Petition to Rename Shields-Watkins Field to Peyton Manning Field

[RollinVol]

Manningville, Tennessee

Don't give Lake City/Rocky Top,TN any more ideas

 

[CoaxialOrange]

I've heard (somewhere, not sure..someone post a link) that the Shields/Watkins donors had a stipulation that the hill should always be visible from the stadium. When they enclosed the north end zone, I always thought they "got away with one" there.

In the spirit of that intent, here's an old picture:


Also, before the stadium was named for Neyland, it was "Shields Watkins". Old timers remember that. Another picture of a directional sign on the corner that says "Shields- Watkins" Stadium with an arrow pointing down the road. This is where the student center is now on Cumberland Ave.

Those pics are really cool. Being 25 I haven't seen many of those. Really enjoyed.

 

[NYCVol]

I thought I'd share this in case anyone wants to support it.

https://www.change.org/p/bill-hasla...utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink

Moot point...Peyton would respectfully decline anyway. He has long since convinced me that he holds a deep appreciation for UT and its history. "Painting over" Mr & Mrs Shields would be antithetical to his whole deal.

 

[Chilmonty]

Knoxville will be renamed "Peyton City"!

.

 

[Catbone]

Noooo

 

[Orange And Garnet]

Those pics are really cool. Being 25 I haven't seen many of those. Really enjoyed.

Agree. It amazes me how the huge collesium Neyland is today has the remnants of that tiny little place way back when inside

 

[photovol]

I love Peyton Manning, but Shields Watkins Field has served UT well throughout the years and the name of UT's football field should remain, Shields Watkins Field.......Peyton already has a street named after him however

 

[TNnative]

I thought I'd share this in case anyone wants to support it.

https://www.change.org/p/bill-hasla...utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink

It is named Shields-Watkins to honor the man and his wife who donated the land for the field. Somebody is not very adapt at thinking.

 

[jimallvol]

Love Peyton but he's already got the street. Mr. Shields helped us build our very first stadium

Well said.

 

[82_VOL_83]

Arian Foster bathroom imo.

Fify

 

[ClearwaterVol]

I love Manning but .... no.

I'm not even sure a statue is really necessary. Street, locker room, retired #, is enough.

In all fairness, he bought the locker room. Had I donated the 5M it would called the ClearwaterVol Locker Room.

 

[PerneVedisUncool]

I'm not for renaming things already named for someone regardless of who it is!

I'd be for a statue or large bust somewhere at/near the stadium.

Hitler way?

 

[WillisWG]

Colonel Shields gave the Vols the gridiron upgrade by purchasing seven acres of land for the new field.

"Shields bought this property. It was just a big ravine down through here. They filled in a lot of it with dirt they dug up when building Ayres Hall," said Manning.

To prepare the proud new playing surface, the school let the students have a real field day.

"They stopped all the classes down here one day and all the students came down here and worked to clear the field," said manning. "All of the men did the heavy labor and the women prepared food over where the west stands are," said Manning.

The finished product was field with concrete stands on the west side of the field. The stadium featured 17 rows with a seating capacity of 3,200.

Nice read.

Namesake: Shields-Watkins Field in Neyland Stadium | wbir.com

When Neyland claimed his championships, the UT football team called Shields-Watkins Field home. However, General Neyland never coached in Neyland Stadium. The school dedicated the structure in Neyland's honor in 1962 after his death.

 

[ptcarter]

Colonel Shields gave the Vols the gridiron upgrade by purchasing seven acres of land for the new field.

"Shields bought this property. It was just a big ravine down through here. They filled in a lot of it with dirt they dug up when building Ayres Hall," said Manning.

To prepare the proud new playing surface, the school let the students have a real field day.

"They stopped all the classes down here one day and all the students came down here and worked to clear the field," said manning. "All of the men did the heavy labor and the women prepared food over where the west stands are," said Manning.

The finished product was field with concrete stands on the west side of the field. The stadium featured 17 rows with a seating capacity of 3,200.

Nice read.

Namesake: Shields-Watkins Field in Neyland Stadium | wbir.com

When Neyland claimed his championships, the UT football team called Shields-Watkins Field home. However, General Neyland never coached in Neyland Stadium. The school dedicated the structure in Neyland's honor in 1962 after his death.

Thanks for posting this. Great information and good pictures.

By the way - UT has put all the old yearbooks up in the digital media collection, amongst other periodicals from the school over the years. I found my Dad in the 1931 yearbook and my Mom in the 1943 yearbook. Cool stuff.

Digital Collections - Libraries: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

 

[The Artful Dodger]

Arian Foster Cafeteria imo.

They should rename the Pilot on the strip, Janzen's Grab n' Go. :thumbsup:

 

[vol445]

I'm not for renaming things already named for someone regardless of who it is!

I'd be for a statue or large bust somewhere at/near the stadium.

Ryan leaf now that was a large bust

 

[BucksnortVol]

No, leave things as they are.

 

[Jasongivm6]

Ronald Davis grass

 

[Vol_til_I_die]

They should rename the Pilot on the strip, Janzen's Grab n' Go. :thumbsup:

holy sh*t that's awesome!! lol:

 

[Vol_til_I_die]

Ryan leaf now that was a large bust

There's a large bust at Dollywood..

 

[IndianaVol]

Arian Foster Cafeteria, brought to you by Taco Bell

fyp

 

[Orangedogsrule]

don't give coal creek/lake city/rocky top,tn any more ideas

fyp

 

[AM64]

Knoxville will be renamed "Peyton City"!

.

I'm sure the Tennessean would agree to Peyton Place.

 

[lincolncovol]

No.

 

[snappervol]

I've heard (somewhere, not sure..someone post a link) that the Shields/Watkins donors had a stipulation that the hill should always be visible from the stadium. When they enclosed the north end zone, I always thought they "got away with one" there.

In the spirit of that intent, here's an old picture:


Also, before the stadium was named for Neyland, it was "Shields Watkins". Old timers remember that. Another picture of a directional sign on the corner that says "Shields- Watkins" Stadium with an arrow pointing down the road. This is where the student center is now on Cumberland Ave.

Not going to happen re; Peyton
Love the old photos (someone is in my seats)
I am not on here enough to make an impact, but with the tradition surrounding our program, have always felt there should be an " archives " tab - so that folks like me could post and share photos and memories from "days gone".
Would be an off-season place to surf and share -
Maybe, ....... Maybe not?
Anyone remember the "green bleachers" in the N. End Zone, and the Cannon/Flag Pole on " The Hill "?