The "Real UT" Poll

#30
#30
Disclaimer: This is not an invitation to an argument. Just passing on some lore.

In the 70's there was a very popular professor at UT, Dr. Bass. Students loved him because he was had an amazing wit, was prone to profanity in class to make
his points, and if you didn't make a B or better in his class you had no business in college. Don't remember how this came up but Dr. Bass explained to us one day
that the school nickname wasn't formally adopted by UT until the Spanish-American War broke out and every ROTC member left school to volunteer for the war.

Now is true, I dont know. I know about all the references to The Volunteer State going back to 1812, the question is when was Volunteers assigned to UT sports?
 
#32
#32
HoptownVol said:
Disclaimer: This is not an invitation to an argument. Just passing on some lore.

In the 70's there was a very popular professor at UT, Dr. Bass. Students loved him because he was had an amazing wit, was prone to profanity in class to make
his points, and if you didn't make a B or better in his class you had no business in college. Don't remember how this came up but Dr. Bass explained to us one day
that the school nickname wasn't formally adopted by UT until the Spanish-American War broke out and every ROTC member left school to volunteer for the war.

Now is true, I dont know. I know about all the references to The Volunteer State going back to 1812, the question is when was Volunteers assigned to UT sports?
Click to expand...


1902. Which actually kind of goes along with your story.


The Atlanta Constitution was the first to call UT athletes "Volunteers" after a Tennessee–Georgia Tech football game in 1902.
 
#33
#33
BaldBiker said:
1902. Which actually kind of goes along with your story.


The Atlanta Constitution was the first to call UT athletes "Volunteers" after a Tennessee–Georgia Tech football game in 1902.
Click to expand...


Thanks. I'll write Marvin and see what he knows. Too bad Ben Byrd isn't around.
 
#34
#34
Whenever I'm in Texas and some local sports fan comments on how much he or she likes my UT hat (with the merged orange-colored U and T), I'm quick to point out that it represents the original UT, not the one they're thinking of.
 
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#35
#35
Had a similar experience many years ago in Galveston. (God help me to never go back there again...)

Ordering barbecue in a place I don't remember the name of. Lady behind the counter smiled at me and said "Nice accent. You're not from around here, are ya?" I replied that she was correct. I was from Tennessee.

"Oh... little bitty Tennessee?" with a mule-eating-sawbriars grin.

"Yes ma'am. The state that made Texas possible."

Dude in line behind me busted out laughing and paid for my meal.
 
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#36
#36
Don't forget 3 of the 5 most important and famous Texas Rangers were Tennesseans as well
 
#39
#39
If you're from Texas, find someone from Tennessee and say "thank you".

No poll needed.
GBO
 
#43
#43
iam4utaways said:
Texas will ALWAYS be Tennessee's little brother. . .

Go Vols! Jump highest!!
Click to expand...

I live in Texas and always refer to them as UTjr. As somebody pointed out above, UTenn was founded in the late 1700s, while there were tumbleweeds and sombreros blowing around modern day Austin.
 
#45
#45
State Symbols USA says it was the War of 1812 (esp. prominent role by Tennesseans in the Battle of New Orleans), reinforced by the Mexican-American War (2,800 asked for, 30,000 volunteered).


TennesseeHistory.com says it was the Mexican-American War, particularly fighting on behalf of Texas.


NetState.com says War of 1812.


50states.com says War of 1812.


And the official Tennessee government website, tennessee.gov, is surprisingly silent on the matter.

So there you have it: it was three-fifths the War of 1812, two-fifths the Mexican-American War, and 100% orange-blooded Tennessseans volunteering to serve their nation.
 
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#46
#46
VFL-82-JP said:
So there you have it: it was three-fifths the War of 1812, two-fifths the Mexican-American War, and 100% orange-blooded Tennessseans volunteering to serve their nation.
Click to expand...


State nickname, not necessarily why the Vols are called the Vols.
 
#47
#47
HoptownVol said:
State nickname, not necessarily why the Vols are called the Vols.
Click to expand...

When you've got an awesomely inspiring state nickname like the Volunteer State, there's only one obvious and smart name for your flagship university's athletes. It's what they call a no-brainer.
 
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#48
#48
VFL-82-JP said:
When you've got an awesomely inspiring state nickname like the Volunteer State, there's only one obvious and smart name for your flagship university's athletes. It's what they call a no-brainer.
Click to expand...


Well that may be, but I'd wager its not documented anywhere the 'when and why' either the university
or its club teams adopted the name.
 
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