Favorite Memories as a Student?

[counterdevotee]

I’m a senior here at the university, so I’m often thinking about the last four years here on rocky top and how much they’ve meant to me. Out of curiosity, what are your favorite memories from being here on campus?

A few of mine would be the South Carolina game in 2019, because it was the only game my dad had ever been to, and it was just two years before he passed. There was so much electricity in the stadium despite it not even being full, and I loved every second, especially since he was there to hear and see it all. Ole miss last year was also particularly amazing. For reasons you all already know.
Go Vols!!

 

[VOLfrombama]

I was attending Auburn in 98. My buddy's dad gave us two tickets to the AU/UT game on the 50 yard line. We sat facing the hot Auburn sun. It was extremely hot that day and a very close game. Jamal Lewis blew out his knee that game.

When we stopped them on the goal line, I stood up and cheered. As you would imagine, I was the only unburnt orange around. An old man hit me in the back of the head with his binoculars. When I turned around to punch him in his saggy old face, an Auburn fan behind him grabbed him and dragged him by his arm up to the police, who were already on their way down. Thankfully I didn't need stitches but was bleeding pretty good. His old hag of a wife started cussing me out.

I told them both to kiss my Big Orange A$$ and say hello to Robert Baker when you get to jail. I told the cops I didn't want to press charges, even though I probably should have just so he would have to pay for it.

The cops made them leave, but before they did, they told the old man they would let him go if he apologized. So he did. The whole section clapped. Several Auburn fans apologized to me on the way out.

Most importantly, we won! So I had the last laugh.

I went to the SECCG in 98 too. I sat right next to the band. It was so loud in the GA dome. What a great atmosphere. Those were my only two UT games in 98, but two of my cherished.

I was also there the night the Barn burned in 96. But that wasn't a Tennessee game, so I wont go into details about it.

 

[StarRaider]

 

[OffTackleVol]

I’m a senior here at the university, so I’m often thinking about the last four years here on rocky top and how much they’ve meant to me. Out of curiosity, what are your favorite memories from being here on campus?

A few of mine would be the South Carolina game in 2019, because it was the only game my dad had ever been to, and it was just two years before he passed. There was so much electricity in the stadium despite it not even being full, and I loved every second, especially since he was there to hear and see it all. Ole miss last year was also particularly amazing. For reasons you all already know.
Go Vols!!

There are so many great college memories. I'll apologize on the front end for the lengthy response.

I could have signed with Tennessee Tech or Austin Peay and a handful of Division 2 and 3 schools out of high school. I received a letter from UT inviting me to walk on with the possibility of earning a scholarship. I'd always wanted to attend UT; saw my first game in '67 when I was 7 years old. So, that's what I did. When school started in late September of '78, I moved into Hess Hall (The Zoo), second floor. My days as a walk on were over, and by winter quarter of '79, I was contemplating transferring to the 'Peay and playing football there. Then 2 things happened, springtime in Knoxville and intramural softball. Back in the day, intramural sports at UT were BIG.

Long story short, a softball team made up of all freshmen played for the campus/university championship. We played the other 6-7 floor teams on our side of Hess and won all the games. We then beat the other side of Hess to win the Hess Hall championship. Next up was the Melrose dorm champions, which we won. We then beat the champion from Greve Hall, who had beaten the champion from Clement. We then beat a team from Reese, who was that side of campus champions. So now, there's 4 teams remaining: The dorm champions (us), the frat champions (Sigma Chi, if I remember correctly), and two independent teams. We beat the frats and got to play The Lakers in the finals. In the first inning, Alan Cockrell hit a shot back to our pitcher knocking his glove off his hand. Somehow, our pitcher was able to pick the ball up and throw him out at first (it broke his thumb, but finished the game). They beat us 5-3.

Again, it was a team from Hess Hall made up of all freshmen, all former high school athletes. Our pitcher was from Memphis, catcher from Philadelphia, Pa., first baseman from Kingsport, 2nd baseman from Oak Ridge, I was the shortstop from Winchester, 3rd baseman from Franklin, left field from Nashville, centerfielder from Oak Ridge, and right field from Trousdale County. All great guys, two of which became my best friends. Oh, and springtime in East Tennessee is incredible.

So, I finished UT in '82 and no regrets. Wished I had kept a diary of sorts; had so many great experiences: Uncle Sam's on Thursday's (UT student ID night), hoagies at Sam and Andy's, studying at "The Library," pac-man at The End Zone, 3 for 1 pitchers at Ivey's on Thursdays, quarter beer matches in our dorm rooms, Hymie's and Horizon's at Shelborne Towers on the weekend, being broke on a Sunday night and cooking a $1.29 Chef-Boy-R-D pizza on an illegal hot plate in my dorm room, playing against The Lakers my senior year for the campus championship in flag football, working at the World's Fair...................

 

[Hacksaw]

I remember how awesome it was to sit in the students section in Neyland and how they handed out "shakers" to us as we came in and the thrill I felt at my first game when the drum major high-stepped out to midfield with the band close behind and how loud the crowd roared.

I remember watching a basketball game in Stokely with Reggie White, the McKenzie brothers and Johnnie Jones sitting a few rows behind us. Standing in line all night to buy tickets to the Police concert in '83 -- and of course the concert itself. Climbing The Hill to get to my astronomy class. Dorm living and the satisfaction I felt when I realized I was far from home, living on my own and being responsible for myself in a world where I was surrounded by people who seemed smart and were mostly older than me.

A lot of it is a blur. I don't so much recall individual games or final scores, although I can refresh my recollection via the internet. I mostly just have a great feeling about those days and am grateful to have had the experience.

 

[FLVOL_79]

Free tickets to games

 

[onevol74]

Beating Bama 24-0 followed a week later by a 38-7 pasting of Florida my freshman year. Close second was throttling an undefeated Penn State during their first visit to a SEC stadium my sophomore year. Life was good.

 

[VOL in Flag]

Walking back from strip with my foot of goalpost following 98 Vols Gators game. Sr gift from Steve Spurrier.

 

[WestTennesseeVol]

Even though I was at Neyland for the 38 unanswered against Florida, I think the Hail Mary against Georgia wins just for the raw emotional roller coaster that game was. UT definitely wasn’t a dry campus that night.

 

[counterdevotee]

There are so many great college memories. I'll apologize on the front end for the lengthy response.

I could have signed with Tennessee Tech or Austin Peay and a handful of Division 2 and 3 schools out of high school. I received a letter from UT inviting me to walk on with the possibility of earning a scholarship. I'd always wanted to attend UT; saw my first game in '67 when I was 7 years old. So, that's what I did. When school started in late September of '78, I moved into Hess Hall (The Zoo), second floor. My days as a walk on were over, and by winter quarter of '79, I was contemplating transferring to the 'Peay and playing football there. Then 2 things happened, springtime in Knoxville and intramural softball. Back in the day, intramural sports at UT were BIG.

Long story short, a softball team made up of all freshmen played for the campus/university championship. We played the other 6-7 floor teams on our side of Hess and won all the games. We then beat the other side of Hess to win the Hess Hall championship. Next up was the Melrose dorm champions, which we won. We then beat the champion from Greve Hall, who had beaten the champion from Clement. We then beat a team from Reese, who was that side of campus champions. So now, there's 4 teams remaining: The dorm champions (us), the frat champions (Sigma Chi, if I remember correctly), and two independent teams. We beat the frats and got to play The Lakers in the finals. In the first inning, Alan Cockrell hit a shot back to our pitcher knocking his glove off his hand. Somehow, our pitcher was able to pick the ball up and throw him out at first (it broke his thumb, but finished the game). They beat us 5-3.

Again, it was a team from Hess Hall made up of all freshmen, all former high school athletes. Our pitcher was from Memphis, catcher from Philadelphia, Pa., first baseman from Kingsport, 2nd baseman from Oak Ridge, I was the shortstop from Winchester, 3rd baseman from Franklin, left field from Nashville, centerfielder from Oak Ridge, and right field from Trousdale County. All great guys, two of which became my best friends. Oh, and springtime in East Tennessee is incredible.

So, I finished UT in '82 and no regrets. Wished I had kept a diary of sorts; had so many great experiences: Uncle Sam's on Thursday's (UT student ID night), hoagies at Sam and Andy's, studying at "The Library," pac-man at The End Zone, 3 for 1 pitchers at Ivey's on Thursdays, quarter beer matches in our dorm rooms, Hymie's and Horizon's at Shelborne Towers on the weekend, being broke on a Sunday night and cooking a $1.29 Chef-Boy-R-D pizza on an illegal hot plate in my dorm room, playing against The Lakers my senior year for the campus championship in flag football, working at the World's Fair...................

This is great. I’m actually in Sigma Chi now, and we won the football, basketball, and softball championships last year!! Pretty cool to hear to reference them back in the day. I really appreciate hearing your story!

 

[SD189]

Probably winning the school wide tetherball tournament in 4th grade.

 

[vol94]

I’m a senior here at the university, so I’m often thinking about the last four years here on rocky top and how much they’ve meant to me. Out of curiosity, what are your favorite memories from being here on campus?

A few of mine would be the South Carolina game in 2019, because it was the only game my dad had ever been to, and it was just two years before he passed. There was so much electricity in the stadium despite it not even being full, and I loved every second, especially since he was there to hear and see it all. Ole miss last year was also particularly amazing. For reasons you all already know.
Go Vols!!

First off, enjoy your last year @ UT and embrace every moment. It seems like yesterday I was on campus. But now I’m 51 with a son (Soph) on Rocky Top and a daughter (soph) @ MS State. So enjoy each day, including seeing our Vols play in football, basketball and baseball. I took it for granted!

Sports - 1992 win over FL. My first college game (maybe 2nd) and I was in awe of Neyland! I’ve been hooked ever since. The worst loss was 1992 and 1994 vs Bama.

1992- Bama won the title that year. We had chances but lost. I recall going to the game with one of my roommates. We were so ticked off.

1994- my last year as I graduated in Dec, 94. We had the ball inside the 10-15 with an open WR in the end zone. Manning was a frosh but didn’t see the open receiver.
1993 basketball vs KY- we were horrible but Allen Houston led the Vols to victory over the Cats.

Enjoy!

 

[CAVPUT]

Wouldn't call it a favorite memory, but a guys group I was a part of decided to end the night at the Mouse's Ear. We'd had our fun and headed out the door near closing. Upon exiting that fine establishment, 2 very intoxicated gents had drawn down on one another in an argument about stealing a set of tires from a pickup truck's bed. Upon stumbling into such a moment, several in my group decided there was time for one...maybe two more rounds and dances before we had to leave. Yeah...way off topic, but hell, at my age, memories aren't reliable so you roll with the ones you are sure of and that's one I'm unlikely to forget.