Who else here is old enough

#76
#76
I saw games in the 50's, but don't ask me to remember who played. I killed those brain cells when I pledged there years later. Attended many a BB game in the old Alumni Gym. Glad it's still standing (was last time I was there). Last game there was the SC game a couple of years ago cause it's harder to get out. I count on you guys to pick up the slack.
 
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#77
#77
My earliest memories of UT football are of Mallon Faircloth as the single wing QB/TB in 1963. (The games were actually on local TV so I could see them when we visited family in Maryville.) He probably weighed 160 lbs soaking wet but was a great all round runner and passer leading the team every year from '61 thru '63 in passing and rushing. Bowden Wyatt was his head coach in 61 and 62 and was losing a fight against alcohol. Wyatt had played for and succeeded the General, winning his own National Championship (1956) but refused to change with the times and kept running the single wing (one of the reasons Spurrier used for going to Florida, but there was also a very large church in Gainesville that hired Spurrier's father at a substantial increase in pay; my future SIL, a cheerleader at Science Hill HS, attended the church in Johnson City that he left saying "God had called him to Gainesville").
Jim McDonald was the interim coach in '63 when Wyatt's health crashed and Dickey was hired the following year beginning a renaissance back to national power status before stupidly leaving for his alma mater. I attended my first game in '64, a loss to Kentucky which caused us to have Dickey's only losing season. My father hated sports so he never took me to a game, plus he worked half days on Saturdays. I went with a friend and his father who drove us down from Jonesborough (then a 3 hour trip, or worse depending on traffic). I was totally hooked. I remember the coeds went to the games in dresses and high heels and the guys wore sport coats and ties.
 
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#81
#81
leon said:
I remember as a kid listening to the 1947 Orange Bowl against Rice with my older brother. Got real interested the 1950 season when they beat Texas in Cotton Bowl. Won the national championship the next year. Remember when Neyland retired and was succeeded by Harvey Robinson who lasted one year until they hired Bowden Wyatt away from Arkansas. Back in the days of Wyatt, they had a practice day where they would actually let fans out on the field right with the players. Athletic director Bob Neyland would be out on the field shouting at the players just like the coaches. I got to attend one of those practices and can actually say I've been on the practice field next to legendary Coach Bob Neyland.
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Leon,
You must be the winner as far long-time Vol listening is concerned.
I remember watching that Cotton Bowl on TV and also remember Lindsey Nelson announcing on the Vol Network but don't remember the '47 Orange Bowl.
My most memorable radio listening was in 1943-1944. My father would come home from work and listen to the news (mainly about WWII). He had on an old upright radio and I would sit on his knee as legendary announcer H. V. Kaltenborn would begin his evening report with, "Good evening, everybody". He had a memorable and mellifluous voice and although I was too young to understand the significance of what he was reporting I can still feel Dad's knee and still hear Kaltenborn's voice.
 
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#83
#83
NUMBER1VOLFAN said:
I saw games in the 50's, but don't ask me to remember who played. I killed those brain cells when I pledged there years later. Attended many a BB game in the old Alumni Gym. Glad it's still standing (was last time I was there). Last game there was the SC game a couple of years ago cause it's harder to get out. I count on you guys to pick up the slack.
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Remember Billy Justus playing BB for the Vols? He used to make his free throws under handed using two hands.
 
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#84
#84
JOEY'S ALL VOL !!! said:
Any of you old enough to remember who the first play by play broadcaster for the Vol Network was !

Lindsey Nelson
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I very much remember Lindsey but can't recall the Mooney fellow. If by chance my grandparents could afford a radio it would be for baseball, boxing, and "The Grand Ole Opry." Having 20 aunts and uncles and hearing them reminisce led me to believe that. The Vols weren't on my radar until I heard a broadcast about the "Swamp Rat." By the time Bobby Scott was QBing, I was full-blown Vol.
 
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#86
#86
leon said:
I remember as a kid listening to the 1947 Orange Bowl against Rice with my older brother. Got real interested the 1950 season when they beat Texas in Cotton Bowl. Won the national championship the next year. Remember when Neyland retired and was succeeded by Harvey Robinson who lasted one year until they hired Bowden Wyatt away from Arkansas. Back in the days of Wyatt, they had a practice day where they would actually let fans out on the field right with the players. Athletic director Bob Neyland would be out on the field shouting at the players just like the coaches. I got to attend one of those practices and can actually say I've been on the practice field next to legendary Coach Bob Neyland.
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I salute you. You've seen a lot. I worked as a waiter for the athletic department in Gibbs back in the mid to late '70's. In hindsight, and I regret this - there were a lot of Neyland guys still around if you knew where to look. Woodruff was AD, Gus Manning was around, and one guy I'd see just about every day in the cafeteria was George Cafego. My regret is never stopping him and picking his brain a little. He was sort of quiet and kept to himself, but at that time, he was coaching the punters. We had good punters back then too.
The waiters had access to all the facilities -and one day I was over in Stokely in the steam room. Bob Woodruff walked in and I talked him quite a bit in the steam room. That was memorable. Also Johnny Majors would come through when the cafeteria was closed, and I had a spot where I studied in there. He'd bug me to get him an apple or a chocolate milk out of the back. One day he sat and chatted with me while he finished his snack.
Neyland's influence is far reaching - to those that really don't follow the history that close. Unlike Kiffin, Pruitt seems to really have embraced the Maximums. In the Gator bowl post game interviews, I heard him and several players use the term "put on more steam". In this day and age, not many have even been in a house or building that has a boiler and steam radiators - that's something from a bi-gone era. But it still can be easily interpreted. Thanks for sharing your memories. Very cool.
 
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#87
#87
Here I was thinking I was one of the older guys on this board. Great stories. Reminds us we have such a great tradition. Back in the day I remember there being a lot of Bama fans in Clarksville. Bear Bryant and all that. Also after we had to move North I could still hear vol games at night on WLAC in Nashville. It was a vol station for years. In recent years they became a Vandy station...which makes sense cuz its Nashville...but that was when the Vols owned Nashville.
 
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#88
#88
Capt Straight said:
To remember listening to George Mooney and Bob Fox announcing Tennessee Football in the days prior to John Ward? My father was a UT grad, so I can remember as a little kid sitting beside a giant radio listening to Johnny Majors playing in the single wing formation. Any other old farts on this board? LOL
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I remember listening to them on the radio in the early 50's when Neyland was still coach. My dad had two teams, Notre Dame and Tennessee. I was too young to take notice of who was announcing. You and I are both getting a little long in the tooth.
 
#89
#89
DC_Vol said:
I believe Clemson won the National Championship that year.
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And Then was placed on Major Probation 20 months later for Numerous NCAA Major Violations. Destroyed Clemson for the next decade + and many coaches and ADs were fired
 
#92
#92
Capt Straight said:
To remember listening to George Mooney and Bob Fox announcing Tennessee Football in the days prior to John Ward? My father was a UT grad, so I can remember as a little kid sitting beside a giant radio listening to Johnny Majors playing in the single wing formation. Any other old farts on this board? LOL
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I don't remember that, but does that mean that is your great great great granddaughter in the avatar?

Teasing ya man...
 
#96
#96
J C Higgins said:
Leon,
You must be the winner as far long-time Vol listening is concerned.
I remember watching that Cotton Bowl on TV and also remember Lindsey Nelson announcing on the Vol Network but don't remember the '47 Orange Bowl.
My most memorable radio listening was in 1943-1944. My father would come home from work and listen to the news (mainly about WWII). He had on an old upright radio and I would sit on his knee as legendary announcer H. V. Kaltenborn would begin his evening report with, "Good evening, everybody". He had a memorable and mellifluous voice and although I was too young to understand the significance of what he was reporting I can still feel Dad's knee and still hear Kaltenborn's voice.
Click to expand...

You are an old fart! I was not even born then LOL
 
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#97
#97
This is a great thread, if for no other reason that it makes me feel young. :)
 
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#98
#98
Capt Straight said:
To remember listening to George Mooney and Bob Fox announcing Tennessee Football in the days prior to John Ward? My father was a UT grad, so I can remember as a little kid sitting beside a giant radio listening to Johnny Majors playing in the single wing formation. Any other old farts on this board? LOL
Click to expand...
"The single wing is off to the right!" Ahhh yes!! Days of Yore.
 
#99
#99
Capt Straight said:
You are an old fart! I was not even born then LOL
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I can remember Walter Winchell from WW11. During his broadcasts,..us kids were not allowed to speak. We had relatives in the war..."Mr. and Mrs. North and South America,..and all the ships at sea...Let's go to France."...….Long time ago, I guess.
 
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