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Never let it be said that A Free Man doesn’t welcome opposing points of view. As the Georgia Bulldogs head north to Knoxville for a date with the Tennessee Volunteers this Saturday, I’ve brought the enemy to my bosom and given them a chance to speak.
For the three years I was at the University of Georgia, Tennessee beat our football team every year. They were the only school to accomplish that feat. Even the vile Florida Gators fell to the Dawgs once during my time at the University. After having my heart broken every October for three years straight, I left Athens in 1999 with a loathing of all things orange and all things Tennessee.
But my attitude towards the University of Tennessee has mellowed a bit since then. Where they were 9-0 against Georgia in the 90’s, they have been a bit of a pushover in the last decade, rolling over six of nine times since the turn of the century. And lately, the Vols just suck. And when a team is that bad it isn’t much fun to mock or loathe them. It’s kind of like teasing a disabled child. In fact, with the ascension of clownish head coach Lane Kiffin, it is exactly like mocking a disabled child.
OK, OK. Old habits die hard.
Through bloggin over the last couple of years, I’ve come to ‘meet’ a few Vols and I’ve discovered that they aren’t the toothless, corn cob pipe smoking, hillbillies that I was led to believe they were. In fact, they are a lot like Georgia fans – passionate about their football, intelligent, well spoken and even classy. Hell, they even hate the Gators nearly as much as we do. Who would have thought?
I’ve asked one of them, Cindy of the excellent Here In Franklin, to come aboard to explain to us just what would possess one to dress up in Creamiscle orange every autumn Saturday to go and watch their team get, well, licked.
Cindy?
In 1921 a baby boy was born in Knoxville, Tenn. He came home from the hospital and lived with his parents on White Avenue in the Fort Sanders neighborhood, just a few blocks from the University of Tennessee.
He grew up loving the university and its orange- and white-clad football team. The coach for a good part of his youth was General Robert Neyland. Under the General’s tutelage, the football team prospered and built themselves into a national powerhouse.
The boy grew up and moved to Nashville for his senior year in high school. After he graduated, he went to work instead of college, and then he went to war.
Fast forward to 1976. A teenage girl graduates from high school near Nashville and goes to college in Knoxville. She loves the orange- and white-clad football team. In the fall of her junior year she moves to White Avenue in the Fort Sanders neighborhood, just a few blocks from the University of Tennessee and the home her father grew up in.
Full circle.
Before Middle Tennessee became inundated with people from places like California and Michigan, you could pretty much divide football fans into two camps—they either supported Vanderbilt (the private university in Nashville) or the University of Tennessee—the Volunteers (Vols for short). Despite my mother’s family’s long association with Vanderbilt, we were a Tennessee family through and through.
I never wanted to go anywhere else.
Today, I’m not just a fan of the school’s sports, I’m a fan of the school—period. As a large public university in a state not exactly known for its educational system, UT is the butt of a lot of jokes regarding its academic prowess. Fact is, the school’s rankings are exceptional in many areas. No, they don’t compete with Harvard or Stanford. But they’re not exactly the University of Chopped Liver either. It’s galling to hear people who really know nothing about my school disparage it.
I know that a lot of you reading this are unfamiliar with American football. One thing you need to know is this–tradition and ritual are sacred on football Saturdays in the South.
The coronation of a new monarch or the investiture of a pope are ritualistic events filled with pomp and circumstance. But those traditions can’t compare with what you’ll find on a dozen college campuses on a Southern football Saturday. Keep your champagne and communion wine, I’ll take bourbon and beer. And no matter if my team wins or loses on Saturday, I’ll still be a fan on Sunday.
This week, my beloved Vols take on A Free Man’s Dawgs. Both teams are coming off tough losses. I have to give Georgia the edge though—they’re just better. We’re in a rough patch now, but we will be back on top in a year or two.
If you happen to see the scores over the weekend, think about me and Chris—two true fans. I’m the one wearing orange. I think you already know what color Chris prefers.
Ah, shoot Cindy, almost makes me feel bad that the Dawgs are going to salvage their season by systematically dismantling the Vols this weekend.
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I, too, am a big fan of Here in Franklin and am glad to see you give her a soapbox from which to pontificate from. For all your posturing, you had better HOPE the Dawgs aren’t upset by the Vols. Can you imagine! You’ll hear the hysterical laughter without the benefit of amplification.
The Unbearable Banishment´s last blog ..Cover your eyes! Oh, the humanity!
TUB – Actually, it wouldn’t be an upset. The latest line has Tennessee winning by 1. So, we’re the underdogs.
For you, hon? I hope Georgia wins. For me? I hope the Mountaineers of WVU kick the butt of that stupid Otto the Orange of Syracuse University.
Coal Miner’s Granddaughter´s last blog ..The Journey
I hate the color orange, and I tend to hate teams with orange on their uniforms irrationally. The only orange that doesn’t bother me is that burned version used by Texas. That’s actually a pleasant color. That bright orange used in Tennessee? Hideous. I also have a natural opposition to Florida and Clemson, although Clemson purple unis are ridiculously bad, worse than anything ever worn by Oregon.
Also, unless you already picked someone for the Tech game at the end of the regular season, I’d love to be your guy for that. I think Courtney did the honors last year, but I’m actually a direct descendant of the Tech president who hired John Heisman.
Jacob´s last blog ..Sleep Becomes Him
Yeah, Jacob, but I’m a direct descendant of Tech’s finest alum, and both my parents are die-hard Tech fans, unlike yours. So there.
My time at Tennessee didn’t exactly end well, so I’m a bit soured on the team and the school as a whole. But this weekend? I’m a Vol. GOOD OL’ ROCKY TOP!
courtney´s last blog ..3 Important Things On The First Full Day of My 30s
Cindy,
While I am duty bound to question your sensibilities due to your loyalty, it appears you come by your UT fandom honestly and without reservation. Kudos, however, for capturing the value placed on college football in the American South quite elegantly.
As much as I despise UF, ‘Rocky Top’ is easily my most despised fight song. I have given $20 tips to bands to stop playing it (most recently in Stillwater before the Okie State game) and at my wedding, loudly threatened to fire the DJ on the spot for playing it. I sincerely hope the Pride of the Southland only gets to play it for the opening kickoff and during commercial breaks Saturday.
Go Dawgs!
Bulldog in Exile´s last blog ..I know your anger, I know your dreams
This post reminds me of the time honored traditions of the south and I for one applaud the southerners who keep the traditions going. Whatever the outcome this weekend, I hope everyone enjoys the competition and keeps the spirit alive.
Technobabe´s last blog ..Girl Flu or Swine Flu Alert
Very nice guest post, Chris.
Tennessee and Georgia have both played very hard this year even though neither team has won as many games as they would have hoped.
That said, who would have thought the mighty Auburn Tigers would be 5-0 at this point in the season? Certainly not me, and I am a fan.
I do hope that you both beat Florida and that Tennessee takes out there frustration on Alabama later in year.
War Damn Eagle – Jud
Jud´s last blog ..Well, Dang
I have a hard time rooting against ANY coach that gets under Urban Meyer’s skin…
CMGD – Well, I always cheer against Yankee teams when they’re playing teams from the South. WV is sort of a border state, though, but still.
Jacob – You were already the man for Ga Tech as Courtney has been banned, but I still haven’t decided whether to turn over the proverbial microphone to Techies or Gators. My opinion of Tech fans has diminished in the last few years. Courtney.
Courtney – Didn’t I ban you? Do you need me to explain the word ‘ban’?
Bulldog in Exile – Yeah, Rocky Top grates a nerve doesn’t it. According to a reliable source, they’ve started playing it for first downs as touchdowns are hard to come by in Knoxville this year.
Technobabe – One of the things I miss about the South.
Jud – I can’t work Auburn out. They’re undefeated, but I need to see what they do with LSU or Bama to be sold on them.
Nathan – 2007, Florida-Georgia. Georgia scores first and sends the whole team out to celebrate. I can guaran-damn-tee you that got under Urban’s skin. Of course he put 50 on the Dawgs last year, but still.
UB–Yes, if the Vols win, there will be much rejoicing in Franklin. I learned long ago not to posture or predict when it comes to football…too many cases of having to eat my words.
CMD–I hope you beat Syracuse too!
Jacob–Hideous? C’mon…it might be a little obnoxious, but hideous?
Courtney–Sing on sista!
Exile–Thanks for the kind words. And why in the world was a band in Stillwater playing Rocky Top? Can’t T. Boone buy them their own fight song?
Technobabe–Those traditions will outlive us all.
Jud–Just know that later this year I will be PRAYING that your War Damn Eagles beat the stuffing out of the tide.
Nathan–Urban HATES Kiffen. After all the years of Old School Phil, it’s funny to have such a lightning rod for a coach.
And Chris–thanks again for sharing your space. Despite all our different allegiances, we seem to have one thing in common: we all HATE the gators!!!
Here In Franklin´s last blog ..Franklin Goes Down Under
Well at least one of you guys should come out happy, right? Gotta say, Volunteers is kind of a neat name for a team.
Jill/Twipply Skwood´s last blog ..Adventures in Skyping With the Good For Nothing Cat
This game should be like watching a couple of two year olds tyrying to tie the laces on their shoes – complete incompetence on both sides (UT’s offense, UGA’s defense).
Oh, and they have ALWAYS played Rocky Top (at least on the road), for first downs (as well as sacks, nice tackles, good catches, Fulmer’s gut not hanging out of clothes, Kiffen not getting caught picking his nose, etc. etc.) – basically the band belts it out as long as the play was not a complete debacle.
HIF – Pleasure to have you.
Jill – Volunteers is a pansy name for a team.
Jamie – I’m going to laugh and laugh when LSU beats the Gators this weekend. And then I’m going to laugh even harder when we ruin your National Championship aspirations in a few weeks.
Hey, Here in Franklin, I grew up just north of you in Hendersonville, and I learned early on that UT grads, in general, suck balls (in the bad way). However, since most of my friends from childhood went there, I’ve learned they can still be okay after wasting four (or five) years in Knoxville. Hell, I enjoyed the many times I went to visit and then drove 5 hours back to Tuscaloosa after whipping y’all’s asses.
I love that when my grandparents were students at Alabama, and when my parents were students at Alabama, and when I was a student at Alabama, we consistently beat Tennessee. It’s like going back to visit a favorite restaurant to find that the mac n cheese still goes great with the smoked ribs. And for that, I thank you and the other Vols.
@Jud, So you hope Tennessee takes out “there” (sic) frustration on Alabama, huh? I’m not surprised.
Come on now, AFM. No one likes a sore loser.
courtney´s last blog ..3 Important Things On The First Full Day of My 30s
I am constantly amazed at how you come up with a new post title referencing all these states/teams/mascots every week.
arizaphale´s last blog ..Play It Clean*
Yeah, maybe so. I’ve always been attracted to contradiction though.
Jill/Twipply Skwood´s last blog ..Adventures in Skyping With the Good For Nothing Cat
You gots somethin’ against corn cob pipe smokers?
Florida Girl in Sydney´s last blog ..Festival of Dangerous Ideas
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