The Local Sports Optimist

TENNESSEE VOLS

My Dad grew up in East TN, and went to The University of Tennessee. He even lived in Neyland Stadium as they used to have dorm rooms in the facility. Since he was a boy, he has bled Orange and White. While my sports passion began to emerge at the age of 7, right there with my growing love for my local teams, was my Dad's imparting to me his lifelong passion for his hometown Vols in college football. On October 29, 1983 my Dad would take me to my first Vols game, as he was given 2 tickets to the Vols @ Rutgers, in the Meadowlands! I'll never forget road trip up there and how Dad would further educate me on more history of UT football and his love for the team. I also remember the many cars we saw along the way that had UT flags and paraphernalia, and we would honk at each other in mutual excitement. Yes, Vols fans have always travelled well! UT won the game as a young phenom named Reggie White led the Vols dominant- and one of the nations best defenses.

My first home game at Neyland Stadium would be the next year when we played host to arch-rival, Alabama. And an amazing story about this: My dad was given 2 tickets to the game, but he took both myself, and my brother in hopes of somehow getting a 3rd ticket. Not only did this happen (from a ticket scalper outside the game), but the 3rd ticket we got would only be 1 row behind our 2 seats! Yes, out of nearly 100,000 seating capacity, we found a ticket right behind us, and were able to swap seats and all sit together! And of course what made this even more incredible was that it was against Alabama- always a very tough ticket! The Vols won a dramatic game, and in the always raucous presence of the "Big Orange" faithful, our love for the Vols took new heights. 

For years as a young boy, I wanted to follow in my dads footsteps and go to school at UT. I moved there in 1995 with that intention but ultimately ended up going to Boyce College instead, initially via an extension center in East TN near Knoxville, then to eventually move on main campus to finish in Louisville. While living there, I certainly enjoyed many Vols memories and went to just about every home game. Between having several family members (on both my Dad and Mom's side) living in TN over the years, and then living 6 years of my life there during some of those college years, TN was and always will be, my second home. 

The Vols would have many dominant years- especially in the 90's- but the pinnacle would be the 1998 perfect season, and first National Championship in my lifetime. There would be many epic moments during that unforgettable season, like the dramatic OT win vs Florida, the SEC Championship victory vs MSU, and of course the National Championship vs Florida State. But the best moment for me during that magical season- and perhaps one of the best moments ever with my dad- came during the miraculous Arkansas game. The game was lost. The 8-0 start, and #1 national ranking was about to end in devastating fashion. Dad and I had just watched together as the Vols failed to convert on 4th down, seemingly ending the game and dashing all hopes of our impressive comeback. All Arkansas had to do was run a couple of plays, burn the clock and our timeouts, and our quest for a National Championship was all but over. Dad and I were numb, and kind of speechless as we started setting the table for dinner and sort of glancing back at the TV in waning interest when Arkansas got the ball, with the game clock and our season ticking away. Then, it happened. While we simultaneously turned our heads to watch the play...yes, when Clint Stoerner "stumbled and fumbled". We screamed in euphoria. We jumped up and down. I squeezed dad so hard, and held on to him. I didn't let him go for the next few plays as we gazed in shock and awe, watching the Vols march right down the field. We just knew we were going to win the game. And I might add that we just knew we were going to win the National Championship. We weren't going to be denied. Then Travis Henry plunged into the end zone to seal the win and Neyland Stadium was in a frenzy. Dad and I were as excited as we have ever been before. It was a special moment I will forever treasure and remember vividly. 

Beginning in the early 2000's, Dad and I would begin an annual tradition to make it to Neyland Stadium- "Rocky Top" for a game, usually the home opener. Here's to that tradition continuing for many more years.