21 Things … That Make it Great to be a Tennessee Volunteer
October 30th, 2008 | 
Author: |
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That Make it Great to be a Tennessee Volunteer |
Now that I am finally done with my trial, I can begin to get back to things that really matter, namely spending endless hours blogging…
Needless to say, this has been a football season which could drive a Tennessee fan to drink, sniff glue, use leeches, beat up little old ladies on the side of the road, or some similar vice. Between mounting losses, SEC and BCS irrelevance, the controversy over the legacy of the Great Punkin, and bickering among the fans, the battle for the soul of Big Orange fans has never been more feverishly pitched.
That said, I am still convicted—perhaps even more so—that there is no other team I’d ever follow and that it is truly great to be one of the many Tennessee Volunteers. Thus, I thought I’d offer up a little list—just to remind the doom and gloom crowd that life really isn’t all that bad (and for reasons which should be fairly obvious, “21” is the top of the list).
Thus, here are 21 Things that make it great to be a Tennessee Volunteer:
>> (Lawvol’s first attempt at) Flash (which he couldn’t get to resize properly) Version <<
Full Version after the Jump…
** Many images, may load slowly on dial-up connections
1. The Great Smoky Mountains
All of nature’s glory for the senses to behold.
2. Fort Sanders
I mean, it’s pretty cool to have your college be right in the middle of a battlefield—and a super cool neighborhood.
3. The Sea of Orange!
Such a sublime hue, chosen due to the American Daisy which used grow on the Hill.
4. Bobby Denton urging us “to pay these prices, and please pay … NO MORE!”
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I doubt that I would ever intentionally pay more than the advertised price for a watered-down cup of sort-o-Coke-like-substance, but I appreciate the reminder. Not sure where is came from, but I like it!
5. The Sunsphere
Sure, Bart Simpson said it was a wig shop, but we know better…
6. Painting the Rock
The joys of conveying a spirited message, paint fumes, and geology…
7. The Vol Navy
Arrrggh, life on the High Seas of … er… Lake Loudon!
8. Checkerboards
Can you guess which of these photos inspired the chekerbaord endzones? Love ‘em, no ifs, ands, or buts.
9. Counting the sides on Hodges Library
I’ve always lost count after about a million or so…
10. Cumberland Avenue
Our ramshackle but welcoming little strip.
11. Rafter Banners
Don’t they look nice?
12. The Pride of the Southland Band
Gotta love those circle drills and that “Pregame tradition unrivaled in college football” which leads to the opening of the “T”!
13. “Vic”
Also known as “the Torchbearer,” he and I go way back, thus I call him by name (after all, the statue was fashioned in the likeness of Tennessee’s own Victor Davis).
14. Ayres Hall & The Hill
Ahh, the traditions of the Hill and Ayres Hall, not least of which would include me barely passing Calculus…
15. Smokey
Such a cute pooch, unless you’re an Alabama player, that is…
16. Bruce Almighty
In Bruce we Trust!
17. The Wizard of Knoxville
Best in the World—no contest, no discussion, no argument.
18. Rocky Top
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Don’t you just love the fact that our “unofficial” fight song is about moonshine … and that opposing fans hate it so much? Despite having played Rocky Top over 4000 times while in the Pride of the Southland at Tennessee (yes, we did keep track with the hallowed “clicker”), I still never grow tired of hearing it.
19. The Tommy Bowl
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It used to be simply “the Big Brown Box,” but thanks to Bruce and the Barbarians, it’s got a whole new name.
20. Neyland Stadium
How could you not stand in awe of the fort known as “Neyland” along the banks of the Tennessee?
21. The awe inspiring beauty of Gate 21 (Yeah, I’m biased)
Just look at it, makes you want to cry, doesn’t it?
Anyway, now that you’ve had a chance to look at my little list, maybe some of the folks out there will realize that things really aren’t all that bad, and will smile a bit.
Oh and, yes, you guessed correctly—I hope for this to become a new feature here at the Gate.
Now, it’s time to get ready for the ThunderChickens…
– Go Figure ….gif "21 Things ... That Make it Great to be a Tennessee Volunteer")
Images Courtesy of: (Flickr) CessVass • Major Vols • Joelk75 • ladyvols1’s • deanna515 • MagnoliaJazz • Merelymere • abthompson • Dr. Reelgood & Co. • Michael Wender • asm.photo • JW Photo • ut9099 • MikkiAllen29 • Grant.Harley • Cesarito85 • DavidCFoster • Cliff Michaels • Rusty Tanton
(Other) Nial in America • SECSportsFan.com • ChotoMarine • pBase • ThinkLia.com • Dynamic Art Photography • Friends of the Fort • Encyclopedia Britannica • GatorTailgating.com • AP • Sports Illustrated • Reeves Maps • Sabir 265 • f8 and be there • Worlds Fair Photos.com • The University of Tennessee • PhillipFulmer.com • TheLinkery.com • The BruceBall Blog.com • BrendenLoy.com • Replay Photos • Legions of the Miserable • Fulmer’s Belly • PlanetWare.com • Pics4.city-data.com • UTSports.com • Pride of the Southland Marching Band • Go Vols Xtra • Knoxville News Sentinel • TNJN.com
Audio Courtesy of: The University of Tennessee / Vol Network / IMG • University of Tennessee / Pride of the Southland Marching Band / House of Bryant Publishing
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About the Author: "Lawvol" -- I'm just a guy living in North Carolina who has an unnatural fascination with the color orange. Just because I'm a Tennessee alum and die-hard Volunteer fan doesn't mean that I can't poke a little fun at the Big Orange and anybody else for that matter.
Feel free to complain all you want. >> Read more from this author
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Posted in 21 Things, College Basketball, College Football, College Sports, SEC Basketball, SEC Fans, SEC Football | 
Tags: Audio, Bruce Almighty, Bruce and the Barbarians, Bruce Pearl, Excuses, Football, Gate 21, Great Punkin, Knoxville, Knoxville News Sentinel, Lady Vols, Pat Summitt, SEC, Tennessee Volunteers, Thompson-Boling, University of Tennessee, Vols
10 Responses to “21 Things … That Make it Great to be a Tennessee Volunteer”
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- @allthingsvols Yes, I know about that all too well. It was fun, but the show must go on. Besides, I am super excited about going to VN.
- Gate 21 Post: A Changing of the Guard… - As I mentioned the other day, any of you that have regularly read Gate 21 ... http://ow.ly/16vnT0
- lawvol A Changing of the Guard%26hellip; http://bit.ly/bHW8gW - The Gate is officially closed
- Gate 21 Post: Changes Afoot - For those of you who are regular readers around here, you have doubtless noticed that... http://ow.ly/16tvjB
- Gate 21 Post: HLL: Lane Kiffin Leaves USC For Dream Job At GameStop http://ow.ly/16ppcv
- lawvol HLL: Lane Kiffin Leaves USC For Dream Job At GameStop http://bit.ly/5rSc79
- Gate 21 Post: HLL: “Leave You Like Kiffin” - Video: Leave You Like Kiffin The Newest from SwiperBoy: HT / via... http://ow.ly/16mOL2
- Gate 21 Post: HLL: Tennessee to Hire Derek Dooley - GVX: Tennessee hiring Derek Dooley “Multiple media sources are ... http://ow.ly/16lFJg
- Gate 21 Post: HLL: Cutcliffe to Stay at Duke - David Cutcliffe will be staying at Duke HT / via: Scout.com Not ... http://ow.ly/16lFJf
- I am thrilled to welcome Coach... http://is.gd/6lCGO
- I am thrilled to welcome Coach #Dooley to the #Tennessee family. We're all behind you. Go #Vols !
- @wshelton2 BTW thanks for having me on last night. Enjoyed it.
- RT @wshelton2: "Be mad at Kiffin. Disagree with Hamilton if you want. But support Dooley." +1
- RT@wesrucker:"I'll say this much for Derek Dooley. He wanted the job and is very excited about it. #Vols fans should appreciate that." AGREE
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Great! I truly enjoyed this little piece.
That’s 168,752 words worth of posting right there!
Very nicely done.
Btw, I’m happy to hear the trial is over. Now you can go back to making your money the preferred lawyer way: charging hundreds of dollars for filing auto-filled forms! No more of that “work” thing!
Glad you all liked it — I figured enough of the negativity.
Oh, and with regard to making money the lawyer way, on the advice of counsel…
“no comment“
it must have taken you quite a while to find, credit, AND link all however photos that was. indeed great work, and great to have you back…
I can obviously agree with many, er, all of these, since I’m still here and all. just wanna point out that when I hear Fort Sanders, I immediately think crime, cuz it had gotten real bad over here (this year it’s been better), to the point of getting e-mails from the police about muggings and robberies and assaults and a break-in or two…
just sayin!!
@HSH: I blame a those old Civil War soldiers skulking about, hiding in trees, living under manholes, crawling into doghouses, and so forth for the crime — guess that is the downside to the battlefield thing.
On the bright side, at least they are wearing orange…
Thank-you for putting the stamp on how to be a Tennessee Fan with class. After all, aren’t we all proud to be a Tennessee Vol? I know I am and I wish the team a great game. They too have proud parents. It is simply called respect.
Pretty Cool. I took the time to arrange the photos in order on my screen; but I’m a little crazy that way. Haha.
These are tough times my friends. A Great Man and a Great Volunteer is having an unfitting end to a good career. It’s sad but it has become necessary.
Let’s all pull together as Vols and make it through these tough times as a family.
Great post. I agree with all 21!