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To Be a Vol
What does it mean to be a Tennessee Volunteer?
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VolCorps Program
Programs include ambassadors, diversity recruitment, and prospective athletes
Celebrate UT Traditions
Celebrate UT Traditions
Volunteers
War of 1812 - Tennessee Volunteer references began.
Mexican War - A call for 2,800 Tennessee volunteers got 30,000 respondents, earning the Volunteer State name.
1902 - The Atlanta Constitution first called UT athletes “Volunteers” after a Tennessee–Georgia Tech football game.
Celebrate UT Traditions
Torchbearer
1928-31 - Student sculptors entered their designs in an international contest for a new university symbol.
1931 - Sculptor Theodore Andre Beck, of the Yale School of Fine Arts, won the contest and a $1,000 prize. He was a special guest at Aloha Oe.
By 1932 - UT copyrighted use of its official symbol, but the Great Depression, World War II, controversy over design modifications, and high cost estimates meant only small Torchbearer replicas were used from 1937-1968.
1968 - The nine-foot-tall statue with the sculptor’s final modifications was unveiled in Circle Park.
Torchbearer is also the name of the highest student honor conferred by UT and the name of our alumni publication.
Celebrate UT Traditions
Climbing the Hill to Ayres Hall
1826 - East Tennessee College moved to the Hill, which remains part of campus.
1921 - UT’s most iconic building, Ayres Hall, was dedicated on the Hill.
Celebrate UT Traditions
Torch Night
During this Welcome Week ceremony, the freshman class holds symbolic torches as they’re declared part of the student body.
1925 - In the first ceremony, a bugler summoned freshmen toward Ayres Hall. The class called for the sophomores and juniors along the way and met the seniors at the top. The underclassmen then took an oath of loyalty to UT.
Celebrate UT Traditions
Aloha Oe
In this companion event to Torch Night, graduating seniors pledge their loyalty to UT, say goodbye, and pass candles to upcoming seniors, inspiring them as leaders.
Celebrate UT Traditions
Orange and Big Orange Friday
1889 - UT Athletic Association President Charles Moore chose the school’s orange and white colors for the first field day. The student body endorsed the colors in 1892.
UT encourages the entire Volunteer family, wherever you are, to wear orange every Friday.
Celebrate UT Traditions
Painting The Rock
1960s - The Rock is unearthed and becomes a campus communications hub and palette for hellos and goodbyes, birthday wishes, event announcements, sports hype, marriage proposals, and political endorsements.
90.3 The Rock is also the name of our independent radio station.
Celebrate UT Traditions
Alma Mater and Rocky Top
1928 - On a Hallowed Hill, penned by Mary Meek, was chosen as the winner of a yearlong contest to select an alma mater song.
1967 - Rocky Top was written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant.
1972 - The Pride of the Southland Band first played Rocky Top during halftime of the Tennessee-Alabama football game.
1982 - Rocky Top was named an official Tennessee song.
Celebrate UT Traditions
Smokey
1953 - Rev. Bill Brooks’ bluetick coonhound “Brooks’ Blue Smokey” howled his way to the win in the Pep Club’s mascot contest at halftime of the Tennessee-Mississippi State football game.
Smokey leads the Vols through the T before each home football game and carries out many other mascot duties.
Celebrate UT Traditions
Running through the T
1965 - Head coach Doug Dickey and band director W.J. Julian created a unique entrance for the Volunteers.
Celebrate UT Traditions
Fans Checker Games
2014 - Vol fans Spencer Barnett, Tim McLeod, and Jonathan Briehl helped create a one-game-each-season tradition when fans wear orange or white by section in Neyland Stadium, creating a checker pattern.
Vol fans also checker basketball games at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Celebrate UT Traditions
Vol Navy
1962 - After radio broadcaster George Mooney traveled the Tennessee River to a Vols football game, fans made boating a tradition.