No matter which way you turn, you'll see pride and support for the University of Tennessee football team, the Tennessee Volunteers or "Vols," as they are known far and wide. The nickname is derived from the State of Tennessee's own nickname. Tennessee is known as the "Volunteer State," having sent more volunteers than any other state but Virginia to fight for the Confederacy during the Civil War and more volunteers to Union ranks than any other state, period. Volunteer soldiers from Tennessee also played a prominent role in the War of 1812, notably The Battle of New Orleans.
The Vols play at historic Neyland Stadium at UT's home campus in Knoxville. Stadium capacity is just over 100,000, the fifth largest in the country, and the home games have been described as a "sea of orange" due to the large number of fans wearing the school color.
The Vols are an NCAA Division I football team and a member of the Southeastern Conference, playing college football since their beginning in 1891. The distinctive orange-and-white colors worn by the football team were selected by Charles Moore, a member of the very first football squad, as they were the colors of the American Daisy which grew on "The Hill," where most of the classrooms at the university are located. Vols fans show their support in many ways; that particular shade of orange is offered by for sale as a paint, licensed by the university.
The Tennessee "T" is another distinctive feature and appears in two places in Vols tradition. Players sport a large "T" on the sides of their helmets and the team also runs through another "T" formed by the Pride of The Southland Marching Band with its base at the entrance to the Tennessee locker room in the north endzone. The team makes a left turn inside the T and runs toward their bench on the east sideline.
Primary rivals include Alabama's Crimson Tide, Florida's Gators, the Georgia Bulldogs, Kentucky Wildcats and the Vanderbilt Commodores. During home games, thousands of fans line the street to shake the Vols' hands as they walk into Neyland Stadium. Through rain, snow, sleet, or shine, the Vols faithful are always out in full force to cheer them on as they prepare for battle. The Bluegrass tune "Rocky Top" is not the official Tennessee fight song but is the most popular, widely recognized as one of the most hated by opponents in collegiate sports.
The Vols mascot is a live Bluetick Coonhound, a breed native to Tennessee. GO, VOLS!
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