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WINNING One of the best traditions Tennessee has is winning. Since 1989, Tennessee's record is 101-20-2 for an .829 per cent winning edge, won a National Title, 4 SEC Championships, and 10 consecutive BOWLS The Vols rank 8th ALL TIME in overall wins NICKNAME Tennessee acquired its nickname "The Volunteer State" early in the nineteenth century large armies volunteered to fight the Indians and later, the British for General Andrew Jackson, a native Tennesseean. In the Mexican War, a call went out for 2,800 men from Tennessee and 30,000 men answered the call to battle Santa Ana. The dragoon color guard that appears at athletic events wears the uniform of that war. "Vols" is the shortened form of Volunteers. SCHOOL COLORS A member of the first football team, Charles Moore (1891) selected the colors Orange and White.These were the colors of the American daisy that grew profusely on the campus. Tennessee teams did not appear in the orange jerseys until 1922's season opening game. THE POWER "T" Beginning with the 1964 debut of Doug "tallman" Dickey as head coach, the power "T" began appearing on the football helmet. Prior to 1964,the helmet was white with an orange stripe down the middle. SMOKEY The Pep Club asked the university for a live mascot and held a contest to select a coon hound. The year was 1953. The contest was announced in the local newspapers and read: "This can't ba an ordinary hound. He must be a Houn' Dog in the best sense of the word". All the hounds were lined up on the cheerleading ramp at Shields-Watkins field, introduced one at a tiime over the P.A. speaker. The students would cheer their favorites. The late Rev. Bill Brooks entry "Brooks Blue Smokey" was last introduced. This hound stole the show. When his name was called he barked. The students cheered.Smokey threw his head back and barked again. This kept going until the stadium was in an uproar. UT had found its mascot. Rev. Brooks supplied all mascots until his death in 1986. Mildred, his wife, continued the tradition until 1994. Her brother and sister-in-law now supply UT with those fine hounds. Smokey VIII is currently performing graciously with Smokey IX waiting his turn. RUNNING THRU THE "T" From the time of coach Robert Neyland until 1963 the teams bench was on the East side of the stadium. The team entered from that side on the 50 yard line. All that changed when Coach Dickey moved the teams bench to the west side allowing the team to enter the field just before the opening kickoff through a giant "T" formed by the Pride of the Southland Band. When the Vols moved into their new dressing room quarters under the north stands in 1983, the "T" remained forming from north to south instead of east to west. VOL WALK...and PRIDE OF THE SOUTHLAND BAND PRE GAME SHOW If you have a chance to get to the game, go early for some really awesome pre game color and atmosphere. The "VOL WALK" led by Coach Fulmer starts at Gibbs Hall thru Circle Park down Peyton Manning Pass and into the stadium. Fans greet and applaud the coaches and the team all the way. Catch this about 2 hours before the game. About 1 hour and 20 minutes before kickoff, the band marches from Volunteer Blvd. past Circle Park to Andy Holt Blvd. playing ROCKY TOP non stop. The band stops at Andy Holt Blvd. and Phillip Fulmer Way and salutes The Hill with with about 3 fight songs. If that doesn't get your blood pumping...then you don't have any! HOME