Why are you a Vol fan?

#152
#152
Because I am a son of Tennessee. And in my life in California, it gives me a compass that shows me the way back home, though I might not make it back there.
 
#155
#155
(*this may get a little long, so bear with me*)

I wasn't born or even mostly raised in the south like the vast majority of y'all. I'm originally from a tiny little town of not a whole lot of people called Atlanta, MI. My grandpa lived there too, and he was a VERY proud alumnus of the University of Michigan. I can clearly and distinctly remember Saturdays in the fall, loading up in Grandpa's old truck early in the morning and heading south to "The House that Bo Built" to watch the Maize and Blue (and other days spent at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull at Tiger Stadium; and winter days spent climbing "The Stairway to Heaven" at Joe Louis Arena for Red Wings games). I wouldn't trade a single one of those memories for anything in this world.

Fast-forward a bit to 1992. My family and I moved to Euharlee, Georgia the beginning of my ninth grade year. Mom and Dad weren't real big into sports at that point (they got there later but that's another story......they're not Tennessee fans like I am) so I just kinda coasted along not really getting to experience sports. There was this little general store in Euharlee, and the tall older lady behind the register with the bouffant hairdo and accent as thick as cold oatmeal ALWAYS had this orange "T" pin on her blouse (when she wasn't wearing orange, which wasn't often) that I asked her about one day (my parents became good friends with her to the point that she asked us kids to call her Grandma Pat).

Grandma Pat explained to 13 year old me that that T she wore was to show support for the college she had proudly graduated from many years prior after she left her childhood home of Clarksville, Tennessee. She called it "the only school in the southeast that actually matters", which young me found quite hilarious.

I guess she knew I needed sports back in my life, so unbeknownst to me she started talking to my folks about taking me to a game. They were a bit hesitant, but finally relented.

On September 3rd, 1994 my life changed forever. A 15-year old DeusExMachina showed up in Knoxville not knowing what to expect, and promptly had his world rocked by a screaming, bellowing sea of orange and white. Neyland Stadium felt like the biggest place I would ever go, and it was definitely the loudest place I had ever been to. The fellas on the field put up one hell of a fight that day (in my mind, your mileage may vary) before ultimately falling to UCLA (Grandma Pat took me back to Neyland the next year for the Alabama game after MUCH begging by me to my parents, and that game turned out much differently and MUCH louder); but the seed had sprouted and my wardrobe took on a whole lot more orange as time went on and things got outgrown.

I'll always have a soft spot for the University of Michigan, that'll never change. However, thanks to one kind Tennessean who took a young dumb 15 year old under her wings, my heart beats Rocky Top, my blood type is Pantone 151, and I can't and won't shut that off ever. Go Big Orange.
 
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#156
#156
DeusExMachina said:
(*this may get a little long, so bear with me*)

I wasn't born or even mostly raised in the south like the vast majority of y'all. I'm originally from a tiny little town of not a whole lot of people called Atlanta, MI. My grandpa lived there too, and he was a VERY proud alumnus of the University of Michigan. I can clearly and distinctly remember Saturdays in the fall, loading up in Grandpa's old truck early in the morning and heading south to "The House that Bo Built" to watch the Maize and Blue (and other days spent at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull at Tiger Stadium; and winter days spent climbing "The Stairway to Heaven" at Joe Louis Arena for Red Wings games). I wouldn't trade a single one of those memories for anything in this world.

Fast-forward a bit to 1992. My family and I moved to Euharlee, Georgia the beginning of my ninth grade year. Mom and Dad weren't real big into sports at that point (they got there later but that's another story......they're not Tennessee fans like I am) so I just kinda coasted along not really getting to experience sports. There was this little general store in Euharlee, and the tall older lady behind the register with the bouffant hairdo and accent as thick as cold oatmeal ALWAYS had this orange "T" pin on her blouse (when she wasn't wearing orange, which wasn't often) that I asked her about one day (my parents became good friends with her to the point that she asked us kids to call her Grandma Pat).

Grandma Pat explained to 13 year old me that that T she wore was to show support for the college she had proudly graduated from many years prior after she left her childhood home of Clarksville, Tennessee. She called it "the only school in the southeast that actually matters", which young me found quite hilarious.

I guess she knew I needed sports back in my life, so unbeknownst to me she started talking to my folks about taking me to a game. They were a bit hesitant, but finally relented.

On September 3rd, 1994 my life changed forever. A 15-year old DeusExMachina showed up in Knoxville not knowing what to expect, and promptly had his world rocked by a screaming, bellowing sea of orange and white. Neyland Stadium felt like the biggest place I would ever go, and it was definitely the loudest place I had ever been to. The fellas on the field put up one hell of a fight that day (in my mind, your mileage may vary) before ultimately falling to UCLA (Grandma Pat took me back to Neyland the next year for the Alabama game after MUCH begging by me to my parents, and that game turned out much differently and MUCH louder); but the seed had sprouted and my wardrobe took on a whole lot more orange as time went on and things got outgrown.

I'll always have a soft spot for the University of Michigan, that'll never change. However, thanks to one kind Tennessean who took a young dumb 15 year old under her wings, my heart beats Rocky Top, my blood type is Pantone 151, and I can't and won't shut that off ever. Go Big Orange.
Click to expand...
This ^^^ one of the coolest stories I have heard so far. Once you know, you know.
 
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#163
#163
Born and raised in Western NC about 90 miles west of Knoxville. When I was in JR. High, my coach gave me and my dad tickets to see Alabama and Tennessee. Despite losing that game 9-6 I was hooked. I’ve been many times since and despite attending college elsewhere, UT has remained my favorite and always will be.
 
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#164
#164
NO SIR EEE said:
I thought this would be cool to see some good stories.

Mine: I was born in Georgia and have been a lifelong resident here. My father was born and raised in Tennessee. I've been a UT fan since birth you can say.
Click to expand...

Same. Grew up in Georgia but my dad was from Kingsport so I inherited my love of UT from him. I now live in Birmingham and married to a Bammer. Both my sons (13 & 22) are Vol fans. While the older boy remembers when UT was at its highpoint, my younger son often ask why we love the Vols so much :)
 
#166
#166
DeusExMachina said:
(*this may get a little long, so bear with me*)

I wasn't born or even mostly raised in the south like the vast majority of y'all. I'm originally from a tiny little town of not a whole lot of people called Atlanta, MI. My grandpa lived there too, and he was a VERY proud alumnus of the University of Michigan. I can clearly and distinctly remember Saturdays in the fall, loading up in Grandpa's old truck early in the morning and heading south to "The House that Bo Built" to watch the Maize and Blue (and other days spent at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull at Tiger Stadium; and winter days spent climbing "The Stairway to Heaven" at Joe Louis Arena for Red Wings games). I wouldn't trade a single one of those memories for anything in this world.

Fast-forward a bit to 1992. My family and I moved to Euharlee, Georgia the beginning of my ninth grade year. Mom and Dad weren't real big into sports at that point (they got there later but that's another story......they're not Tennessee fans like I am) so I just kinda coasted along not really getting to experience sports. There was this little general store in Euharlee, and the tall older lady behind the register with the bouffant hairdo and accent as thick as cold oatmeal ALWAYS had this orange "T" pin on her blouse (when she wasn't wearing orange, which wasn't often) that I asked her about one day (my parents became good friends with her to the point that she asked us kids to call her Grandma Pat).

Grandma Pat explained to 13 year old me that that T she wore was to show support for the college she had proudly graduated from many years prior after she left her childhood home of Clarksville, Tennessee. She called it "the only school in the southeast that actually matters", which young me found quite hilarious.

I guess she knew I needed sports back in my life, so unbeknownst to me she started talking to my folks about taking me to a game. They were a bit hesitant, but finally relented.

On September 3rd, 1994 my life changed forever. A 15-year old DeusExMachina showed up in Knoxville not knowing what to expect, and promptly had his world rocked by a screaming, bellowing sea of orange and white. Neyland Stadium felt like the biggest place I would ever go, and it was definitely the loudest place I had ever been to. The fellas on the field put up one hell of a fight that day (in my mind, your mileage may vary) before ultimately falling to UCLA (Grandma Pat took me back to Neyland the next year for the Alabama game after MUCH begging by me to my parents, and that game turned out much differently and MUCH louder); but the seed had sprouted and my wardrobe took on a whole lot more orange as time went on and things got outgrown.

I'll always have a soft spot for the University of Michigan, that'll never change. However, thanks to one kind Tennessean who took a young dumb 15 year old under her wings, my heart beats Rocky Top, my blood type is Pantone 151, and I can't and won't shut that off ever. Go Big Orange.
Click to expand...


The wife knows where Atlanta Mi is.... When you were probably 5 or 6 there was an alliance between TN and MI within the Baptist Convention and teams from down here went up there to join with the locals in Revivals and Bible schools and I stayed with our young girls while she went to play the piano. She loved the place and all of the beautiful lake scenes within driving distance.
 
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#167
#167
From Honaker Va
Grew up wanting to be a better football
players than my uncles and started following the vols. In ‘97 seen a couple games on tv but was 7 at the time , but always remembered wanting to be good as those guys in orange . So worked my ass off to try and get a scholarship then after 13 years playing ball quit my Sr year over a girl and being lazy. However, following the Vols pushed me to make 1st team a Region D 1st team all Black Diamond district and honorable mention for All state my JR year. At 6’1 280 lbs ran a 4.8 40 I really could have done something with football on the DLine somewhere. At 31 now , would do anything to suit up again lol
 
#168
#168
GUNTERSVOL said:
The wife knows where Atlanta Mi is.... When you were probably 5 or 6 there was an alliance between TN and MI within the Baptist Convention and teams from down here went up there to join with the locals in Revivals and Bible schools and I stayed with our young girls while she went to play the piano. She loved the place and all of the beautiful lake scenes within driving distance.
Click to expand...

That part of Michigan is absolutely gorgeous, no question of that. The hunting and fishing alone makes me want to have at least a cabin up there one day.

Funny......I almost seem to remember a group from Tennessee coming to my Grandma and Grandpa's church (they were devout Baptists) way back when. I'd have been 5 in 1984, for the record.
 
#169
#169
OffTackleVol said:
Had a great uncle that lived in Huntsville, Alabama that was on von Braun's staff at Redstone Arsenal. Anyway, he was a 1939 Tennessee graduate. Loved the Big Orange, had season tickets. Took me to my first game in 1967 when I was 7 years old. The orange jerseys, the band, the band opening up the T. The view of The Hill from our seats. The excitement of the drive going to Knoxville. Stopping in Cleveland on the way home at some steakhouse right off the interstate, which became a yearly tradition. Hooked at age 7............so much so that I declined several small college football schollies and accepted an invitation to walk on at UT. Though I hung my cleats up my freshman year, stayed in school and graduated in 1982. Oldest daughter graduated UT.
Click to expand...
A friend of mine is as a walk on back in ‘79…. He’s now an attorney in Lebanon,TN
 
#170
#170
My grandfather played for Coach Barnhill and General Neyland in the 40's. He'd take me and my brother to a couple games a year... I miss those days.

He once took me to the Letterman's Club get-together before a game. I could kick myself now, not realizing back then the honor of meeting some of the greats of UT football. I honestly couldn't tell you who all I was introduced to... although I do remember meeting Coach Dickey, he was AD at the time.
 
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#172
#172
We moved to Seymour when I was in kindergarten. My dad graduated from UT in the 60's. We were cutting firewood (I was not just playing with sticks lol) and dad had the game on the radio of the ole '71 Chevy. I still remember John Wards voice!! I was hooked. Later my dad became a reserve KPD officer. He was working the Alabama game during the world's fair in 1982. Dad said if you can get down here I can get you in. I was able to talk my mom into letting me go and giving me a ride. My parents were divorced by now and this was not an easy sale. I had made it to my first game at Neyland. No ticket. Dad got me in at 10 years old and sat me with strangers who offered me a seat and free babysitting. Dad checked back at halftime. That game was incredible. I have bleed orange for 44 years and always will.
 
#174
#174
NO SIR EEE said:
I thought this would be cool to see some good stories.

Mine: I was born in Georgia and have been a lifelong resident here. My father was born and raised in Tennessee. I've been a UT fan since birth you can say.
Click to expand...

Born and raised in Knoxville, and graduated from UT in 1970. Went to my first game at age 6 and sold soft drinks in my teenage years. My dad was an usher for several years and would get me into the games when I wasn't selling soft drinks. I bleed orange, and I am a VFL!!!!!!!!
 
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