A QUICK LOOK AT - Tennessee

by Jack Witthaus

The Institution

School Quick Facts

Official Name:

University of Tennessee

Nickname:

Volunteers

Location:

Knowville, TN

Enrollment:

27,523

Founded:

1794

Mascot:

Smokey

Live Mascot:

Smokey IX (Bluetick Coonhound)

Fight Song:

"Down the Field"

SEC Division:

East

The University on Tennessee was built two years before Tennessee was named a state. At the time, it was known as Blount College and was later renamed East Tennessee University.

During the Civil War, ETU shut down the campus. Many buildings on campus received severe damage due to Union shelling.

Federal grants helped put the university back together after the war. In 1879, the university took on its current name, the University of Tennessee.

UTK boasts three presidential alumni—Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, and Andrew Johnson.

Tennessee is known as the Volunteers, or Vols, after a large number of Tennesseans enlisted in the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, and the Civil War.

Tennessee Football

Football Quick Facts

Venue Name:

Neyland Stadium

Venue Capacity:

102,455

Venue Surface:

Natural Grass

First Season:

1891

Overall Record:

794-349-52

Last Season:

5-7 (1-7 SEC)

Head Coach:

Derek Dooley (11-14)

Football Rivals:

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Vanderbilt

The Volunteers have an extremely successful football history. Tennessee is sixth in bowl wins with 25 and tied for second in bowl appearances with 48.

Neyland Stadium has seen the second most home wins, 426, out of all college football stadiums. In first place is Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium.

In 1926, Robert Neyland took over the football program. Neyland coached the Volunteers to a 76-7-5 record from 1926-1934.

During the 1929 season, halfback Gene McEver scored 130 points for Tennessee, which still stands today as a school record.

Neyland came back as coach in 1936 after serving in Panama. Two years later, Tennessee found its winning ways again, capturing its first National Championship in the Orange Bowl with Tennessee’s only three-time All-American Bob Suffridge.

In 1939, the Volunteers shut out every regular season opponent, a feat that hasn’t been repeated since in NCAA football history.

Again, Neyland went off to war between 1941-1941. In 1943, Tennessee didn’t field a football team due to World War II.

Robert Neyland returned once more, this time as a General Officer. Neyland finally retired in 1952 due to poor health and took over as athletic director.

The 1956 squad under Bowden Wyatt won one of the greatest games in college football history over Georgia Tech, 6-0. At the time, the teams were ranked No. 2 and No. 3 respectively.

Head coach Doug Dickey was responsible for putting the “T” on the helmet and the checkerboard endzone during the 1960s.

In 1986, Tennessee with quarterback Tony Robinson beat the No. 2 Miami Hurricanes in the Sugar Bowl, preventing the Hurricanes from winning the National Championship. That squad is affectionately known now as the “Sugar Vols.”

The 1994 season took a turn for the worse when the Volunteer’s starting and backup quarterback both got injured. Freshman Peyton Manning took over the reigns and led the Vols to an 8-4 record. The next three years, Manning captured at least 10 games a season.

Even after losing Peyton Manning, the 1998 squad won a National Championship on a perfect 13-0 season with quarterback Tee Martin.

Last season, the Vols didn’t do so hot with a 5-7 record. Mizzou is set to take on Tennessee in Knoxville on Nov. 10.

Arkansas Basketball

Basketball Quick Facts

Venue Name:

Thompson-Boling Arena

Venue Capacity:

21,000

First Season:

1908

Overall Record:

1537-863

Last Season:

19-15, (10-6 SEC)

Head Coach:

Cuonzo Martin (19-15)

NCAA Final Fours:

0

The Volunteers have had been fairly successful in the SEC even with the highly talented Kentucky team in the conference.

Tennessee has captured nine SEC titles and four tournament championships. The Vols have made 19 NCAA Tournament appearances, but have only made it as far as the Elite Eight in 2010.

The Thompson-Boling Arena is one of the best college basketball arenas in the United States. Before the 2007 renovations, it was the largest basketball-only arena in the nation.

Last season, the Volunteers had a pretty good year with 19 victories, picking up top-recruit power forward Jarnell Stokes.