With the start of the college football season less than 100 days away, I thought it would be a good time to educate those of you that don’t follow the University of Tennessee program. Few schools around the nation can point to the rich history and unequaled tradition that is Volunteer football.
Not many teams across the land can claim as many game day activities that take place in Knoxville. The Vol Walk is a parade from the athletic dorms to the football stadium a few hours before kickoff. It includes the coaches, cheerleaders, dancers, the Pride of the Southland Band, Smokey, the team and their families. More fans line the streets from the dorms to the stadium than most teams draw in total attendance at their home games.
The Vol Navy amasses on the Tennessee River which is adjacent to Neyland Stadium. The fleet was started by former Tennessee broadcaster George Mooney who parked his boat there first in 1962. An armada of anything that floats will appear hours and even days before the game. Tailgating takes on an entirely different meaning when the Vol Navy pulls into port. Sports Illustrated ranked Neyland Stadium, the University of Tennessee campus and surrounding Knoxville as the best college football weekend experience in 2004.
As game time approaches and fans begin to fill Neyland Stadium, it becomes the fourth-largest city in the state. With an official capacity of 102,037, Tennessee fans show up in much greater numbers. It’s not uncommon for more than 106,000 to attend games and in 2004 a record 109,061 were in attendance for a September game against the Florida Gators. In a poll conducted by The Sporting News in 2001, Neyland was ranked as the No. 1 college football stadium in America.
Just minutes before kickoff, the Pride of the Southland Band forms the “Power T” and walks toward the end zone where the Vols come onto the field. Former Neyland Stadium Public Address announcer Bobby Denton coined the phrase “It’s Football Time in Tennessee!” and yelled that just before the band formed the “T” which opens up, allowing the team to run onto the field.
Tennessee is one of the most successful programs in all of college football. Tennessee’s all-time record is 771–320–53 (.697), ranking it as the ninth-winningest program in the nation.
Tennessee has completed the season ranked number one in various polls six times (1938, 1940, 1950, 1951, 1967, and 1998), with consensus national championships in 1951 and 1998.
Tennessee has won 13 SEC titles and since the conference expanded in 1992 has appeared in the SEC championship game five times, winning the outright conference title twice. The Volunteers have played in 48 bowls, winning 26. The 48 bowl game appearances are tied with the University of Texas as the second most in college football.
Two of the great coaches leading the Volunteers have been General Robert Neyland, whom the stadium was named after, who coached Tennessee on three separate occasions from 1926-1934, 1936-1940, and 1946-1952. Former Vol player and Heisman Trophy candidate Johnny Majors led the Vols from 1977 to 1992.
General Neyland compiled a career record of 173-31-12 including the Vols first consensus national title in 1951. Majors finished his career at Tennessee with a 116-62-8 record, restoring the pride and success the Volunteer program enjoyed during Neyland’s coaching tenure.
Current head coach Phillip Fulmer played for the Volunteers from 1968-1971. During his playing career, the Vols compiled a 30-5 record. He began his coaching career at Tennessee in 1973 and has been in Knoxville every year with the exception of a one-year stint at Vanderbilt.
He became Tennessee‘s head football coach in 1993 and has compiled an impressive 146-44 record and a winning percentage of .769 in 16 seasons. His 1998 team won the Fiesta Bowl to finish 13-0 and win the first BCS national championship.
While many school’s have unique stories that lead to their nicknames, none can compare with the University of Tennessee. The State of Tennessee was nicknamed the “Volunteer State” after the war of 1812 due to the large number of Tennesseans who helped fight the British.
In March 1836 at the battle of the Alamo, a small group of volunteers from Tennessee were led by David “Davy” Crockett. The 12-man “Tennessee Mounted Volunteers” would all die defending the Alamo against the Mexican army. Even a Volunteer volunteered when Tennessee coach Robert Neyland left the school shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor to serve his nation.
One of the greatest Presidents in this nation’s history was Tennessean Andrew Jackson. Upon taking office in 1830, the national debt was $48.580 million but by 1835, Jackson paid off the national debt.
Tennessee football is steeped in tradition and history. It’s more than football; it’s a commitment to the university, the state and our nation.
The University of Tennessee Volunteers.
