Top 10 Traditions - Rocky Top Report

Photo By Preston Jones

The following 10 traditions are why I believe that Knoxville is the best college football city in the country.

1. Rocky Top: Selecting the University of Tennessee's unofficial fight song as the best tradition was an easy decision for me. There have been some rough times in the Vols' football program recently, but no matter how bad things have gotten, Rocky Top brings a fanbase together more than any other song in college sports. As for the historical background of the song, it was written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant in 1967, at the Gatlinburg Inn. The song was first played by the Pride of the Southland Marching Band at halftime of the Alabama game on October 21, 1972. The song brings out the bluegrass in all of us, and the words are meaningful. You can't help but sing along during the games, or wherever you may be. In fact, today I heard a coworker or mine whistling the song. "Rocky Top, you'll always be home sweet home to me..."

2. Running Through the T: I have been to many, and I mean many, Tennessee football games in the first 17 years of my life. When the Vols make their run through T formed by the Pride of the Southland Marching Band, I still get chills. The band forms a T that stretches from the end zone to midfield, before the players rush out in a thrilling moment. 102,455 fans packed into Neyland Stadium erupt with cheers, because when the T is formed everyone knows that "It's Football Time in Tennessee!"

3. Vol Walk: This is one of my favorite traditions at Tennessee. It is a time before the game when fans of all ages can greet the players as the make the way down Peyton Manning Pass toward Neyland Stadium. Even though I am getting older, the joy in this moment is unrivaled, as I get to see my favorite players up close, while surrounded by thousands of those who make up Vol Nation.

4. The Pride of the Southland Marching Band: From the "Circle Drill" to "Stars and Stripes Forever," the Vols boast one of the best, if not the very best, bands in all of college sports. They show respect to the University and our great country in their incredible pregame performance. In 2014, the "Circle of Life" was created. This is when the entire team circles around another circle made by the drum line, before they all gather in the middle of the drum line and then head back to the locker room. The band plays Rocky Top countless times throughout each game.

5. Power T: This T is arguably the most iconic logo in all of college sports. The T is the official logo of the Vols' athletics department, and was first introduced in 1964, when Doug Dickey replaced the numbers on the side of the helmet with a T. In 2015, the Power T was updated, as it became the primary mark of the University of Tennessee Knoxville.

6. Vols: The state of Tennessee claimed the nickname of "The Volunteer State" in the War of 1812, as General Andrew Jackson, a Tennessee native, led over 1,500 soldiers at the Battle of New Orleans. The nickname became even more popular during the Mexican-American war, as President James K. Polk, another Tenessee native, called for 2,600 volunteers from America at the beginning of the war, but ended up receiving over 30,000 soldiers from the state of Tennessee alone! That's where the Tennessee "Vols" came from.

7. Smokey: This fan-favorite bluetick coonhound is an iconic symbol of the Tennessee tradition. In 1953, during the halftime of a game against Mississippi State, several dogs were lined up as candidates for the Vols' mascot. The student body cheered for their favorite, and "Blue Smokey" was the clear winner. The entire stadium went wild and Smokey threw his head back and belted out his classic howl. Smokey always trots down the Vol Walk with the players and leads them through the T before games.. While many are unaware of some of Smokey's past, he has overcome many trying situations. Smokey II was once dognapped by some Kentucky students (shocker) in 1955, before later surviving his confrontation with the Baylor Bear at the Sugar Bowl in 1957. Smokey VI was put on Tennessee's injury report after suffering from heat exhaustion in the 140-degree temperatures in 1991 versus UCLA. He would later return that same season. Smokey IX, who retired in 2012, once nipped at an Alabama player during pregame warm-ups in 2006, proving he was a great dog for the job. Smokey VIII is the winningest Smokey all-time, with a record of 91-22, including 2 SEC titles and the 1998 National Championship. Currently, the Vols are on Smokey X, who took the position in 2013. This hound symbolizes the great state of Tennessee, specifically East Tennessee, and is adored by all of Vol Nation.

8. Checkerboards/Orange and White: Clearly, being the VFL I am, orange has naturally been my favorite color for as long as I can remember. Orange jerseys were first worn by the Vols on September 23, 1922, a 50-0 victory over Emory and Henry. Tennessee's orange and white checkerboard endzones are, in my opinion, the coolest looking end zones in the nation. Still, this orange and white checkerboard pattern goes far beyond the endzones of Shields-Watkins Field. A tradition that started a few years ago is called "Checker Neyland." This is where fans of each section in Neyland Stadium have an assigned color, orange or white, and the final product is almost 100% participation from 102,455 people, making for an incredible sight to see.

9. Neyland's Game Maxims: Tennessee's Game Maxims are read aloud in unison by each player before every game. These 7 motivating principles were created by General Robert Neyland. After reading these, the players slap a sign shaped in the outline of the state of Tennessee, that reads "I Will Give My All For Tennessee Today!" Neyland's Maxims read as follows...

1. The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win.

2. Play for and make the breaks, and when one comes your way SCORE.

3. If at first the game - or breaks - go against you, don't let up ... put on more steam.

4. Protect our kickers, our quarterback, our lead and our ball game.

5. Ball, oskie, cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle ... for this is the WINNING EDGE.

6. Press the kicking game. Here is where the breaks are made.

7. Carry the fight to our opponent and keep it there for 60 minutes.

10. Vol Navy: This is one of the most unique traditions in all of college football. It all began when former Vol Network radio broadcaster from 1952-1967, George Mooney, became impatient with the gameday traffic each week. In response, he decided to take his boat to and from the games. Since there were no docks yet, he tied his boat to a tree. Now, there are typically over 200 boats gathered on the banks of the Tennessee River. Fans come from many different states, with some arriving as early as Thursday and staying for over a week in the case of back-to-back home games. Additionally, some fans are content to watch the game from the televisions in the boat, rather than in the stadium, which I think is cool. This is a special opportunity for all you boaters out there, because Neyland Stadium is 1 of just 2 college football stadiums in the country accessible by boat.