt our beloved Big Orange as your college football team of choice?
 
#72
#72
Spartacavolus said:
I don't know. How do you research papers? Google and you are done. We had to hike it to the library. I also assume there are many online classes where students don't have to get themselves up and moving. Or send one student to take notes and email to erybody else.
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So would you just prefer that there are no more innovations in digital media accessibilty technology?
 
#75
#75
G0V0LS33 said:
Not to be a butt but why is it the students at UT think what have you done for me lately. Look at some other schools that have not won or been relevent in the same timeframe but you know what, they still went to the game and cheered for their school. Your on campus and there and I drive 2 hours to come and see my beloved Vols play through the good and the bad when I am fortunate enough to be able to afford the trip and a ticket. The kids on the field are busting their rear ends and the least we could do is back them. Not just when they are winning. Not saying you but these kids that think they only back this team when they win seem to me like spoiled brats. SMDH! Sad :no:
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Your argument is invalid without any examples of these other schools you're referencing. Additionally, it's not what have you done for me lately. It's what have you done for me ever. Someone 18-22 years old has seen little to no productivity from the football team in his young "adult" life or high school years for that matter.

Also, at the end of the day, we are still talking about a school here. ~25,000 in enrollment, and I'd venture somewhere around half of those students will never attend a football game. A passion for college football is nowhere on the entrance requirements for UT. I love supporting the football team as much as anyone, but if a student said he or she wasn't interested in football, that's a valid argument. Furthermore, if they responded with, "none of the football players ever show up to cheer me on during a test," that's a pretty dang solid point as well.

Putting a good product on the field breeds fans. UT has lacked a good product recently, and therefore less of the students have been bred as fans.
 
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