Share why you love theBig Orange.

#51
#51
My dad grew up in middle Tennessee in the 20s and 30s's and he's always told me that when you grow up there you either root for Tennessee or for Vanderbilt. I have thanked him many times over the years that he chose to root for Tennessee!! My first game was the 1966 Gator Bowl & my first game in Neyland Stadium was 1971 versus California Santa Barbara. Before every game was on TV back in the 60s and 70s we would listen to John Ward every Saturday. I wouldn't trade my Vol fandom for anything
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#52
#52
I will be 50 in April and can't remember not loving the Vols. I live pretty close to the Alabama state line so I grew up aware of the evils of Alabama football and all things crimson. Looking back, I regret not going to UT, but being so poor I was lucky to get to go to ANY college and I was a Vol fan no matter where I went.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#53
#53
volboy81 said:
My dad grew up in middle Tennessee in the 20s and 30s's and he's always told me that when you grow up there you either root for Tennessee or for Vanderbilt. I have thanked him many times over the years that he chose to root for Tennessee!! My first game was the 1966 Gator Bowl & my first game in Neyland Stadium was 1971 versus California Santa Barbara. Before every game was on TV back in the 60s and 70s we would listen to John Ward every Saturday. I wouldn't trade my Vol fandom for anything
Click to expand...
First game i saw at Neyland was that game vs Cal Santa Barbra also.
 
#54
#54
I love the Vols because watching them run through the Power T gives me the cold chills every single time I see it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
#55
#55
Long story short. I was Stationed in Aviano, Italy with the AF. I took classes at the U of Maryland (Europe Branch) while enlisted and met some guys who became my best buds. We were all taking classes while enlisted to make it easier during transitioning back to civilian life as a college student. We all (4 of us total) decided one afternoon we should go to the same college after our service time expired. We ended up picking Tennessee.

Every time things were miserable we would just say "Tennessee" and shake our heads and keep grinding. It meant more than just going to college. It meant freedom, it meant girls, it meant football, it meant education, it meant parties. It meant everything we wanted in one word. Tennessee. I promise you, we wore it out. Haha.

Unbelievably, over a drunken vow across the Atlantic Ocean, we all did end up in Knoxville. All four of us did a semester at Pell State the summer of 05. In the end, Only two of us got accepted into UT and we both graduated in 09. I love saying I graduated with Dolly Pardon! haha. One moved and graduated from Oregon St the other is a mailman in Virgina now.

So to answer your question my love for UT started right after Sept 11,2001 when I was 18 scared as hell flying overseas to my first duty assignment. Some dark days in the service with an orange light at the end of the tunnel. Every day we reminded ourselves that things were going to be amazing in a few years. "Tennessee". The wait and anguish was worth it and we had the best times of our lives living in The Fort (Forest Ave) FINALLY living the life of a college student. V4L
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 5 people
#57
#57
What's not to love? Great place, great university, great people, great history, great tradition.

Oh yeah, and I went to school there.
 
#58
#58
I've been a fan since I was 5 and Neyland was a horseshoe- and people could still sit on the hill and see the game without entering the stadium. My grandfather headed the ushers and he, my daddy when he was not on call and my brother and I would go to the games on Saturday. The excitement has never left.. the Tennessee Walking horses, cheerleaders, band. My brother would quiz me and make me memorize all of the players' names, numbers and positions. Today, many years later, I try to attend all of the home games with my sons- still even more of a fan now. I joined the POTSB for 2 years until my classwork made it impossible-- but the biggest reason for it was to be able to go to the away football games- this was in the 80's when the band travelled to most of the away games. There is nothing like it anywhere.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#59
#59
Just when we were becoming old enough to take a serious interest in college football, Doug Dickey was in the process of restoring Tennessee's program to its rightful place among traditional powers. The first game that I vaguely recall watching was the 1965 Bluebonnet Bowl vs. Tulsa. I remember the 1966 Gator Bowl more clearly in which we defeated Syracuse 18-12 despite Larry Csonka and Floyd Little rushing for nearly 300 yards against us. 1967 was the first year in which we listened to or watched every Tennessee game. We have steadfastly followed the Big Orange ever since.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#60
#60
I'm a UT Grad and I live in Raleigh/Durham, but my family is from Limestone Cove in East Tennessee. We are a proud bunch from #Unicoi and #Erwin.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#61
#61
majorvol said:
My son waiting on his fathead of Neyland to straighten out . I took him to the SC game last year and the Utah St. Game . We got tickets to the Florida game this week he has never seen UT loss in Neyland . I hope the streak continues .....
Click to expand...

THAT my friend is AWESOME !!!
 
#63
#63
I was born and raised in Alabama and my 5th grade teacher introduced me to the Volunteers. My father was a huge Bama fan and I just decided (for spite) to become a UT fan when I was 11,but my heart was devoted to UT.

When I reached college on a athletic scholarship, my roommates brother was Steve Kiner which only added to my passion for the vols. After playing 2 years at my school I decided to walk on to UT in 85 and after tearing my ACL which ended my college career, I have been hooked on UT ever since.

I'm 49 and have been a season ticket holder since 96 and my love for the Vols will never falter.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#64
#64
Crump stadium?
Liberty bowl stadium. Called Memphis Memorial Stadium in those days.
 
Last edited:
#65
#65
It has been 35 years. I think it is time we schedule Purdue and give them the beating they got coming. I love the Vols because we never relent.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#66
#66
Because Condredge Holloway put me on his knee and signed his autograph when I was a little kid. After my dad told me who he was, I started watching him play. Never stopped watching the Vols.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#67
#67
All the above...l can't say it any better, but I will add that during my 25+ years in the USAF, they kept me sane and gave me great pride. It's Great to be a TENNESSEE VOL!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#68
#68
1 It is the state of Tennessee's flagship university.
2 It has history and tradition rivaled by only a few.
3 General Neyland
4 John Ward
5 Heroes on the field...too many to name.
6 Sister graduated from UT
7 Brother graduated from UT
8 I graduated from UT
9 Wife graduated from UT
10 Oldest son graduated from UT
11 Only daughter a senior at UT
12 Youngest son a sophomore at UT
13 Blood
14 Sweat
15 Tears
16 My heart beats to the rhythm of Rocky Top
17 There is no place like Home...
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#69
#69
Being at the game in Neyland when the T breaks screaming your head off and not being able to hear your own voice!
I am so ready for those days to be back!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#71
#71
Listenin with Poppie while fishing camping whatever... Vols set in the I formation handoff up the middle fighting for the checkerboard...Twisting turning grinding driving...did he score? Yes sir give him six and the volunteers take the lead. Would love to hear kessling do his best impersonation when Hurd punches one in against the gators
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#72
#72
I am a third generation graduate of the University of Tennessee. Born and bred Volunteer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#73
#73
Considering weve had a few bad yrs, and i never gave up on them, i feel theyre rewarding me for my patience. I love waking up everyday to do my daily devotional (recruiting) to see whos targeting us, and get pleasant surprises on a regular basis. We are on the rise ppl, believe that!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#74
#74
I love the Orange because God decided to bless me enough to be born and raised in the great state of Tennessee.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#75
#75
My Dad grew up and played high school football with Bowden Wyatt. He was with Bowden when he found out Neyland was offering him a scholarship.

On Sunday mornings before church, Dad would go outside early to get the Knoxville Journal and us kids would jump in the 'big bed' and he'd read us the sports page before the funny papers. Later on I had my own Journal route so I could buy a motorcycle and the first thing I'd do at my first pickup was ... read the sports page, then the funny papers.

Anybody remember the
Dyergrams?

I have no concept of what it would be like to not have orange blood flowing in my veins.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top