Since I became a Vol fan

#1
CNeagleVolFan

CNeagleVolFan

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#1
I was born in 1993, and I started following every single game since 2001. I'm a huge vol fan, and I decided to do some research. I really didn't experience the golden years of the 90's.

11 seasons from 1990-2000
106wins-26losses
3 SEC champs
3 SEC champ appearances
Of course 1 Nat. Championship
11 bowls in 11 seasons

Then from 2001-2014 14 seasons
103wins-74losses
0 SEC championships
2 SEC champ. Appearances
No national championships
9 bowls in 14 seasons

The early 2000's when I began following every game was pretty good, but I wish I could remember the great years in the 90's. I remember the feeling when Fulmer was doing good and the feeling the fan base had. I didn't feel that with Kiffen, definitely not Dooley, but now with Butch that atmosphere is starting to return. Its awesome seeing us return to prominence, and I hope Butch is a long time vols coach. I missed the golden years, but I think we have some golden years returning with Butch. I can't wait to see us finally back!! Go Vols!
 
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#2
#2
CNeagleVolFan said:
I was born in 1993, and I started following every single game since 2001. I'm a huge vol fan, and I decided to do some research. I really didn't experience the golden years of the 90's.

11 seasons from 1990-2000
106wins-26losses
3 SEC champs
3 SEC champ appearances
Of course 1 Nat. Championship
11 bowls in 11 seasons

Then from 2001-2014 14 seasons
103wins-74losses
0 SEC championships
2 SEC champ. Appearances
No national championships
9 bowls in 14 seasons

The early 2000's when I began following every game was pretty good, but I wish I could remember the great years in the 90's. I remember the feeling when phulmer was doing good and the feeling the fan base had. I didn't feel that with Kiffen, definitely not Dooley, but now with Butch that atmosphere is starting to return. Its awesome seeing us return to prominence, and I hope Butch is a long time vols coach. I missed the golden years, but I think we have some golden years returning with Butch. I can't wait to see us finally back!! Go Vols!
Click to expand...

My son is 19 and he's never really seen a great year I remember the kids talking bout the Vols to him and how they suck and I've really been proud of him for not switching alliances.. We are really passionate bout our Vols at home..it's Fulmer by the way..
Jus giving ya a hard time and Soon..
 
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#3
#3
Volz4lif3 said:
My son is 19 and he's never really seen a great year I remember the kids talking bout the Vols to him and how they suck and I've really been proud of him for not switching alliances.. We are really passionate bout our Vols at home..it's Fulmer by the way..
Jus giving ya a hard time and Soon..
Click to expand...

Thanks for telling me that actually haha. I just corrected it.
 
#7
#7
I appreciated the glory years and survived the years of doom, but my spirit has endured because it's great to be a Tennessee Vol!
 
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#8
#8
jmkvols said:
I appreciated the glory years and survived the years of doom, but my spirit has endured because it's great to be a Tennessee Vol!
Click to expand...

That's the sign of a true fan. I've experienced some good years as a fan, but never seen an SEC championship. I am still very proud to be a vol fan, because of the history even though I haven't experienced that history. I have a feeling there's gonna be some good football coming very soon though!!
 
#9
#9
Guess I'll share...I was all about pro football growing up until a buddy and his dad took me to my first game in 1988. Starting in the '89 season, when I was a freshman in college, I started watching college football and became a diehard Vols fan and college football fan.

I have fond memories of breaks between classes just about every day that included a newspaper, coke and candy bar and I would devour all the news I could read about the Vols. Recruiting info was a little harder then since there was no internet but it seems like it was a better time. I don't know, maybe because we were good. It will be hard to ever replicate the '90-'98 seasons.
 
#13
#13
CNeagleVolFan said:
I was born in 1993, and I started following every single game since 2001. I'm a huge vol fan, and I decided to do some research. I really didn't experience the golden years of the 90's.

11 seasons from 1990-2000
106wins-26losses
3 SEC champs
3 SEC champ appearances
Of course 1 Nat. Championship
11 bowls in 11 seasons

Then from 2001-2014 14 seasons
103wins-74losses
0 SEC championships
2 SEC champ. Appearances
No national championships
9 bowls in 14 seasons

The early 2000's when I began following every game was pretty good, but I wish I could remember the great years in the 90's. I remember the feeling when Fulmer was doing good and the feeling the fan base had. I didn't feel that with Kiffen, definitely not Dooley, but now with Butch that atmosphere is starting to return. Its awesome seeing us return to prominence, and I hope Butch is a long time vols coach. I missed the golden years, but I think we have some golden years returning with Butch. I can't wait to see us finally back!! Go Vols!
Click to expand...

Just to share my own experience as a fan, I began following Tennessee football closely when I was 8 in 1981 and the first two games I remember well were listening to John Ward's calls of us losing 44-0 to Georgia and 43-7 to USC...Those early memories along with the disasters of 1986 and 1988 made 1998 all the more special. You will be glad you were loyal and not a bandwagon rider. Tennessee will be back in 2016.
 
#14
#14
Don't you mean "Since I was born a Vol fan" OP ? Lol, you are about to witness something amazing. I started watching the VOLS live with my Uncle Joe in 93. My first game was Alabama the year Gene Stallings took them on to the NC. From there I witnessed all of the truly great 90's teams in person as well as the 2001 SEC CG. We are like the Phoenix rising from the ashes, 2015 could go either way IMO, but look out world for 2016!
 
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#15
#15
CNeagleVolFan said:
I was born in 1993, and I started following every single game since 2001. I'm a huge vol fan, and I decided to do some research. I really didn't experience the golden years of the 90's.

11 seasons from 1990-2000
106wins-26losses
3 SEC champs
3 SEC champ appearances
Of course 1 Nat. Championship
11 bowls in 11 seasons

Then from 2001-2014 14 seasons
103wins-74losses
0 SEC championships
2 SEC champ. Appearances
No national championships
9 bowls in 14 seasons

The early 2000's when I began following every game was pretty good, but I wish I could remember the great years in the 90's. I remember the feeling when Fulmer was doing good and the feeling the fan base had. I didn't feel that with Kiffen, definitely not Dooley, but now with Butch that atmosphere is starting to return. Its awesome seeing us return to prominence, and I hope Butch is a long time vols coach. I missed the golden years, but I think we have some golden years returning with Butch. I can't wait to see us finally back!! Go Vols!
Click to expand...

Good post..

I moved to Knoxville from NYC in 1996. When I first moved here I had a NY attitude to match and did not understand why people cared so much about a college football team. In NY everything is about pro sports as it is one of the few cities in this great country where in any of the major sports your rival is in the same city your favorite team is in.

We used to get into actual fights in school over which was the better team yankees/mets rangers/islanders giants/jets...never been a basketball fan because it is the one sport where your height can make you a pro by itself. No skill needed, if you are 7 foot tall. Some team will hand you a contract.

Anyway. My wife's dad had season tickets and she took me to my first game to go see UT vs Florida. The second I walked into Neyland I was hooked. I had never felt that much energy before in a stadium. I have been to countless Yankee/giants/islander games. But even the yankees at the height of their popularity could not compare with the feeling of 105k cheering at the same time when Manning threw a TD. It is absolutely one of THE must experience for yourself moments.

UT lost that game.. but I have been a diehard vol ever since. And in 98 when we won it all I was blessed enough to attend every home game.

TLDR: Not even NYC has anything like Neyland in the fall. I hope you all understand how blessed you are!
 
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#16
#16
OP,

I feel for you and the younger generation. You've had it tough when it comes to the Vols.

UT made 2 SEC CG appearances in the 90's (97 & 98). The 90 SEC Champ was based on standings. Since 00, UT has played in the SEC CG 3 times (01, 04, & 07).
 
#17
#17
I'll be 61 years old tomorrow and even though my dad was a Vandy grad I always bled Tennessee Orange.

Through the good years and the bad I've always been proud to have a bumper sticker, magnet or something UT on my cars and trucks including the little Vols helmet that sticks up on the antenna (sp).

I've always been proud to wear my Big Orange T shirts or sweatshirts.

When I see somebody else out in public wearing something Tennessee I just can't help but say go Big Orange or go Tennessee and that's gotten me some strange looks, LOL!

Keep bleeding Tennessee Orange because the good times are on the horizon my friend.

It's very true that it's ALWAYS great to be a Tennessee Vol!!!

#RiseToTheTop...VFL...GBO!!!
 
#18
#18
Glad to have you in VolNation, OP. Never to late to become a Vol, and never too early.

I was born bleeding orange, inherited from my dad. The old dude had a '70 Ford Maverick (poor man's Mustang). It was this pukey deep green color. I remember vividly the weekend he grabbed me and my brother, threw us in the car, drove us out to some farm in the middle of nowhere, drove that car right into a rickety barn, and then spent the next three hours with a buddy from work painting the thing Vols Orange.

Didn't realize my blood was orange for a while, though. When our Pop Warner football team won the Tullahoma city championship one year, the prize was a trip for the whole team, coaches, players and parents, to Neyland Stadium for a home game. Ran out on the field afterward, and all, it was awesome. But my situational awareness was so limited at that age (11? maybe 12?) that I couldn't tell you who Tennessee played that game and whether we won (I guess we did because we ran out on the field, but I don't remember the game at all).

For some reason, pro ball grabbed the attention of most kids back then. Maybe because Sunday was a quieter day, less stuff to do outside, more of an expectation you'd stay around family after church. Like you, OP, wasn't until college that the switch to Saturday football happened. And it was like a light switching on...sudden realization that my blood was colored orange. My alma mater, one of the military academies, played Tennessee when I was a freshman ... and I was rooting against my own school the whole time. I mean, it wasn't even close, there was not one shred of doubt, I was a Tennessee Volunteer through and through.

That was a few decades ago. Like I said, doesn't matter when you arrive, come early, come late, just good having you with the VolNation. :)
 
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#20
#20
Just hang on, we will be back. I have been reading some ideas on our win/losses this morning... all I can say is I will be a Vol Fan if we lose every game, I will be a Frustrated one but still a Vol none the less. By the way I can't change teams anyway, I would have to buy an entirely new wardrobe Woohoo.....

Go Vols!
 
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#21
#21
Been a fan since 1985. I knew we would have to have a down year or two eventually since I saw it happen everywhere around us. I didn't ever think we would be so bad for so long. Regardless, my UT flag flies in front of my house year round. Right here in the enemy state of Alabama. All this chatter from the talking heads about a possible big year in 2015 is scary, because I'm not sure if we are there yet. But it sure is nice hearing our guys get mentioned again. I'm really looking forward to watching this team.
 
#22
#22
I grew up in Tennessee, but my dad was an Ohio State fan so i joined banners with him until 7th grade. Then I became a Vol, which was the year Kiffin took the helm. I am now a senior and the only thing I know as a Vol fan is gut wrenching dissapointment and having people constantly tell me how much the vols suck. I am so excited about the season. I'm hoping for 10 wins like anyone, but I think 8-4 is the most reasonable thing to expect.
 
#23
#23
neyland's own said:
I grew up in Tennessee, but my dad was an Ohio State fan so i joined banners with him until 7th grade. Then I became a Vol, which was the year Kiffin took the helm. I am now a senior and the only thing I know as a Vol fan is gut wrenching dissapointment and having people constantly tell me how much the vols suck. I am so excited about the season. I'm hoping for 10 wins like anyone, but I think 8-4 is the most reasonable thing to expect.
Click to expand...

I'm gonna tell you this the most rewarding part of being a real fan is sticking by your team no matter what..

And when it happens it's not like you just jumped aboard like some of these Bama and Florida jabronies here in West Tn, I tell my son this all the time..

I think what got him to stay loyal when he was young was going to Neyland... Like what Imported said it's like no other feeling in the world like it IMO...
 
#24
#24
Been fan for 44 years no matter what stand behind the VOLS and support them thru the glory and bad, we are fixing to go on a 10 year run, just sit back and enjoy the ride.:clapping:
 
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#25
#25
Volz4lif3 said:
I'm gonna tell you this the most rewarding part of being a real fan is sticking by your team no matter what..

And when it happens it's not like you just jumped aboard like some of these Bama and Florida jabronies here in West Tn, I tell my son this all the time..

I think what got him to stay loyal when he was young was going to Neyland... Like what Imported said it's like no other feeling in the world like it IMO...
Click to expand...

I can't stand the bamawagoners that act like they're real fans. They will never be able to appreciate success like someone who has stuck with their team through hard times. Unfortunately, the hard times I experienced were some of the worst in the program's history. It also helped that I try to make it to Neyland at least once a year.
 
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