HAPPY HOLIDAYS : Vols are great but love your family.

[OrangeVolMan]

I grew up a Vol fan. My father covered the Vols for AP even before I was born. When I young, I was in Nashville and went to Vandy games while my father covered the games for AP. We were still UT fans though. I went to UT and graduated from UT in the early 80s. Have had season tickets since 1985. My son and daughter in law graduated from UT (wife graduated from Tn Tech).
I say all this as a lead to say I love the Vols. However, don’t let your love for the Vols get in the way of your family. I can remember times I was pissed for days after a loss. I passed my love for the Vols on to my son but I stress to him that it is not the end to all ends.
Things are more important than football and basketball. Love your kids and grandkids ( I have a 5 month old grandchild). I’ll always be a Vol fan but as I age I think more about my granddaughter than the success of the Vols.
Go Vols and Happy Holidays to everyone.

 

[Fightmaker]

I grew up a Vol fan. My father covered the Vols for AP even before I was born. When I young, I was in Nashville and went to Vandy games while my father covered the games for AP. We were still UT fans though. I went to UT and graduated from UT in the early 80s. Have had season tickets since 1985. My son and daughter in law graduated from UT (wife graduated from Tn Tech).
I say all this as a lead to say I love the Vols. However, don’t let your love for the Vols get in the way of your family. I can remember times I was pissed for days after a loss. I passed my love for the Vols on to my son but I stress to him that it is not the end to all ends.
Things are more important than football and basketball. Love your kids and grandkids ( I have a 5 month old grandchild). I’ll always be a Vol fan but as I age I think more about my granddaughter than the success of the Vols.
Go Vols and Happy Holidays to everyone.

I guess I love all you worthless SOB’s too…but not as much as my 3 grand babies.

 

[vols40]

I grew up a Vol fan. My father covered the Vols for AP even before I was born. When I young, I was in Nashville and went to Vandy games while my father covered the games for AP. We were still UT fans though. I went to UT and graduated from UT in the early 80s. Have had season tickets since 1985. My son and daughter in law graduated from UT (wife graduated from Tn Tech).
I say all this as a lead to say I love the Vols. However, don’t let your love for the Vols get in the way of your family. I can remember times I was pissed for days after a loss. I passed my love for the Vols on to my son but I stress to him that it is not the end to all ends.
Things are more important than football and basketball. Love your kids and grandkids ( I have a 5 month old grandchild). I’ll always be a Vol fan but as I age I think more about my granddaughter than the success of the Vols.
Go Vols and Happy Holidays to everyone.

@OrangeVolMan what a very nice post. I can relate to a lot of what you said. I have a 3 year old granddaughter who absolutely refused to say Go Vols until 3 minutes after the Vols beat Bama this year. Talk about a happy grandpa. Merry Christmas my friend.

 

[Hacksaw]

I definitely took Vol football losses much harder before I had kids. My kids always brought me out of it pretty quickly. Now they're all adults and I could go back to acting like an idiot if I really wanted to. But I haven't gone back. I guess they cured me.

 

[feathersax]

I guess I love all you worthless SOB’s too…but not as much as my 3 grand babies.

Echo your sentiments. My two granddaughters have a similar effect. Perspective, eh?

 

[kcvols1]

My wake-up moment was the 2012 GA State game; my kids’ first in Neyland. My son was three. My daughter five.

So we’re sitting under the awning in the YY sections, and UT struggles with GSU for most of the first half; trading punts & fumbles as college players are wont to do. I’m feeling my BVS, but putting on a brave face. Scattered boo birds reverberate through the stadium after a punt call in the second quarter.

Two rows down, a bipedal whale eight drinks in (shoutout @WoodsmanVol ) stands up and starts dog-cussing the team, Dooley, Hamilton, and anyone in the way of his wagging finger. His wife is visibly upset.

My son and daughter are transfixed by this display, having never seen an adult act like this in public. I don’t think either of them even considered the possibility that adults could have conniption fits just like their own.

For the briefest moment, I think tears well up in both their eyes. That is until they both start laughing hysterically at this fool. I mean, they laughed harder at this Cletus than I can recall them ever laughing at SpongeBob SquarePants or Jerry Mouse.

In that moment I decided that no on field result could spoil time spent with family, and that’s only extended and expanded in the years since. My wife and I still tell the story and always will.

My wardrobe will always be “orange forward,” I’ll volunteer with the alumni association, and I’ll keep financially supporting academic programs, but I’ll never go back to letting my psychological health depend on the outcome of any athletic contest. I thank God for that repeatedly.

Crash Davis summed it up: “Games are fun. Let’s have some fun, go**ammit!”

 

[bigorangepoppa]

I love Vol athletics, been listening/watching for a long time. I have seen many fans of UT and other teams who act like the world is ending if their team loses. Many years ago, I decided that, as much as I love my Vols, whether they win or lose, it doesn't determine my mood for the day, week, month, or year. It's a game, it's not what has any affect on how I live. With that being said, GO VOLS.

 

[TCNC53]

I grew up a Vol fan. My father covered the Vols for AP even before I was born. When I young, I was in Nashville and went to Vandy games while my father covered the games for AP. We were still UT fans though. I went to UT and graduated from UT in the early 80s. Have had season tickets since 1985. My son and daughter in law graduated from UT (wife graduated from Tn Tech).
I say all this as a lead to say I love the Vols. However, don’t let your love for the Vols get in the way of your family. I can remember times I was pissed for days after a loss. I passed my love for the Vols on to my son but I stress to him that it is not the end to all ends.
Things are more important than football and basketball. Love your kids and grandkids ( I have a 5 month old grandchild). I’ll always be a Vol fan but as I age I think more about my granddaughter than the success of the Vols.
Go Vols and Happy Holidays to everyone.

Great post - great perspective. My wife and I live by the “22 18 Rule” - we will not let 22 18 year olds ruin our weekend. I love the VOLS and have enjoyed this season more than any I can remember in a long time - I went to my first UT game in 1972 when I was 9 years old so have seen a few really good seasons over the years. My wife and I hardly missed a game when were students there in the early 80’s and we’ve pulled for, screamed at, cheered for and hurled a few expletives (me, not her) over the years. But in the end, it’s just a bunch of kids playing a game that, win or lose, shouldn’t change your outlook on life and how you react to friends and family. Go Big Orange - and Happy Holidays to all who cheer them on Down the Field…

 

[joevol33]

Agree. I almost list my wife last year, and though I still get into the game, there are much more important things. My oldest daughter just got married, so maybe grandkids are in the future to help with the losses .

 

[DaddyChad]

Agree. I almost list my wife last year, and though I still get into the game, there are much more important things. My oldest daughter just got married, so maybe grandkids are in the future to help with the losses .

Grandkids in the future to enjoy the wins with.

 

[Noni]

Agree. I almost list my wife last year, and though I still get into the game, there are much more important things. My oldest daughter just got married, so maybe grandkids are in the future to help with the losses .

This 100%. In the last decade and a half we lost a teenaged daughter in a car accident, had our home burn down and 14 months ago celebrated the birth of our great granddaughter. While I love watching the Vols compete, their win or loss does not change my life. It affects theirs, not mine.

 

[joevol33]

This 100%. In the last decade and a half we lost a teenaged daughter in a car accident, had our home burn down and 14 months ago celebrated the birth of our great granddaughter. While I love watching the Vols compete, their win or loss does not change my life. It affects theirs, not mine.

Gosh, I sincerely hate hearing all of that, and pray things have gotten a little better for you. I know it'll never be the same, but I hope you all can find some peace.

 

[MAD]

Does this mean we should spend less time on Volnation?

 

[volfanhill]

Does this mean we should spend less time on Volnation?

 

[Noni]

Gosh, I sincerely hate hearing all of that, and pray things have gotten a little better for you. I know it'll never be the same, but I hope you all can find some peace.

Thank you. We've healed as a family and are in a place where we are very thankful for what we do have. Our health, our family and friends, we don't live in a war torn country and of course, the newest girl we just adore. So many people have it so much worse. I wish all of Vol Nation a happy and safe holiday season!

 

[feathersax]

Agree. I almost list my wife last year, and though I still get into the game, there are much more important things. My oldest daughter just got married, so maybe grandkids are in the future to help with the losses .

Well said joevol33. Again, family puts things in perspective.

 

[Freiwillige]

Vol wins are the maraschino cherry on top of the ice cream sundae.

 

[tennrich1]

I grew up a Vol fan. My father covered the Vols for AP even before I was born. When I young, I was in Nashville and went to Vandy games while my father covered the games for AP. We were still UT fans though. I went to UT and graduated from UT in the early 80s. Have had season tickets since 1985. My son and daughter in law graduated from UT (wife graduated from Tn Tech).
I say all this as a lead to say I love the Vols. However, don’t let your love for the Vols get in the way of your family. I can remember times I was pissed for days after a loss. I passed my love for the Vols on to my son but I stress to him that it is not the end to all ends.
Things are more important than football and basketball. Love your kids and grandkids ( I have a 5 month old grandchild). I’ll always be a Vol fan but as I age I think more about my granddaughter than the success of the Vols.
Go Vols and Happy Holidays to everyone.

I agree with every word. I too would act like a pathetic moron for days after a loss and took it all so personal. Looking back on it I’m embarrassed and ashamed of the selfishness. You have given perfect advice but knowing human nature some will not get it or understand sadly until it’s too late. Thanks for the reminder. Merry Christmas! And I agree…my granddaughters are far more precious to me than a Vol win or loss.

 

[1989Vol]

Odd thread indeed.

 

[TheFlash1971]

4-8 Rams vs 5-9 Packers and people pack the stadium to watch them play in frigid temperatures. I like football but that is just insane. Their getting paid millions while I’m paying the owner, spending money to watch a crappy product. On top of that the Refs totally dictate the game. Very skeptical of pro football. NFL stands for National Fixed League.

 

[vavolfan6]

I promise, I do love my family.....the ones who are Vol Fans that is!

 

[Volador]

Old saying goes....

Grandchildren are the reward for not having killed your children

 

[Mccage]

Would never admit it to them but I Care more for my Bama and Dog family members than I do the Vols.

 

[Volfan1000]

After the recent death of Mike Leach, remember that every day is a gift and hug your family members every day if you can.