Percent of VN football fans who went to UT?

Did you...

  • Attend UTK without graduating?

    Votes: 62 10.1%

  • Attend and graduate from UTK?

    Votes: 248 40.3%

  • Attend without graduating from a non-Knoxville (including online) UT campus?

    Votes: 7 1.1%

  • Attend and graduate from a non-Knoxville (including online) campus?

    Votes: 41 6.7%

  • Adopt the Vols because you do or have lived in the state of Tennessee (but didn't attend UT)?

    Votes: 219 35.6%

  • Adopt the Vols even though you have never lived in the state of Tennessee (and never attended UT)?

    Votes: 39 6.3%
  • Total voters
    616
#76
#76
VFL-82-JP said:
Didn't answer because none of the responses seem right to me.

I didn't "adopt the Vols"...I was born into Vol Nation. I've never been anything other than a Vol fan. Even though I went to school somewhere else. My school (West Point) even played the Vols while I was there; I rooted for Tennessee. Yep. And, heh, we won.

For many Tennesseans it has nothing to do with where you went to school. It's as tribal as Tullahoma versus Manchester or the Hatfields and McCoys.

Tennesseans should be Tennessee fans. Period.

Go Vols!
Click to expand...
This
 
  • Like
Reactions: VFL-82-JP
#80
#80
VFL-82-JP said:
Didn't answer because none of the responses seem right to me.

I didn't "adopt the Vols"...I was born into Vol Nation. I've never been anything other than a Vol fan. Even though I went to school somewhere else. My school (West Point) even played the Vols while I was there; I rooted for Tennessee. Yep. And, heh, we won.

For many Tennesseans it has nothing to do with where you went to school. It's as tribal as Tullahoma versus Manchester or the Hatfields and McCoys.

Tennesseans should be Tennessee fans. Period.

Go Vols!
Click to expand...
I fall into this category. I was born north of the Mason-and Dixon line and wound up growing up in Knoxville because my parents were both alums, as are generations before them, and have loved the vols from Day 1. I simply nwanted to go away for college and if that lessens my love for the Vols, so be it.

Tennesseans don't haved to love the Vols.Nearly two-thirds of my life has been spent trying to exist in bammer land, and i'll never, no never, pledge alliance to the tide
 
  • Like
Reactions: VFL-82-JP
#82
#82
I grew up a TN fan due to my grandfather ('63). When it came time to decide on where to go to college, I tried my hardest to not let my sport fandom dictate what school I went to, but UT still came out on top and I was happy to attend :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: Freak
#83
#83
Graduated from UTK twice.

Edit: 8 relatives graduated from UTK and 6 others graduated from UTC. My daughter begins her freshman year at UTK this fall.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Freak
#84
#84
Had an opportunity to play FB as a walk-on but chose the full academic scholarship and played another sport at another school. Never regretted it. I would have flunked out of UT. I discovered beer and I was very good at drinking and skipping class and I don't think that I could have righted the ship in enough time. Also my body fell apart once I got to college. It is strange that I was never hurt in HS but in college it was always something. I still hurt to this day and always will.
Born in Orange and will always support the Vols after my BUCS.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tdawgs and Freak
#85
#85
My dad graduated from UT (lived in Stadium Hall). I grew up in Knoxville and graduated from UTK. My wife grew up in Knoxville and graduated from UTK. The Vols are going to have to get better at football because I simply could not be a fan of any other team.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Freak
#86
#86
1999 UTK graduate. My dad graduated from UTK also. I was born a Vol and already have my 10 year old wanting to go.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Freak
#87
#87
Born and raised in South Bend Indiana, ND came to Knoxville in the early 90s and Ricky Waters went off, but the team in orange ingrained itself in my heart. I remember being the only depressed fan in my section in ND stadium the next year at half time right before the miracle in south bend came to fruition.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jravol78 and Freak
#88
#88
I don't see how regular people even afford UT, or any of the big flagship schools. I cringe just looking at their tuition costs. I went to a small private school that definitely wasn't cheap, but it still wasn't as crazy as the rates I see at some of the big schools.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Freak
#90
#90
Graduated under grad from UTM (diploma has The University of Tennessee). Got my masters from UTK. Parent graduated from UTK with a B.S. Sibling has both a B.S and M.S. from UTK.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Freak
#91
#91
Graduate of UTK, long term resident Sigma Phi Epsilon (but I don't sing), short term Hess hall inmate, washed a lot of intramural field dirt off the clothes......watched the world fair being erected, and, later, stole the signs :p. 4wd up TBA while it was being built......didn't get caught, :) And that's only what I'll admit to. Statute of limitations is a good thing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ZZ13, HalfullVol and Freak
#92
#92
VFL-82-JP said:
Those who attended Tennessee, I'm happy for them, and I think they made a great choice of schools.

But from time to time, like the wording in this thread, you get the impression Tennessee alumni think they're the "better" kind of Tennessee fan.

Nothing at all against them, I think however you get to Vol Nation, just being here is the important part. But still, in my world view, the person who has been a member of the tribe his or her entire life is at LEAST as dyed in the wool a Vol fan as someone who didn't pick it up until they got to college.

Not better. But certainly on the same level. No reason at all to come up with divisions among us. Bleeding orange is all it takes, I'm thinking.

Go Vols!


p.s. From how I see the world, it goes like this:
  1. Born in Tennessee? You should be a lifelong Tennessee fan.
  2. Parents were Tennessee fans but you were born somewhere else? You should be a lifelong Tennessee fan, or your parents should be waterboarded until they explain why not.
  3. Grew up somewhere else of non-Vols parents, but went to Tennessee for college? You (and every generation you bring into this earth forevermore) should be Tennessee fans.
  4. Grew up in London, but cheer for a soccer club who wear orange and white? You should also be a Tennessee fan.
  5. Everyone else? Legion of the Miserable.
Go Vols!
Click to expand...

The reason for that thought or feeling is because of the literal investment we have in the University.

I was a Vol fan long before I attended graduate school there. One of my parents is an alumni and so is a sibling. The only reason I attended UTM is because the degree area was more well known versus the main campus.

To add more to my comment to your statement, some alumni feel that way because they feel that “investment” automatically provides for entitlement.
 
#93
#93
Started at SC, my brother went to UT in 96' and I followed in the Spring semester. I spent a couple semesters at UT (Andy Holt/Grand Forest Apartments) in 1997-99. Lived in Knoxville 4 different times. Degrees came later from Guilford College (NC) and ECU. My youngest boy (of 3) is named Knox. I bring the family to the Orange and White game every year. Vols better start winning or my boys with be Clemson fans soon. Taco Bell and Roadrunners Pizza.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Freak
#94
#94
Wife is grad of UTK. Daughter is physician at UT Medical Center. Life long UT fan.
 
#96
#96
Was a UT fan from birth, pretty much the entire family tree is well with a few Vandy fans sprinkled in. Didn't matter that I graduated from UT years later. Hardcore UT fan, will never change!!
 
#97
#97
Military brat with two UT alum parents. Never lived in TN until I left for college and attended/graduated from UT.
 
#99
#99
VFL-82-JP said:
Those who attended Tennessee, I'm happy for them, and I think they made a great choice of schools.

But from time to time, like the wording in this thread, you get the impression Tennessee alumni think they're the "better" kind of Tennessee fan.

Nothing at all against them, I think however you get to Vol Nation, just being here is the important part. But still, in my world view, the person who has been a member of the tribe his or her entire life is at LEAST as dyed in the wool a Vol fan as someone who didn't pick it up until they got to college.

Not better. But certainly on the same level. No reason at all to come up with divisions among us. Bleeding orange is all it takes, I'm thinking.

Go Vols!


p.s. From how I see the world, it goes like this:
  1. Born in Tennessee? You should be a lifelong Tennessee fan.
  2. Parents were Tennessee fans but you were born somewhere else? You should be a lifelong Tennessee fan, or your parents should be waterboarded until they explain why not.
  3. Grew up somewhere else of non-Vols parents, but went to Tennessee for college? You (and every generation you bring into this earth forevermore) should be Tennessee fans.
  4. Grew up in London, but cheer for a soccer club who wear orange and white? You should also be a Tennessee fan.
  5. Everyone else? Legion of the Miserable.
Go Vols!
Click to expand...

I'm with you VFL82. I'm a VFL largely because of the "investment" made during my time, and graduation, from UTK. During that time I learned and made a personal commitment, freely, to the university. It stands to this day. Didn't have to, but did for my reasons.

My Dad grew on a farm, which is how he and his family got by. He hunted, literally, to afford bullets and books to go to school. He left for the Army, earned the Army of occupation ribbon (europe) not long after WWII, spent time in Vietnam in the 50s (I've accused him of starting all that ****), retired (1992) as an E-9 with 40+ years of service to Uncle Sam. All before the information age. Yet having spent 40 years overseas......I never understood, until later, why he was so glued to TN basketball.....and why Kentucky vs TN in particular. He grew up outside Norris lake, loved b-ball, played it in HS and the Army and would listen, glued, to any radio broadcast of UT playing b-ball. Kentucky was just extra special.

So it took my time as an under-graduate at UTK to understand it all. And to buy in, as a personal choice. But my Dad was a fan long before that.....and long after it. He never went there.....except if I got scalped tickets......but he was a VFL way before it was a term. In short, attendance not required, its no guarantee.......its just what color you bleed when it matters.

RIP Dad...............AKA, literally, "Smokey". I leave you readers to wonder why.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Smokey X, HalfullVol, DuckInAPen and 2 others
#100
#100
I was born in Knoxville while my Dad was a 2nd quarter freshman. He went straight thru in 3 years on GI Bill while working 2 jobs and graduated UTK with BA, Class of '57. He had grown up in Piney outside Loudon going to a 1 room school until he got to Loudon High. We moved all over US for his job, but was raised that I would go to UTK one day ( Andy Holt pledge kid). Wherever we lived, we got the Sunday edition of the News Sentinel by mail so that we could follow the Vols. Got my BA (76) and MS (79) at UTK and have a daughter that got her BA at UTK
 
  • Like
Reactions: Freak and DuckInAPen
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Advertisement



Back
Top