When/Why did you become a TN fan?

#76
#76
I have been a fan for over 50 years, born and bread in north East Tennessee. I can remember reading in the paper how some alumni put a uhaul in front of Bill Battle’s front I thought that was cool 😎 I remember when we hired Johnny Majors as head coach after he won a national championship with Pitt, we all were on cloud 9 thinking he was going get us a national championship in Tennessee. Johnny was the last BIG name hire and he did ok but just ok
I can remember Condredge Holloway Jr being recruited and all the drama that went with that and I remember when he played we cheered because he was amazing to watch
I remember Pat Summit getting hired and creating the women’s basketball program and all that she did for Tennessee and women’s college basketball and I cried when she passed
I was living in Knoxville (recently graduated) when the fired Johnny and put Phil in as the interim then all the controversy of him being a no name coach with no experience I also remember being in Tempe Arizona when he won it all in 1998
Here is where I stop I have a lifetime of great memories all during the good times and the bad I look forward to 50 more years of great memories with the VOLS and YES there will be some good times and some bad
Take it from a wise old man who remembers more than most of you know the good times will come just be patient, enjoy the moment, love your neighbor
GO BIG ORANGE 🍊
 
#77
#77
I'm 54 and have been a Vols fan as long as I can remember. My dad was from Johnson City and my mom from Erwin, and both sides of the family are die hard Tennessee fans. The first game I have any memory of was the 1971 Penn State game on ABC; it was Bobby Majors Day in Neyland. My first game was in 1975 against Colorado State when my Pop Warner coach in Paris took our team to a game. Believe or not, my mom kept my first Tennessee t shirt (QB Bubba Wyche) and gave it to me when she moved up to So Ill in 2013. 1569291231147465760214.jpg My screen name comes from the 1974 Clemson game. I know a lot of people wanted to grow up to be Condredge Holloway, but after that play, I wanted to be Larry Seivers catching passes from Holloway.
 
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#79
#79
My dad was a 1950 grad thanks to the GI bill. He was an avid fan and that’s all I’ve known since I was a little kid. It rubbed off on me and hasn’t waned. Saw my first game in 1966.
 
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#80
#80
My Dad was a die hard VOL so like others have mentioned I was born with orange blood running thru my veins. So I've been a VOL since 1978. My earliest memories of VOL football was those very seldom Saturdays when we actually was televised we would go out and turn the antenna on the house to pick up the station carrying the game then we'd turn the volume down and fire up the old radio and listen to John Ward call the game on the radio. Those was the best games ever. I lost my Dad as a teenager and haven't watched a game the same since then. We have big game parties where friends and family come over and we grill out and watch the game and have a awesome time but nothing will ever replace those days of sitting in the floor beside my Daddy watching the orange n white in black and white listen the Mr. Ward with all that excitement in his voice call those games. And even the games we couldn't watch as many know, listening to Ward call a game you could almost see it in your mind. Boy how I miss those days. Born a VOL will die a VOL...... No matter how bad it gets it's always, Great to be a Tennessee VOL!!!!!!
 
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#81
#81
Been a fan since I was a kid in the mid-1960s in a small Tennessee town four hours from Knoxville. First game/first visit to UT campus was well before the interstates were completed, and we left home in the pre-dawn darkness. Distinctly remember coming down Mt. Roosevelt on U.S. 70 into Rockwood and stopping at Peggy Ann's, teeming with Vol fans heading to the game. Couldn't believe I was actually there when we arrived on campus and later entered the stadium. Ten times the population of my hometown, gathered in one place. Later attended and graduated. My loyalty to the Hallowed Hill and its Stately Walls has never wavered. Don't expect that it ever will.

PS -- I was there at the UT-Vandy game in 2017 when John Ward was introduced on the field, for what sadly would be his last Tennessee football game. If John shed any tears that day, he certainly wasn't alone.
 
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#82
#82
I never watched college ball. I was into other sports, but I always went to the football games at HS. My freshman year I went to UT vs Florida.... It was all over, VFL
 
#83
#83
Boca Vol said:
I grew up in LC and the 1st game I remember going to was Utah in 1979.

My 1st real memory came a year later when UT played Southern Cal. My 2 brothers and I had little league games that day in Kingston and somehow we still made it in time to go to the game. I can still see the USC kicker hitting that FG at the end of the game. UT lost but I was hooked. Sitting in section W that night.
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I listened on the radio and was so pissed
 
#84
#84
One of my earliest memories of football is watching the Vols in the ‘74 Liberty Bowl on a little 19” black and white.... fell asleep before it was over
 
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#86
#86
VolforFootball said:
I wrote this in another thread, but it made me curious to hear all of your stories.

I was 9 when we won the NC and didn’t really watch football at the time as my family really only watched Baseball. The only reason I started to watch football was because my mom remarried to a man who is a Colts fan, which led to me becoming a Colts and Peyton fan during his rookie season. As a result of being a Peyton fan, I began watching TN since that’s where he went to college.
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1977ish listening to John Ward on the radio first got my interest. The 85 Sugar Bowl sent me over the edge to complete fandom.
 
#87
#87
Since 1968...the season before Steve Kiner mentioned mules and Ole Miss for the '69 season...was at basic training and had to rely on sketchy reports of a bad UT loss in Oxford. Kept the faith ever since those days.
 
#88
#88
My parents were not big football fans and certainly not “real” Vol fans. But for some reason I loved football (and most sports) as long as I can remember.

The bright Tennessee orange had me hooked since I was at least 6 years old or so. I grew up finding everything I could on Condredge Holloway. Mostly from other folks how had films I could watch. He was my hero growing up.

I loved Willie Gault and thought Tennessee was the greatest thing on earth to have an actual sprinter playing football.

1985 is probably what solidified the Tennessee Vols into my inner being for a lifetime (not really Sry God I love you the most).

That season was so special and even as a 5 time grandpaw now I still remember it like it was only last year. That Sugar Bowl is still my favorite game of all time (sry 99 Fiesta Bowl).....even the song from that sugar bowl sticks with me today.

I’m a Vol through and through and always will be. Sure I’m a negavol right now, but I still love the Orange, the football team and program and all Vol sports.

Special mention: Pat Summitt, what needs to be said.....nothing she said and did it all. Grew up (somewhat) with her as the coach and was and still is my favorite coach (any sport) of all time.

Go Big 🍊

But please fire Pruitt
 
#89
#89
Was born in Maryland but my dad got a job transfer to Knoxville in the 70s. As little fellow I didn’t pay too much attention to the Vols but I was old enough to understand that the whole town was obsessed with this orange team. One of our neighbors actually moved his grass in the shape of the UT logo. I remember hearing the names Larry Sievers, Stanley Morgan, and Jimmy Streater in the mid 70s. I also had a friend who had a Condredge Holloway poster in his room. I also remember watching Pitt win the NC with majors. During this time boys my age watched this show called the six million dollar man starring Lee Majors. Lee Majors happened to be standing on the sideline during that game at Pitt and I was more excited about that than anything. I thought Johnny and Lee must be brothers. Found out years later that Lee was a huge fan of Johnny when he was a kid a changed his last name. Sorry getting to long here. My family moved back to Maryland where I finished high school but I decided to go back to UT for college. I became a die hard in 1990 during the Notre Dame game that year. After Kelly threw that last interception I felt an overwhelming feeling of anger and sadness at the same time. I never looked back and have been a Vol freak since that day. I left TN and worked in other states for a few years but came back to UT for grad school in 95 and lived in Knoxville through our Natty in 98. Was very special to be in K town that year: Florida win, NC, John Wards last year etc. Moved near Clemson for a few years and remember making fun of their fans because their team was so inferior to ours ( how times have changed). Have been in Phoenix area since 2000 but continue to wear orange out gear. Raised my kids out here and they both attend ASU but I occasionally show them footage from the glory days in the 90 s. They are amazed and respond with “you mean that team that lost to Georgia State used to be good? No way”
 
#90
#90
I watched some football in 1985-86. I don't remember 87. Then in 1988 I remember following the games. Tennessee lost. A bunch. 0-6. I saw Spurrier bring Duke into Neyland and beat Tennessee. I still remember my Dad yelling at Shazzon Bradley for missing tackles.

Then 1989 happened. The Stars. The wins. The Vols running hog wild in the Cotton Bowl against Arkansas. I was there for that one.

I was hooked. Then the 90's. Ahhhhh, winning. It was fun. Even looking back at the Florida losses, those were exciting times.

I have tried to not love them during this stretch. I can't quit Tennessee.
 
#93
#93
Soooo I can’t remember ever not being a Vols fan born and raised in Cleveland. It just came natural. We watched football on the weekends. I played football in jr high and I also played baseball. After having my bell rung repeatedly, my ankle broken, and shoulder dislocated I decided I wouldn’t play football in high school. I went to college in Oklahoma and weirdly that made more of a vol fan. I married a gator and that really made me more of a vol fan. oh btw she is from Charleston TN. She’s “special” bless her heart.been a Vols fan all my life I guess. GBO
 
#95
#95
Birth...Born at the University of Tennessee hospital...My first diaper was orange and white.
 
#96
#96
In 1985 I was visited by the ghosts of Robert Neyland, Daniel Boone, and Sam Houston. They told me I was to be a Vol fan and I was the chosen one with regard to fanhood.

They granted me one wish. I asked for every Ala**** player to get syphillis from a dog. That request was denied so I asked for a national championship once I became an adult. Wish granted. They told me I would be needed one day to lead our fanbase back to reality sometime after the championship. We would wander in the wilderness for many years. There would be those that didn’t know about my wish and would doubt the truthfulness of such a claim. My job was to remain steadfast and realize the team would be punished for my request of the whole dog/syphillis thing.

My bad guys.
 
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#97
#97
LargeElmo said:
Since 1968...the season before Steve Kiner mentioned mules and Ole Miss for the '69 season...was at basic training and had to rely on sketchy reports of a bad UT loss in Oxford. Kept the faith ever since those days.
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Headline in the next morning's Tennessean: "Old Miss 'Mules' Kick Vols, 38-0."
 
#98
#98
I was born in TN (lived here until I was 5), grew up in NY.

I just remember always coming down to visit during summer break (we go to school after labor day up yonder) and hanging out with my grandfather and him loving the Vols (my uncle too). I had his '98 NC hat after he passed (unfortunately I don't know where it is now). Didn't go to my first game until '09 UCLA. Had season tickets from '10-'17.

He's also why I decided to join the Army. He was in for 21 years.
 
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#99
#99
Been a fan since I was a small boy. I worked with my uncle delivering laundry in the UT, Kingston Pike area.
I`m 69 now. My uncle owned laundries in that area. The Good Luck on Laural Ave. and the Orange and White on Clinch.
I have family members that are UT grads, including my son and daughter in law, and others. In my day it was wonderful growing up in Knoxville. Crisp cool air and hearing the words "it is football time in Tennessee" was special. Yellow and orange leaves everywhere was a sight to see.
It was a special time in my life and I will never forget.
Never in my life have I seen our football program in this bad of shape. I don` understand it and it makes me sad.
I hope I can live long enough to see UT rise from the ashes.
God bless Knoxville, UT, and all our devoted fans. I type this with tears in my eyes.
It might seem strange to some to read about a 69 year old man typing this post with tears in his eyes over football. It is more than football. It is a lifelong tradition with many wonderful memories.
Go Vols.
 
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#100
#100
Volunteer2012 said:
Born in Tennessee. Being anything other than a Vol is treason.
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