A View from Big Ben: Appreciate the Vols Trifecta

#26
#26
onevol74 said:
Me too!! First game was Vandy 1965 sitting in the old section X on a $1.00 ticket.

What is amazing is the comparison of 1963 and 1964 to 2019 and 2021. Rocket trajectory from the bottom to top with an effective coaching change.
Click to expand...
Section X. Not a great view, but Neyland Stadium atmosphere STILL great.
 
#27
#27
London Vol said:
Whoops the "little gray cells" let me down, sorry about that. Did Tennessee reach number one in the Grant Williams era? could somebody enlighten me please.
Click to expand...

Yes, I think it was for a few weeks starting in the middle of January 2019. I saw a game vs Bama in that stretch.
 
#28
#28
Johnnyreb#VFL said:
That’s the thing about Barnes I’ve been saying for years. People forget or don’t like to acknowledge he has raised the standard and expectations for the program, so they tend to focus on his record in March, when true focus should be wow UT is a true threat and contender now every single year he’s been here if they can just get and stay hot at the right time. They must not remember the Cuonzo, Tyndall years.

One of the major accomplishments of Fulmer’s AD tenure was keeping Barnes from going to UCLA. People forget that too.
Click to expand...

I remember a report from that time that suggested the only reason Barnes didn’t leave for UCLA was that the Bruins couldn’t “make the money work” (or something to that effect). Basically, it seemed like Barnes stayed not because of loyalty to Tennessee nor due to any move by our AD but instead just because UCLA couldn’t put together the right financial incentive.

I remember being a bit ticked off at Coach Barnes at the time, but maybe my memory is just bad.

Either way, I’m glad Barnes is still here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: youcancallmeAl
#30
#30
feathersax said:
Well, LV, I've been a Tennessee fan for over 60 years. Attended my first game in Neyland Stadium in 1965, basketball game in Stokely Center in the 70s & go to Hoover for the SEC Baseball Tournament every year since 2002. Never seen things so good as they are today. White, Barnes, Heupel & Vitello are major forces for Vol sports.:cool:
Click to expand...

I've got you beat on the "year" thing. I've been a Vol fan since I was about 9 years old and that has been for more than72 years. I'm old as dirt, but, like you, I've never seen it any better. I remember the 50's national championship when TV wasn't in existence in Tennessee and radio was the only way to listen to enjoy games other than in person. I remember Lindsey Nelson and George Mooney as voices of the Vols (quite a while before the 'god of the mic') and looked so forward to Saturdays during football season. My wife and I had season tickets for years and traveled to almost all away campuses in addition to the home games. We were at Tempe for the '98 championship when our chartered plane filled with all of us UT fanatics came extremely close to crashing on takeoff from Phoenix. I'm grateful to still be here, and I'll never like Vandy in anything and I feel the same way about Georgia, Bama and Kentucky. When any of those 4 lose, it's a winning day for me. I'm orange blooded through and through this old body. I'm in good health and hope that I can make it a few more years to see Josh bring home another NC title; he's going to do it, folks. It's just a matter of "when". Hope all of you can enjoy the Vols for as long as I have.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MemphisVol77, StickMan, 24/7vol and 3 others
#31
#31
Jacksonvol said:
I've got you beat on the "year" thing. I've been a Vol fan since I was about 9 years old and that has been for more than72 years. I'm old as dirt, but, like you, I've never seen it any better. I remember the 50's national championship when TV wasn't in existence in Tennessee and radio was the only way to listen to enjoy games other than in person. I remember Lindsey Nelson and George Mooney as voices of the Vols (quite a while before the 'god of the mic') and looked so forward to Saturdays during football season. My wife and I had season tickets for years and traveled to almost all away campuses in addition to the home games. We were at Tempe for the '98 championship when our chartered plane filled with all of us UT fanatics came extremely close to crashing on takeoff from Phoenix. I'm grateful to still be here, and I'll never like Vandy in anything and I feel the same way about Georgia, Bama and Kentucky. When any of those 4 lose, it's a winning day for me. I'm orange blooded through and through this old body. I'm in good health and hope that I can make it a few more years to see Josh bring home another NC title; he's going to do it, folks. It's just a matter of "when". Hope all of you can enjoy the Vols for as long as I have.
Click to expand...

I am in awe at all these long time Vols fans, oh I wish i had found out about us so much earlier
 
#32
#32
Jacksonvol said:
I've got you beat on the "year" thing. I've been a Vol fan since I was about 9 years old and that has been for more than72 years. I'm old as dirt, but, like you, I've never seen it any better. I remember the 50's national championship when TV wasn't in existence in Tennessee and radio was the only way to listen to enjoy games other than in person. I remember Lindsey Nelson and George Mooney as voices of the Vols (quite a while before the 'god of the mic') and looked so forward to Saturdays during football season. My wife and I had season tickets for years and traveled to almost all away campuses in addition to the home games. We were at Tempe for the '98 championship when our chartered plane filled with all of us UT fanatics came extremely close to crashing on takeoff from Phoenix. I'm grateful to still be here, and I'll never like Vandy in anything and I feel the same way about Georgia, Bama and Kentucky. When any of those 4 lose, it's a winning day for me. I'm orange blooded through and through this old body. I'm in good health and hope that I can make it a few more years to see Josh bring home another NC title; he's going to do it, folks. It's just a matter of "when". Hope all of you can enjoy the Vols for as long as I have.
Click to expand...
Well said, fellow curmudgeon. Hey, we were on that same plane! Wild times, eh? Our son was in the P.O.T.S. Band & returned to Knoxville, then drove to Nashville airport to meet us there. :eek::cool:
 
  • Like
Reactions: ArdentVol and Jacksonvol
#34
#34
Chad F said:
I remember a report from that time that suggested the only reason Barnes didn’t leave for UCLA was that the Bruins couldn’t “make the money work” (or something to that effect). Basically, it seemed like Barnes stayed not because of loyalty to Tennessee nor due to any move by our AD but instead just because UCLA couldn’t put together the right financial incentive.

I remember being a bit ticked off at Coach Barnes at the time, but maybe my memory is just bad.

Either way, I’m glad Barnes is still here.
Click to expand...
Yeah I kind of remember that. Phil was the recipient of that good fortune. Most can agree Phil breathes UT. I highly doubt he was a passive pawn during the negotiations. I seem to remember thinking Phil pulled it off moreso than UCLA screwed it up. I know they had a good relationship.
 
#35
#35
London Vol said:
APPRECIATE THE VOLS TRIFECTA

Often in life you don’t appreciate how good things are until you look back on that time. In the 13 years I have been a Vols fan I have never, not even remotely, seen a better threesome than Josh Heupel, Rick Banes and Tony Vitello and I suspect if I have had supported the Vols for 113 years this would still be the best Trifecta Tennessee has ever had.

Josh Heupel – Not even the first choice, this man not only took over what was often described as “a dumpster fire”, having recorded historically bad seasons but he inherited a roster that was very active…active by leaving via the Transfer Portal. Oh and throw in multiple NCAA violations which were left hanging over their head. Two years later he posts an 11-2 season with the No 1 Offense in nation and a really strong incoming class to add to a well-developed roster. Oh, and Tennessee was also ranked No 1 in the national rankings during the 2022 season.

Rick Barnes – This guy did come with a proven track record, so I suppose you would hope/expect that he would turnaround the Vols and that he did, by winning the SEC last year. The first time for a couple of decades. Year on year we have looked stronger reaching a level that to lose in the “Sweet Sixteen” this year, would now be regarded as a failure. Oh, and Tennessee was also ranked No 1 in the national rankings during the 2022 season.

Tony Vitello – Another appointment, like Josh, who was not a high profile ‘can’t miss’ appointment. Yet, he has improved the Vols to a point where Tennessee are busily adding to the stadium to accommodate the demand that a Baseball ticket has nowadays. The roster is so strong going into 2023 that the entire pitching staff is nationally ranked and if I wished to park my car when going to a game, I would be wise to park well away from the stadium as Blake Burke is going to be “knocking it out of the park” on a regular basis this season. Oh, and Tennessee was also ranked No 1 in the national rankings during the 2022 season.

Try to enjoy where we are as you may look back in about 20 years and think what a great era this was.

I have expanded on this aviewfrombigben.com as I did not want this post to be too long

Go Vols
Click to expand...

London Vol, I just saw this and thought you should know:

University Tennessee Pride Southland Band traveling to England

The Pride of the Southland Marching Band will be performing in London this Summer, so I thought it would be a thing of interest to you!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 9296potsguy
#36
#36
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top