What Happened to The V-O-L-S

#26
#26
Unfortunately, the wind load and weight of the new jumbotron were too much for the stadium structure to support the letters.
 
#28
#28
tigervol9802 said:
The last I recall seeing the orange ones were when someone had put them across the river a few years ago. Not sure what has happened to them since then.
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The pre-jumbotron letters are currently in storage and will be auctioned in this year's United Way auction, the same one where Calhouns bought the white ones last year.

Calhouns is still working on a plan to display the letters, having a little trouble with sign regulations and security concerns. It'll happen eventually.
 
#29
#29
No actually I've been a fan for a long time but never really saw the letter as a big deal. Comparing the Power T to stadium letters is like comparing apples and oranges. Guess the letters were never a focal point of some big win or anything like that. I know they were there during big wins but so were the bleachers if we're going to get technical. I guess some people like to place sentimental value on everything. They were just 4 letters out of the alphabet that spelled vols. woo so sad. lol
 
#30
#30
If people are willing to buy the old ragged orange seats from TBA, the V-O-L-S signs should command a pretty high price, I would think. If I owned a restaurant or sports bar, I would definitely be interested. They'd be sweet in a man-cave, but I'm sure they are out of most of our budgets.
 
#31
#31
DL916 said:
No actually I've been a fan for a long time but never really saw the letter as a big deal. Comparing the Power T to stadium letters is like comparing apples and oranges. Guess the letters were never a focal point of some big win or anything like that. I know they were there during big wins but so were the bleachers if we're going to get technical. I guess some people like to place sentimental value on everything. They were just 4 letters out of the alphabet that spelled vols. woo so sad. lol
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Growing up in a military family in the early 80s and only getting to see 1, 2, or 3 games a season on the TV, the first thing you would see would be a from the blimp shot and the one thing that stood out was the huge VOLS at the top of the stadium...it was awesome!!!

Now the first from the blimp shot on the TV telecast looks like any other college stadium (except of the size, which is relative to perspective, and the color orange)...oh how I wish somehow they could bring back the VOLS letters.
 
#32
#32
BmoreVol said:
Unfortunately, the wind load and weight of the new jumbotron were too much for the stadium structure to support the letters.
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I wonder if they could do something with a light weight kevlar type fabric and high density aluminum frames...I know Siemens of Johnson City makes the fabric...Couldn't really see them well at night without additional lighting though...just thinking.
 
#34
#34
I went to my first game at Neyland in 1990. The gameday program proudly proclaimed Neyland Stadium to be "the home of the worlds largest 'VOLS' sign." We laughed at that quite a lot because where else would the world's largest 'VOLS' sign be?
 
#36
#36
IndianaVol said:
Growing up in a military family in the early 80s and only getting to see 1, 2, or 3 games a season on the TV, the first thing you would see would be a from the blimp shot and the one thing that stood out was the huge VOLS at the top of the stadium...it was awesome!!!

Now the first from the blimp shot on the TV telecast looks like any other college stadium (except of the size, which is relative to perspective, and the color orange)...oh how I wish somehow they could bring back the VOLS letters.
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I wouldn't mind if they brought them back and put them on the opposite side of the stadium across from the jumbotron. I don't have a problem with the letters.

Just saying I don't get teary eyed over them not being there.
 
#37
#37
I think it's interesting to see the variety of responses about the letters. We can agree to disagree.

As students in the late '60s, we considered the orange letters to be just an eyesore. We joked that a wealthy alumnus must have donated the letters & the administration had the letters put up because they didn't want to lose funding from the guy.

IMO it's like large orange letters A-L-A-M-O on top of the Alamo. Or how about A-B-E sitting on top of the Lincoln Memorial? :loco:
 
#39
#39
bamawriter said:
I went to my first game at Neyland in 1990. The gameday program proudly proclaimed Neyland Stadium to be "the home of the worlds largest 'VOLS' sign." We laughed at that quite a lot because where else would the world's largest 'VOLS' sign be?
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Good question. It's not like Neyland is surrounded by a campus and the city of Knoxville.
 
#40
#40
Actually, the letters could go where the old JFG sign was just taken down over by the old Baptist hospital just across the river. Either that or put them up on one of the buildings on Gay Street. That way they can be seen from I-40 as you are coming into downtown Knoxville. I imagine that would be a cool site for any out of town Vol fans coming in for the game.
 
#42
#42
DynamiteMcGhee said:
Actually, the letters could go where the old JFG sign was just taken down over by the old Baptist hospital just across the river. Either that or put them up on one of the buildings on Gay Street. That way they can be seen from I-40 as you are coming into downtown Knoxville. I imagine that would be a cool site for any out of town Vol fans coming in for the game.
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They took that down? Why? Not as iconic as the JFG sign in the old city, but still.
 
#43
#43
Thrasher865 said:
They took that down? Why? Not as iconic as the JFG sign in the old city, but still.
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They took it down to refurbish it. It's going to be back on display once it's done, but I don't think it will be at the end of the Gay Street bridge like it was before.
 
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