KNOXVILLE -- University of Tennessee head football coach Derek Dooley announced Thursday that the Volunteer football team’s Vol Walk pregame tradition will be modified to include more fans and to pay homage to the Volunteer Statue, the statue that represents Tennessee’s oldest tradition, the Volunteer.
“We have many great traditions at Tennessee, but no tradition has been here longer than that of the Volunteer,” Dooley said.“ No symbol better represents our mission of building a championship team and better men than the Torchbearer and the spirit of the Volunteer it represents.”
The start of the Vol Walk has been moved back this year to the corner of Volunteer Boulevard and Lake Loudoun Boulevard to allow fans in the C-8 parking area to welcome the team. The team members will then gather at Circle Park, where they will pay homage to the Torchbearer and the spirit of service to others that it represents.
“The first time I saw the statue, I was fascinated by its design,” Dooley said. “In his left hand, the Torchbearer recognizes that the ability to achieve victory over the challenges of the world is in the individual’s own hands. In his right hand, he recognizes the importance of standing in a shadow to give light to others.”
Following the team’s visit to the Volunteer Statue, the team will proceed down Peyton Manning Pass, and then left onto Phillip Fulmer Way. The Vol Walk begins two hours and 15 minutes before each home Tennessee football game, including a 3:45 p.m. start before the Volunteers’ 6 p.m. season opener on Saturday against UT Martin at Neyland Stadium.
FIRST 5,000 RECEIVE SCHEDULE KEY CHAIN
The UT Athletics Department is giving away free 2010 football schedule key chains to the first 5,000 fans entering Neyland Stadium Gates 10 and 21 for Saturday’s UT Martin game. The promotion is courtesy Image Matters, and gates open at 4 p.m.
(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)