It's not every day you get to see the chancellor of a major university using a can of spray paint
to mark on university property. However, in order to welcome the class of 2014,
Chancellor Jimmy Cheek wanted to do something special.
Cheek: We're painting the Rock and welcoming the class of 2014. It's to emphasize our welcome
to our new students at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and to encourage them to think about
graduating in 2014.
Voice over: Cheek was joined in welcoming the incoming freshmen by the men's and women's basketball coaches,
coaches, Bruce Pearl and Pat Summitt, along with student members of the UT Spirit Squad.
It has become a Tennessee tradition for students to use the Rock as a canvas for student
messages. And after getting countless coats of paint, the Rock has actually grown over time.
Cheek: : The Rock is very important to the students of the University of Tennessee and you know
it's painted on all kinds of occasions. It has a lot of tradition; a lot of things have been painted on the Rock
so we want to take this opportunity to have our one time to say, "Welcome" to the class
2014. They're an outstanding group of young men and young women,
and we're delighted they're here.