My Fondest Rocky Top Memory

#1
dduncan4163

dduncan4163

Have at it Hoss
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Jan 24, 2006
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#1
Still got a few weeks to go before we do this all over again. Been a Vol fan since I was 10. Hard to believe I have been watching the Orange and White for 21 years now. Now I got 2 boys who are starting to bleed orange just like their Poppa.

Anyway sorry for the Nostalgia ramble just wanted to share my fondest UT moment with the Nation.

Who else was there during the 98 UT-Ark game? Its been nearly 13 years but I swear it seems like yesterday to me. It was raining its ass off that day. Drove from Memphis the night before and was running on no sleep. It was nasty as possible that day, and Ark jumping up on us 21-3 didnt help my mood either. When we turned the ball over with only a couple mins left I remember thinking well, our luck had to run out sooner or later. We had had a horseshoe up our as*es that whole season and I thought our card had finally been pulled.

I got up to head for the exit tired, wet, and pissed, and just as walked past him I heard heard a Old Man say HOLY SH*T and before I could turn around I swear that whole Stadium started shaking. In all the games Ive ever been too in any stadium I have never heard a crowd that loud in my life. It was louder than 1999 UT Fla game in the Swamp. Hell it was louder than than the UT-LSU game in Death Valley back in 2000. It was pure chaos lol.

I remember seeing Travis Henry run harder than any back I ever seen at UT. It was also the most dominating Oline performance I ever seen since Ive been a fan. Those UT Buffet Busters ate that Ark front 7 alive on that final drive. That whole unit played like they were possessed. It still gives me chills remembering that final drive. Billy Ratiff got them the ball back and they werent going to be denied that win.

When Henry hit that checkerboard I knew at that moment we were going to win the NC. I know it sounds crazy but at that moment I knew 98 was going to be our year of Destiny. I was never worried during the SEC Championship game or NC Game. We werent going to be denied our place in history.

Anyway sorry for the long post. Just my fav moment wearing this Orange and White I love so much. Would like too know what some of you guys fav moments are
 
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#2
#2
That's an awesome post!! I could read stories like this all night long.
 
#3
#3
Great Post! My favorite moment would have to be my first ever game at Neyland in 2000 against Arkansas. I was so nervous and excited my stomach was upset. I felt like I was about to play. I remember running to the stadium and watching the pregame and watching us run through the T. The chill bumps went all over my body and I remember us Jumping on Arky 35 to 0 in the 1st quarter and Travis Henry stiff arming the Hell out of their DB on a TD run. I will never forget my first UT game as we whipped the mess out of Arky 63 to 20!
 
#5
#5
Every time that power T opens up and the players run on the field I get tears in my eyes. GO VOLS!!!
 
#6
#6
That is a fantastic story.

Mine was the 2004 Florida game. I still remember the whole end of the game like it was yesterday. We were headed down the ramp to leave but my friends dad said "Guys, we need to go back." We didn't understand why and when we asked he said "I just think we should." We got back in time to see the kick being set up so we stood at the top of the stairs and watched from there. The one thing that sticks out to me the most is how quite the stadium was as the ball went up. You could have heard a mouse fart at that moment. When it went in, it was the loudest most glorious thing I have ever experienced in my life. People literally went insane, they were running around jumping in each other arms, throwing food and drinks in the air, high fiving and hugging everyone in sight. For those few moments, everyone was everyone else's best friend. Without a doubt one of the best experiences I have ever had in my life and something I will never forget. I'd say damn near everyone was cheering "It's great, to be, a TENNESSEE VOL all the way down the ramp and back to the car.
 
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#8
#8
1986 - Sugar Bowl victory over Miami and watching Miami fans leave early
1985 - My first game - Vols with Tony Robinson and Tim McGee destroy Bo Jackson and Auburn

1990 - Dale Carter returns second half kickoff for TD against Florida and Steve Spurrier
1998 - Florida win and Alabama win with Peerless Price returning kickoff for TD
 
#9
#9
One of my fondest memorys in Neyland would have to be the 2004 Florida game. We were down 28-27 and florida got the ball back with under 2 min to go. I remember everybody heading for the exits as the clocked was ticking away. All at once the stadium shook as we got the ball back. All i can remember was Wilhoit standing there fixing to kick that 50 yard fieldgoal. I had my head down and i looked up in time to see it go right down the middle. I fell off my seat down to the next row taking out 2 people sitting below me. Cumberland Ave. was wild that night.
 
#10
#10
Hm, well I've only been watching from abot 06 live...of course you have all those great moments in the past but from 06-present...my favorite moment...hm...I have no idea. Maybe watching us get lucky as hell every game to make it to the SEC Championship in 07...or beating Bama in 06. Only time I've seen us beat them live >__>
 
#11
#11
1982. UT vs. Bama.

11 LOOOOONG years of losing to the tide. I'd sat through two previous Neyland loses as a student..including a downpour with Charile Daniels at halftime...and FINALLY seeing us end this drought was great!

3 rows up, endzone student tix. There with two friends and my fiance (and now wife of 28 years...her first "real" introduction to UT Football...now season tix holders for 22 years). Trying to get a little money for a wedding, had actually made a deal to sell the tix for $100 (a lot of money back then for a broke student), but after spending the night camped out around the Student Center on a cold October night (yeah, skipped class, too) next to a fire barrel, the deal fell through...thank Goodness! WHAT A DAY!!!!! Was wonderful to see Johnny carried off the field on the shoulders of the Vols, and see Bear leave a loser his last trip to Neyland! Stormed the field, goal posts (both of them) came down and were marched up and down the Strip all night. So hoarse (as I usually am after a game) that I couldn't talk. MAN WHAT A GAME!!! A mere 95,00 witnessed this, but it felt like 200,000 as loud as that place was!

All the memories add up, and it's hard to pinpoint any one that is better than the next (raising kids and taking them to the games...seing them grow into Vol fans...special every weekend). BUT...this one was SPECIAL!
 
#12
#12
BigOrange15 said:
That is a fantastic story.

Mine was the 2004 Florida game. I still remember the whole end of the game like it was yesterday. We were headed down the ramp to leave but my friends dad said "Guys, we need to go back." We didn't understand why and when we asked he said "I just think we should." We got back in time to see the kick being set up so we stood at the top of the stairs and watched from there. The one thing that sticks out to me the most is how quite the stadium was as the ball went up. You could have heard a mouse fart at that moment. When it went in, it was the loudest most glorious thing I have ever experienced in my life. People literally went insane, they were running around jumping in each other arms, throwing food and drinks in the air, high fiving and hugging everyone in sight. For those few moments, everyone was everyone else's best friend. Without a doubt one of the best experiences I have ever had in my life and something I will never forget. I'd say damn near everyone was cheering "It's great, to be, a TENNESSEE VOL all the way down the ramp and back to the car.
Click to expand...
I was there for that too, and I admit it was a moment I will never forget.
 
#14
#14
In Notre Dame Jeremy Lincoln (spelling may be off) blocks a FG with his butt to preserve the come back win know as "Miracle at South Bend". I was there with my father and we went nutz. Then realised we might not be allowed to leave alive.
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#15
#15
Remember this like it was yesterday. We missed the extra point to tie it and I told my brother in law "Lets get out of here" and we started to walk towards the exit, but stayed inside the stadium. I remember how we stopped them on three straight plays (with some help) and got the ball back. I was standing in Y8 when the kick sailed through the uprights right beside us. And you are exactly right, everyone leaving that game was yelling "It's great to be a Tennessee Vol!" What an incredible feeling. I can close my eyes right now and see that kick....

BigOrange15 said:
That is a fantastic story.

Mine was the 2004 Florida game. I still remember the whole end of the game like it was yesterday. We were headed down the ramp to leave but my friends dad said "Guys, we need to go back." We didn't understand why and when we asked he said "I just think we should." We got back in time to see the kick being set up so we stood at the top of the stairs and watched from there. The one thing that sticks out to me the most is how quite the stadium was as the ball went up. You could have heard a mouse fart at that moment. When it went in, it was the loudest most glorious thing I have ever experienced in my life. People literally went insane, they were running around jumping in each other arms, throwing food and drinks in the air, high fiving and hugging everyone in sight. For those few moments, everyone was everyone else's best friend. Without a doubt one of the best experiences I have ever had in my life and something I will never forget. I'd say damn near everyone was cheering "It's great, to be, a TENNESSEE VOL all the way down the ramp and back to the car.
Click to expand...
 
#16
#16
WaterVol said:
Remember this like it was yesterday. We missed the extra point to tie it and I told my brother in law "Lets get out of here" and we started to walk towards the exit, but stayed inside the stadium. I remember how we stopped them on three straight plays (with some help) and got the ball back. I was standing in Y8 when the kick sailed through the uprights right beside us. And you are exactly right, everyone leaving that game was yelling "It's great to be a Tennessee Vol!" What an incredible feeling. I can close my eyes right now and see that kick....
Click to expand...

Top 3 moment in my life for sure. It was that awesome. I became a Vol for Life that night.
 
#19
#19
BigOrange15 said:
Top 3 moment in my life for sure. It was that awesome. I became a Vol for Life that night.
Click to expand...

To go from utter dejection to utter happiness is why I love my Vols. I just don't like it when it is the other way around... (Bama 09, my first trip to Tuscy. and a rip your heart out moment, again all on a kicker's leg)
 
#20
#20
WaterVol said:
To go from utter dejection to utter happiness is why I love my Vols. I just don't like it when it is the other way around... (Bama 09, my first trip to Tuscy. and a rip your heart out moment, again all on a kicker's leg)
Click to expand...

Luckily I didn't get to watch that game or I'd have thrown my tv out the window. I was at the UNC game though...and I almost ripped a chair out and threw it off the 2nd deck.
 
#21
#21
BigOrange15 said:
Luckily I didn't get to watch that game or I'd have thrown my tv out the window. I was at the UNC game though...and I almost ripped a chair out and threw it off the 2nd deck.
Click to expand...

The only thing that kept me from going crazy was my wife and daughter. I wanted to cuss every stupid person I came in contact with. The best part of the whole experience was when my daughter says to me "why would anyone want to live in Alabama?" That made me smile. (especially since her mom, my EX wife is a Bama fan.)
 
#22
#22
WaterVol said:
The only thing that kept me from going crazy was my wife and daughter. I wanted to cuss every stupid person I came in contact with. The best part of the whole experience was when my daughter says to me "why would anyone want to live in Alabama?" That made me smile. (especially since her mom, my EX wife is a Bama fan.)
Click to expand...

Smart girl you got there :)
 
#23
#23
First time I ever saw the turf in Neyland was on top of my Dad's shoulders. Hasn't been a better moment since.
 
#25
#25
i went to the campus this summer and im going to my first game opening weekend against montana. im from florida and grew up in gator country (im 19) and will be making the trip to see my first live game there
 
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