Remember when we didn't play Rocky Top?

[hmanvolfan]

Originally Posted by GmanTN

The horse would trot around the outside of the field, not on it.

Do you know why those horses high step like they do?

[Mrvols1731]

Originally Posted by Bleed-Orange

My dad is an old UT alumni and we got into the discussion about the Black Uni's and the outcry from the "traditionalists". He said the entire discussion is laughable and went through a list of traditions that used to be and others that are new. Among the things he brought up were:

1. The UT band didn't play Rocky Top.
2. The north end zone didn't have stands.
3. There was a cannon on the hill above the north endzone that was fired when we scored.
3. Our traditional "orange" uniform used to be almost a gold color.
4. We used to have a Tennessee walking horse on the field before the game.
5. There wasn't an upper deck.
6. UT didn't have a QB. We ran the single wing. He watched the first time a qb took the field.

I knew about a few of these, but I had no idea the band didn't play Rocky Top. Anyone else have memories like these?

I remember all of these except for the cannon but we have the fire works now so that is better. My first time at a UT game, the north endzone did not have stands and only remember a partial upperdeck. Being a young kid the Tennessee walking horse really excited me. The fight song was Down on The Field and I still play it every game day even now. Rocky Top was not named the fight song until the early to mid 80's even though the band was already playing it. I might get blasted for this but Rocky Top never has seemed like a fight song to me, just saying.

I love the changes that are being made and CLK may be a genious with how he has done things. I love traditions and they are what make our great university. However, the black jersey's were great and I would like to see once a year an all black w/orange numbers uniform and even a black helmet. The game is all about the players and that is what they wanted and from the sounds of, what recruits like as well. Remember we are fans that want to see a winning program developed and maintained. So if black is what the kids want that is what they should have.

[onevol74]

Originally Posted by oUTKickedCoverage

The modern version of Rocky Top was originally played was played by the Tennessee basketball pep band in the 1974 Conference Coaches Association Tournament versus Indiana.

The basketball program invented running through the T, and Big Orange Country too.

Prior to the 1970s, you wouldn't see a lot of fans at any game wearing their team's colors... so Ray Mears invented the Orange Tie Club.

Basketball and Ray Mears can take credit for quite a bit of tradition that is ascribed to our formerly stodgy old football program.

You are completely wrong on your comments. Running through the T was started by the football them when Doug Dickey came to Knoxville, which was before Mears ever showed up on campus.

Rocky Top was played by the UT band when they played LSU in the Bluebonnet Bowl at the end of the 1972 season and it became a hit with the fans.

Ray Mears did create the "Big Orange Country" slogan.

[GmanTN]

Originally Posted by hmanvolfan

Do you know why those horses high step like they do?

Yep, I also know alot of animal rights people call it cruelity to animals.

[BigSteve09]

Originally Posted by Bleed-Orange

Perhaps, but it isn't quite the same. I don't recall any old battle ships lining up and setting off fireworks in the heat of battle.

With the way things in this country and the military are going, it won't be long before the USS HAAYYY is setting off streamers and fireworks in the Persian Gulf.

[VolFanMemphis]

Originally Posted by Bleed-Orange

My dad is an old UT alumni and we got into the discussion about the Black Uni's and the outcry from the "traditionalists". He said the entire discussion is laughable and went through a list of traditions that used to be and others that are new. Among the things he brought up were:

1. The UT band didn't play Rocky Top.
2. The north end zone didn't have stands.
3. There was a cannon on the hill above the north endzone that was fired when we scored.
3. Our traditional "orange" uniform used to be almost a gold color.
4. We used to have a Tennessee walking horse on the field before the game.
5. There wasn't an upper deck.
6. UT didn't have a QB. We ran the single wing. He watched the first time a qb took the field.

I knew about a few of these, but I had no idea the band didn't play Rocky Top. Anyone else have memories like these?

A little young for those kind of memories. But I appreciate you sharing that.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

[PPPpartsp3]

The official fight song is Down the Field, not Rocky Top.

[onevol74]

You left out the fact that Tennessee proudly wore Orange jerseys for every football game home and away. Not like the shame we see in them today.

[BigSteve09]

Originally Posted by onevol74

You left out the fact that Tennessee proudly wore Orange jerseys for every football game home and away. Not like the shame we see in them today.

......you mean orange and white?

[hmanvolfan]

Originally Posted by GmanTN

Yep, I also know alot of animal rights people call it cruelity to animals.

You would be right. But it depends on the greed of the breeder as to how far they go to achieve the desired effect. Check out the Action Devices and Soring paragraphs.
Tennessee Walking Horse - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Bleed-Orange]

Originally Posted by onevol74

You left out the fact that Tennessee proudly wore Orange jerseys for every football game home and away. Not like the shame we see in them today.

From what I understand this was changed for black and white TV. Something that I am sure they mentioned in the jersey post that was far too long for me to read.

[GmanTN]

Originally Posted by onevol74

You left out the fact that Tennessee proudly wore Orange jerseys for every football game home and away. Not like the shame we see in them today.

Wrong, we use to wear black only

[BigSteve09]

Whamee

[onevol74]

Originally Posted by BigSteve09

......you mean orange and white?

From 1964 to 1970 Tennessee never wore white jerseys with the exception of the January 1, 1968 Cotton Bowl where Texas wore orange and UT were forced to wear white jerseys.

I think that we also wore orange for all games previous to 1963 when Jim McDonald took over. I have never seen a picture of UT from 1922 to 1963 in a white jersey, home or away. Other teams wore white jerseys on the road, but not UT.

[emeewes]

Originally Posted by PPPpartsp3

The official fight song is Down the Field, not Rocky Top.

Thank you. Even the Verizon commercial in the stands is annoying talking about hearing the fight song ringback tone or whatever. Rocky Top isn't and should never be a fight song.

Songs like Down the Field and Fight Vols Fight and March on Mighty Vols are much better when it comes to being traditional school songs.