Thank You UT Sports

[vegasvolfan]

I remember, throughout my life which has definitely seen its challenges, the Vols always being there. My Dad or other Dads taking me to games at times at a young age, to me and my cousins cheering on the vols in the basement, to schools sometimes allowing the entire elementary school to root our team on, to more games throughout high school as a guest, still catching an occasional game with my Dad, then the games during college, meeting Peyton at the frat house, the games watched with close friends in cabins, with my xwife in Charlotte, new friends and my girlfriend who was a bartender at a local Knoxville dive bar, to sports book, local bars or friends’ in Vegas, to returning to the stadium in my 40s to sit in the best seats I have had with an old friend or in other seats with my Pop because once again tickets were kindly gifted to me and my Father, to so many other experiences... a Natty, Peyton Manning, so many other experiences that are probably nothing next to those that so many others had. And that was just football. Then there was basketball. I remember the days of DeVoe, the rowdiness of our fans in Stokely, all of the coaches since, constant frustration we couldn’t win, the construction of TBA, the Bruce Perl era, more frustration, Barnes’ hire, last season and now... watching what I think is the best team I have ever seen in Vols uniforms. Again, so many more experiences, too many list and truly paint the picture. I can only imagine what the experiences others have had. But the reason I am writing this, is not simply to shed light on this privilege to have this team and this program to root for for so many years, I am writing to express how thankful I have had these guys to root for during some pretty hard damn times. So often, win or lose, our vols have been exercise for hope. We have won some, we have lost some... but there has always been next year and now there is basketball season to look forward to as well, something to look forward to through even some times of what I feared could be peril. That’s right, interwoven in my life full of ups and downs, has been UT Sports—a passion of mine that has only grown throughout the years— to help me through these times.

I would like to apologize for our fan base, including me, who at times have lost sight of what’s most important, some of which have never been in touch with these principles I believe our program tries to instill in our student athletes. The principles that are bigger than money, and fame.

I want to thank all of the athletes and coaches who shared their motivational thoughts, life lessons, faith, blood, sweat and tears. You have helped me to get through hardest of times and given me things to look forward to and much to learn from throughout them. I appreciate you and all you collectively have done for not only me but for my hometown. I know, win or lose, your influence will not stop. That is what VFL is all about. And with that said, neither will my appreciation for what I have had the privilege to experience.

And while I hope for more winning days on the field, I hope even more that the influence of your example will grow and that our program will become increasingly special, so that we can celebrate even more when we win on the court, field, etc. I wish the VFL concept ran throughout our entire student body, a no vol left behind sort of thing... but we already have had plenty to wish for granted.
I pray that these tough times for our program will humble many, if it has not already. I pray that when we win again, and we will, that we remember these tough times as fans... our tough times as individuals, and know that the hard years are a part of what made us a better program, better fans, better people. Whether we were up on the scoreboard or down, you all were a part of making all of it better.

I offer you my most sincere thank you.
A loyal vol fan.