My Fascination with
University of Tennessee's Mascot!
First off, let me explain that
this is "FOOTBALL COUNTRY" and everything turns orange in the fall to celebrate
UT's Volunteers! The entire Eastern portion of Tennessee, goes BIG
ORANGE for a few months and the only topic of conversation is UT's
Mens Football team! 1997 and 1998! SEC Champions!
First undefeated
season ever.
| 1999
Scorecard |
| Wyoming
17 |
UT 42 |
| Florida
23 |
UT 21 |
| Memphis
17 |
UT 16 |
| Auburn
24 |
UT Zero |
| Georgia
37 |
UT 20 |
| Alabama
21 |
UT 7 |
| South
Carolina 30 |
UT 7 |
| Notre
Dame 38 |
UT 14 |
| Arkansas
24 |
UT 28 |
| Kentucky
56 |
UT 21 |
| Vanderbilt
38 |
UT 10 |
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Champions!
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!
The University of Tennessee -
Volunteers have a great mascot! They have both the live dog and the costumed version. The
picture above is of the costumed version - do you believe that this is a Blue Tick Coon
Hound?? or could it possibly be a Berner????????????????????????
HISTORY OF UT's Mascot - SMOKEY
I have
discovered that sometime in 1953 The Pep Club sponsored a contest to obtain a live mascot.
A hound dog was chosen mostly because of its tendency to loudly howl. Newspapers said it
had be best 'Houn' Dawg'! Rev. William C. Brooks entered his prizewinning bluetick coon
hound which won over the other eight contestants. Smokey was the last to be introduced.
When his name was called out, he howled! The students cheered and he howled again! UT had
it's new mascot! Smokey was hit by a car sometime later and his young son took over as
mascot. Smokey II may have had the greatest adventures of all mascots everywhere! He was
dognapped by the Kentucky students sometime in 1955 and survived a fight with the Baylor
bear at the 1956 Sugar Bowl. Rev. Brooks died in 1986 - after 33 years as the mascot
provider. His wife continued the tradition in supplying the University with more dogs.
Smokeys II, III, and IV were descendants of the original Smokey. Newspaper Ads supplied
Smokey V. Smokey VI died in December 1991 of brain cancer. The next in line, Smokey VII
proved to not have a team spirit and was relived of duty after biting one of the band
members. Smokey VIII is now on duty! The Alpha Gamma Rho, a national agricultural
fraternity, takes care of Smokey.
Now for my background
music - "ROCKY TOP"
"Rocky Top" was written by songwriters Felice and Boudleaux Bryant in 1967, at
the Gatlinburg Inn, Gatlinburg, TN in Room 388! Today there is a plaque in that room
commemorating this historic happening! They were working on a project for Archie
Campbell and Chet Atkins. The song supposedly did not become popular until sometime after
1972 when the Pride of the Southland Band used it for one of their drills. The football
crowd went wild! The more the band played the tune, the more the people wanted
it! It has become one of the University of Tennessee's major traditions. And it
recently, in 1982, became one of the Tennessee's State Songs!
Lyrics:
Wish that I was on ol' ROCKY TOP,
Down in the Tennessee hills;
Ain't no smoggy smoke on ROCKY TOP,
Ain't no telephone bills.
Once I had a girl on ROCKY TOP,
Half bear, other half cat;
Wild as a mink, but sweet as soda pop,
I still dream about that.
(Chorus)
ROCKY TOP, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me;
Good ol' ROCKY TOP--
ROCKY TOP Tennessee.
Once two strangers climbed ol' ROCKY TOP
Looking for a moonshine still;
Strangers ain't come down from ROCKY TOP
Reckon they never will.
Corn won't grow on ROCKY TOP
Dirt's too rocky by far;
That's why all the folks on ROCKY TOP
Get their corn from a jar.
(Chorus)
© 1967 by House of Bryant Publications
P.O. Box 120608 Nashville, TN 37212
"Rocky
Top, You'll Always Be, Home Sweet Home to ME!!
WHY Orange and White?
The colors Orange and White were selected by Charles Moore, a member of
the first football team in 1891, and were later approved by a vote of the student body.
The colors were those of the common American daisy which grew in profusion on "The
Hill." So don't be surprised to hear "GO BIG ORANGE" whenever you enter
Knoxville.
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Page Created: October 10, 1998
Page Updated: January 25, 2000