Calling all trolls.. or things to be thankful for.

#1
SpaceCoastVol

SpaceCoastVol

Jacked up on moonshine and testosterone
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Sep 10, 2009
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#1
I went to Tennesse Shines last night at the Bijou in Knoxville, and it made me start thinking about some things. So I want to post a question for all trolls and Vol fans alike.

Besides having the best stadium in the best town in the SEC, what makes Knoxville THE best town in the SEC? (Or if you trolls can defend your podunk trash.. please do) A few things come to mind like:
- The Great Smokys
- Organic music.. (Bluegrass, etc)
- Great music venues (Bijou, the Square Room)
- The strip
- The VOL Navy

Personally, I can't think of any other town that even approaches K'ville when it comes to things non-college related things to do. Thoughts? Happy Turkey Day... and of course.. GO BIG ORANGE
 
#2
#2
Knoxville is in some beautiful country, there is certainly no denying that. One of my favorite college football venues to visit.
 
#4
#4
I have been to most of them.. Most recently Auburn, Ark, and Ole Miss this year. I graduated in 83, so it has been awhile since I have been to some of the others, but in coming back to Knoxville 4-5 times/year after having NOT been here really makes me appreciate how great this place is. Ark is a beautiful campus.. and it's location in the Ozarks make it somewhat comparable to the Smokys.. the music there is OK.. not as good bluegrass... Ole Miss was really beautiful.. nice campus.. great food.. people.. all that.. I live in Florida, and I have been to gainesville.. Tallahassee is a much better town when it comes to non college related stuff.. closer to the beach and all... I dunno.. I just thought I'd see what kind of thoughts I'd get from other fans..
 
#5
#5
VolDad said:
How many have you visited and who were they?
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This. While Knoxville has some really pretty areas, for the most part Knoxville is pretty ugly/poorly thought out city. Don't get me started on the campus. I love, and live in Knoxville... But man it is ugly. Flame away.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#6
#6
Pantone. When you leave for an extended period of time.. you really begin to appreciate it. Especially when you return. But.. you are correct as far as city (lack of) planning is concerned. I have always wondered why Knoxville hasn't grown more easterly than it has.. you know.. TOWARD the mountains. That has never made sense to me.
 
#7
#7
I agree that most of Knoxville is a very poorly thought out city. But that is the case for most small cities. It is hampered a lot by the all the ridges and politics caused a lot of the mess.
 
#8
#8
They're not really a rival, but Starkville is pretty nice. I went to a game there this season, and their stadium is really clean. The only bad thing about it is those stupid cowbells.
 
#9
#9
UNAVol89 said:
They're not really a rival, but Starkville is pretty nice. I went to a game there this season, and their stadium is really clean. The only bad thing about it is those stupid cowbells.
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It's been a few years since I went there, but that place seemed like an outpost to me. The stadium reminds me of a 1-AA facility.
 
#10
#10
pantone151 said:
This. While Knoxville has some really pretty areas, for the most part Knoxville is pretty ugly/poorly thought out city. Don't get me started on the campus. I love, and live in Knoxville... But man it is ugly. Flame away.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
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After visiting Savannah again, it blows me away. Whoever designed Savannah sure did have some stroke of genius. I don't think a town could be laid out any better than that. Knoxville, well....hmm. Must have been a Bama fan designing that one. IMO every new city should be a direct copy of Savannah.
 
#11
#11
pantone151 said:
This. While Knoxville has some really pretty areas, for the most part Knoxville is pretty ugly/poorly thought out city. Don't get me started on the campus. I love, and live in Knoxville... But man it is ugly. Flame away.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
Click to expand...

I'm not trying to flame, but I think Knoxville's unplanned nature is part of it's charm. You can almost see the city's history by how it is structured. Sure, the 70's and 80's sucked by it's still interesting.

Now, the campus in Spring is actually quite attractive. It's mainly Humanities and that tower there, as well as the Spam Can that drag down the campus.

I visited Harvard, and it wasn't anything special aesthetically. They did have a couple of wonderful buildings, but otherwise it was just like any other campus.
But reasonable people can disagree.
 
#12
#12
The Strip is a disgrace. Not sure how a bunch of crappy chain fast food places somehow elevates a city's stature.
 
#13
#13
the.one.the.only said:
After visiting Savannah again, it blows me away. Whoever designed Savannah sure did have some stroke of genius. I don't think a town could be laid out any better than that. Knoxville, well....hmm. Must have been a Bama fan designing that one. IMO every new city should be a direct copy of Savannah.
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Not if you like getting from point A to point B without twisting and turning through twenty something town squares. I'm a big fan of the straight line.
 
#14
#14
SpaceCoastVol said:
Personally, I can't think of any other town that even approaches K'ville when it comes to things non-college related things to do.
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This is completely wrong. You must not have gone outside of Tennessee. Knoxville is a wonderful place, but what you just said is totally wrong.
 
#15
#15
Downtown Knoxville is amazing. I love the lay out, and I think Gay St. is just as nice, if not nicer than a lot of other downtown areas in the south. I grew up in Atlanta, and lived south of Nashville in Franklin. To me, Franklin/Williamson county is the nicest area I've been to. It has the feel of a bigger city, yet it still has a small town feel to it, even though its getting too big for its britches. Knoxville is too industrial for my taste. The Rohm Haas plant right off 17th is an eye-sore. The spam can, the a&a building, TBA, Stokely, and the dorms are hideous. To me, campus has a pieced together feel. They are making some nice renevoations/additions. Glocker looks amazing... But then they go and put "art" on the pedestrian walk way. I could rant for hours on this.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#16
#16
GATechVOL said:
This is completely wrong. You must not have gone outside of Tennessee. Knoxville is a wonderful place, but what you just said is totally wrong.
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Dude.. I have lived more places outside the United States than you can probbly name. I am an international pilot and I fly to many many more. I can cite hundreds of examples of better.. and worse planning than Knoxville. Since you are from ATL, I'm willing to bet you will try to hold it up as some sort of beacon of enlightenment. It does have it's good points I will admit, but it's not in my top 50 places I want to live. Just a personal preference. But since you stated only that my quote was wrong... why not offer an opinion?
 
#17
#17
SpaceCoastVol said:
Dude.. I have lived more places outside the United States than you can probbly name. I am an international pilot and I fly to many many more. I can cite hundreds of examples of better.. and worse planning than Knoxville. Since you are from ATL, I'm willing to bet you will try to hold it up as some sort of beacon of enlightenment. It does have it's good points I will admit, but it's not in my top 50 places I want to live. Just a personal preference. But since you stated only that my quote was wrong... why not offer an opinion?
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Thank you.
 
#19
#19
Knoxville has its shortcomings, for sure, but there are plenty of positives to make it a great place to both visit or to live and raise a family.

I love the sense of "family" that Knoxvillians seem to share. It's a very friendly place and there is a great deal of stability in the population...polar opposite of Florida, for example, where everyone is either coming or going. The people here belong here, and we are proud of that.

It's also hard not to fall in love with the outdoor attractions. Multiple lakes with a lively watersports and fishing culture, the mountains in view and only a short drive away for a weekend getaway or a day hike, and more than a few great golf courses (with the variety to fit every golfer's game and/or wallet).

When you add the above to a decent-sized city with abundant restaurants and shopping, an average music scene, and the enormous draw of the University and our storied football program, it's easy to see why so many of us are happy to call Knoxville home.
 
#22
#22
Nothing beats living in the mountains and especially since I spend so much time on the water and in the woods. Regarding college campuses and towns I really haven't seen many in the SEC I would want to call home for an extended period. I have not been to Ark or MSU but have been to the rest. Outside of the SEC I would say Chapel Hill is a great campus and alot of fun. Also Santa Barbara and San Diego schools would be close to the top of my list followed by Hawaii schools. I prefer warm places so anything north or in the midwest wouldn't interest me.

I have lived in Knoxville and Chapel Hill and give the nod to CH.
 
#23
#23
IPorange said:
I'm not trying to flame, but I think Knoxville's unplanned nature is part of it's charm. You can almost see the city's history by how it is structured. Sure, the 70's and 80's sucked by it's still interesting.

Now, the campus in Spring is actually quite attractive. It's mainly Humanities and that tower there, as well as the Spam Can that drag down the campus.

I visited Harvard, and it wasn't anything special aesthetically. They did have a couple of wonderful buildings, but otherwise it was just like any other campus.
But reasonable people can disagree.
Click to expand...

Harvard, really? C'mon man- Harvard Square is awesome and Boston is off the charts better than any city we have in the South. Having said that, I think that UT is special among SEC campuses in that it is an urban campus which affords an atmosphere unavailable in Tuscaloosa, Athens, Auburn, etc. So, it's really tough to compare in that respect.

I will agree with another post re the Strip- it's nasty. That part of Cumberland Ave could be transformed in such a way that would make UT one of the top campuses in the nation... not sure if the city will ever come on board for that- they continue dumping money into downtown projects that haven t really worked.
 
#24
#24
DownTheField said:
Harvard, really? C'mon man- Harvard Square is awesome and Boston is off the charts better than any city we have in the South. Having said that, I think that UT is special among SEC campuses in that it is an urban campus which affords an atmosphere unavailable in Tuscaloosa, Athens, Auburn, etc. So, it's really tough to compare in that respect.

I will agree with another post re the Strip- it's nasty. That part of Cumberland Ave could be transformed in such a way that would make UT one of the top campuses in the nation... not sure if the city will ever come on board for that- they continue dumping money into downtown projects that haven t really worked.
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Well, that's not much to brag about in my opinion.
 
#25
#25
Sorry, Smokey mountains not withstanding Knoxville is a pretty ugly city. I have had a few chances to relocate there and would never do it.
 
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