More than a game… Tennessee gameday full of much more than football

Published 2:19 am Saturday, September 7, 2019

By Ivan Sanders

 
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR STAFF
 
Rocky Top you’ll always be
Home sweet home to me
Good Ol’ Rocky Top
Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee
 
Those are lyrics to one of the most recognized songs played in collegiate football and by the time one leaves Neyland Stadium, those words will replay through their mind like hitting repeat on the car radio over and over again.
 
Yes, there is a football game played at Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium on Shields-Watkins Field, but to experience a game day in Knoxville is so very much more than just sitting in the stands filled with upwards to over 100,000 fans watching two teams battle for a victory on the football field.
 
For most, it starts very early on Saturday morning as friends, family, and fans of the Big Orange gather in parking lots and fields scattered around the perimeter of the stadium for a fun time of fellowship with food, games, and just talking about life in general and of course the big game ahead.
 
And it doesn’t matter if the game is noon, 3 pm, or 7 pm kickoff, the tailgate experience starts just as early as everyone gathers together.
 
Often television stations like ESPN will bring their College Gameday show to the stadium and fans will gather around in the background and listen as the analysts break down the game and all the others being played on the day while the fans hold up signs and cheer on the Vols.
 
One of the most anticipated pre-game events is the Vol Walk, a tradition that began on October 20, 1990, by former head coach Johnny Majors for the Tennessee vs Alabama game.
 
Majors had seen something similar at an Auburn game and felt like the walk could serve as a spirit-infused pep rally for his team as they walked to the stadium and the rest is history.
 
Fans start lining up at least an hour before the scheduled start of the walk which is normally two hours before the game’s kickoff.
 
The Vol Walk starts at the Torchbearer statue in Circle Park and follows Peyton Manning Pass all the way to Gate 21.
 
Before the walk begins, the award-winning Pride of the Southland Band and the Vols cheerleaders along with mascots, The Volunteer and Smokey, spread throughout the route and get the overflow crowd into the spirit of the game as they await the arrival of the players and coaches.
 
Then it’s time!
 
Led by head coach Jeremy Pruitt followed by Smokey the Bluetick hound, the team dressed in their Sunday best from head to toe begin their walk through a narrow gap created as the crowd presses in to take a photo or possible shake a hand or give a high five to their favorite Vol players and coaches as they pass through.
 
Once the Vol Walk is completed, fans are now ready to enter the gates leading to their seats for the day’s contest to watch as the teams take the field for pre-game warmups.
 
The teams retreat to their respective locker rooms after warming up and then the Pride of the Southland Band takes the field to present their pre-game festivities including playing the fight song of the visiting team in front of the section marked for fans who make the long trip to Knoxville to support their team.
 
As game time approaches, a prayer is given and the National Anthem is presented before one of the greatest traditions in all of college football occurs when the band forms a large Power ‘T’ and the crowd raises the decibel level several, several bars as the Volunteer players, coaches, and cheerleaders run through the ‘T’ to their sideline.
 
During the game, Rocky Top will billow out from the band section many times especially on a score and the JumboTron plays videos of different eras of Tennessee football.
 
The cheerleaders and dance team work non-stop to keep the fans engaged in the game and by game’s end, whether the game ends with a win or a loss, fans retreat back to their tailgate set up to complete the day with their final clean-up and goodbyes after another exciting day on Rocky Top.
 
Yes, Tennessee football is so much more than just a game. It’s a time that people can forget about the problems and stresses and enjoy coming together to celebrate life and being together to enjoy Tennessee Volunteer traditions and the game itself.
 
It is definitely worthy of being put on a bucket list to take in just one of these college gamedays.

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