John Shearer: Vol Fans To See Remodeled Circle Park Area

University of Tennessee football fans traveling to the Vols’ first game of 2015 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville Saturday against the tradition-rich Oklahoma Sooners hope they see some wide, open holes when Tennessee is on offense.
 
At least before the game, they will see wider and more open space at the enlarged and remodeled Torchbearer Plaza by Circle Park just up Peyton Manning Pass from the stadium.
 
As part of a remodeling designed in part to accommodate the large number of fans gathered there before the Vol Walk by the football team into the stadium, the area has been enlarged.
 
Although the Torchbearer/Volunteer statue that has been at the site since 1968 still stands where it always has, the rest of the plaza has changed. New paving bricks were installed, the retaining wall was moved back, and a wider set of concrete steps leading to Circle Park replaced the brick ones.
 
Also, the covering in the approximately one-acre Circle Park where the plaza stands is now a blend of artificial and natural grass that creates a pioneering material called XtraGrass.
 
I personally hated to see the natural grass removed, but I must admit I had to look closely at the sod full of dirt and natural grass after it was laid down to realize strands of artificial grass are also there. And workers even have to still cut the grass, as I discovered while passing by the park recently.
 
School officials decided to try the new concept because the area, which is popular for game day events and other gatherings, has often become worn in past years from all the foot traffic.
 
A couple of new concrete paths were also installed inside Circle Park, and some irrigation upgrading was done.
 
While the sights might look a little different Saturday in that area, the sounds of  “Go Vols,” “Go Big Orange,” and “Rocky Top” will still sound quite familiar.
 
Jcshearer2@comcast.net