VolNation,
I'd like to take this time to share my thoughts on the difficulties the VolNation is going thru now and in recent times. I am a Crimson Tide fan and have been such for 40 years and although I cheer for Alabama, I have a ton of respect for the UT football program. My parents were raised as next door neighbors near the corner of Keith St and Sterchie St. (sp) My grandfather owned a cabinet shop and sold his goods to the Cas Walker department store. Some of my best memories as a child were laying on the sofa in my grandmothers living room and listening to the 16 wheelers shift gears and the trains rolling by as I fell asleep. We came to Knoxville once a year every year and I always looked forward to Mayfield Icecream, Smokey Mnt hotdogs and Mayfield Chocolate milk. In 1969 my Uncle ( UT grad ) bought a '69 R/T Charger with a 440 Magnum and a 4-speed. Every year he would take me cruzing on saturday night through the UT campus and around Knoxville. I'll always remember my time in your city with great joy.
My first college game in person was a game at Neyland in Bill Battle's second season. I also saw a game at Neyland with Knox County -vs- Central (I think) in the state championship game, I think the year was 1970. This is the game that made me want to play football. I played HSFB in Huntsville Alabama and was an invited walkon at the University of Alabama in 1977. I regret to say that I pussed out and gave up football. The best part of it was that I got to meet Coach Bryant. I remember Coach saying that the Coach he respected more than any other was Robert Neyland.
Errr...I have visitors now so I'll have to finish this later.