Dear recruits,
I grew up in Knoxville, but haven't lived there since 1996. And for financial reasons, the last game I was able to attend in Knoxville was 1999 vs. Notre Dame. (I also went to the 2007 Cal game, because I live near Berkeley - that's a crazy story for another time)
But every day I'm on VolNation and govols.com.
Both of my daughters' first words (after "momma" and "dadda") were "Go Vols!"
My in-laws buy me Tennessee slippers, jerseys, sweatpants, etc... because they know I will always love and wear them.
I've watched EVERY Tennessee game on TV or ESPN gameplan or PPV since I moved to Cali in 2003.
Everyone who knows me here knows I'm a die-hard Vols fan and tons of people come to my house on Saturdays to watch ME watch football (they get some sort of kick out of it - guess they are not use to Vol-flavored fandom).
This is the kind of enthusiasm and love that Tennessee football produces.
Come to Tennessee - you won't be disappointed.
It's a great school, with great tradition, and - very soon - a GREAT football team.
I've watched Stanford games out here for years.
The game day atmosphere - even when Oregon or USC comes to town - is absolutely PITIFUL compared to my experiences growing up attending Neyland. Not even worth comparing.
I've attended Cal games (when they were good), and though they were a lot of fun, they don't even begin to approach the kind of frenzied enthusiasm you will find at Shield-Watkins Field on Saturdays.
You will love it in Knoxville. Nothing like it in my experience.
Become a VFL!