Very well put:clapping:Oh, I've heard some Kentucky fans admit it. There's a reason it's so recognizable. The great thing about Tennessee is that it has SO much about it that is recognizable as "Tennessee": the orange, the huge stadium, the original nickname, Rocky Top, etc.
Imagine you're a UK fan. You play in an average stadium. Your color is blue. Your nickname is "Wildcats." Your fight song is...?
They're pretty generic in a lot of ways, which is why so many of them criticize our orange and Rocky Top. But some will admit admiration...I've heard it first hand.
Some guy invented a hand signal for UT. It was in the Sentinel about four years ago. It was basically just the shocker, but if you looked at your fingers, it sort of looked like they spelled Vol. Derrick Tinsley did it in a photo in Sports Illustrated on Campus, and they were going to use it as the cover, but they didn't feel putting the shocker on the cover was a good idea. Thus, the cover was instead some shirtless dude with a Power T on his chest.
Rocky Top is OK, but I DO wish the Pride of the Southland and the cheerleaders could come up with something fast and rocking that would include a cheer or chant unique to UT. I know, I know, Rocky Top does that, but frankly, it's slow and dated. (Not saying get rid of it; just add a new song to the repertoire.)
SERIOUSLY. I can't help but smile when I hear it. Or tear up, depending on whether it's football season or not. Anyway, not a single song in the world makes me as happy as Rocky Top does every time I hear it.![]()