Origins of 'Lady Volunteers'
Orange and white have been Tennessee's official colors since 1891.
The formation of the Women's Intercollegiate Athletics Department for the 1976-1977 academic year prompted much discussion concerning the proper nickname for women's teams. After long consideration and debate, it was decided the female student-athletes would be known as "Lady Volunteers," or simply the "Lady Vols."
As the state's land grant university, Tennessee draws its nickname from the name most associated with the state.
Tennessee acquired the name "The Volunteer State" during the War of 1812. At the request of President James Madison, Gen. Andrew Jackson, who later became President himself, mustered 1,500 from his home state to fight at the Battle of New Orleans.
The name became even more prominent in the Mexican War when Gov. Aaron V. Brown issued a call for 2,800 men to battle Santa Ana and some 30,000 Tennesseans volunteered. Tennessee's color guard still wears dragoon uniforms of that era at all athletic events.
The term "Volunteer State," as noted through these two events, recognizes the long-standing tradition of Tennesseans to go above and beyond the call of duty when their country calls. The name "Volunteers" or "Lady Volunteers" is often shortened to "Vols" or "Lady Vols" when describing Tennessee's athletic teams.
School Colors
Tennessee's orange and white colors were selected by Charles Moore, a member of the first football team in 1891. They were later approved by a student body vote.
The colors were those of the common American daisy which grew in profusion on The Hill, an area of campus surrounding Ayres Hall.
Smokey
Smokey is a fixture at all men's and women's events.
The Pep Club held a contest in 1953 to select a coonhound, a native breed of the state, as the school's live mascot. Announcements of the contest in local newspapers read, "This can't be an ordinary hound. He must be a 'Houn' Dog' in the best sense of the word."
The late Rev. Bill Brooks entered his prize-winning blue tick coon hound, "Brooks' Blue Smokey," in the contest. At halftime of the Mississippi State game that season, the dogs were lined up on the old cheerleaders' ramp at Shields-Watkins Field. Each dog was introduced over the loudspeaker and the student body cheered for their favorite, with "Blue Smokey" being the last hound introduced. When his name was called, he barked. The students cheered and Smokey threw his head back and barked again. This kept going until the stadium was in an uproar and UT had found its mascot.
Rev. Brooks supplied UT with the line of canines until his death in 1986 when his wife, Mildred, took over the caretaking role. She did so until 1994, when her brother and sister-in-law, Earl and Martha Hudson of Knoxville, took over responsibility for Smokey VII and eventually Smokey VIII, with Smokey IX now carrying on the banner of the Smokey lineage. Mrs. Brooks died in July 1997.
Rocky Top
Felice and Boudleaux Bryant's "Rocky Top," — written in 10 minutes at the Gatlinburg Inn in 1967 — has captured the fancy of Vol fans everywhere and is a much-requested and much-played song at UT sporting events.
First performed as part of a halftime country music show at the 1972 Tennessee-Alabama game, the song attracted so much attention and is so beloved that long-time UT band director W.J. Julian said that not playing it would cause a mutiny among Vol fans.
It’s been described as "simplistic and clever," with five basic chords and title being repeated 19 times. Yet opposing coaches have mentioned the influence and impact of "Rocky Top" on their teams and their game preparations.
There have been more than 100 renditions of “Rocky Top” by individuals, country groups, bluegrass and even East Tennessee rock groups. “Rocky Top” was adopted as an official song of the state of Tennessee by Chapter 545 of the Public Acts of 1982.
The Hill
Since the 1800s, "The Hill" has been symbolic of the higher education in the state of Tennessee. The University, founded in 1794 as Blount College moved to "The Hill" in 1828 and quickly grew around it.
The main part of UT's old campus stands on this rising bank above the north shore of the Tennessee River. Neyland Stadium sprawls at the base of The Hill, between it and the River.
Years of constant expansion and development have pushed the campus west of The Hill. Ayres Hall built in 1919, holds a commanding view over the campus and houses the College of Arts and Sciences, and still provides the most dynamic and recognizable scenes on campus.
Next to that building is the oldest building on campus, South College Hall, built in 1872. Today "The Hill" is the center of activity for the majors of natural sciences, mathematics, computer sciences and engineering.
