Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer and Tennessee football head coach Jeremy Pruitt will headline the five-city Big Orange Caravan fan appreciation tour this May.
The caravan stops in Chattanooga on Thursday, May 10 from 5:30 p.m – 7:30 p.m.
at the First Tennessee Pavilion.
Admission will be $5 per person with complimentary admission for students and youth. All proceeds benefit the Chattanooga UT Knoxville Alumni Chapter’s Scholarship Fund.
Reigning SEC Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year Rick Barnes and Lady Vol basketball head coach Holly Warlick will join Fulmer and Pruitt at several of the events.
A collaborative effort between Tennessee Athletics and the UT Knoxville Office of Alumni Affairs, the Big Orange Caravan will make stops in Chattanooga, Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta and in the Tri-Cities.
The events will feature fan-friendly elements such as meet-and-greets with VFL greats and coaches, a Q & A hosted by “The Voice of the Vols,” Bob Kesling, appearances by the UT Spirit Squads and Smokey the mascot as well as a photo booth, cornhole, social media station, free popcorn, face painting and more.
“I always genuinely enjoyed engaging with our passionate Tennessee fans during the Big Orange Caravan when I was the football coach, and I’m really looking forward to hitting the road again in my new role as AD,” Fulmer said. “Our fans show their loyalty to our teams by traveling to Rocky Top to support them. Taking the Tennessee experience to our fans’ backyard is a fantastic way to thank them and pay them back for that loyalty—which plays a vital role in our success across all sports.”
Registration is open at BigOrangeCaravan.com.
Online registration will close three days prior to each event. Walk-up registrations will be accepted at $10 per person (credit card or check only). Space is limited. Pre-registered guests will be entered to win prizes from Tennessee Athletics.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase at each event.
“We are excited to be part of Big Orange Caravan again this year and look forward to engaging with future Vols and their families,” said Fabrizio D’Aloisio, Assistant Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and Director of Undergraduate Admissions. “It’s an exciting time to be a Tennessee Volunteer as we continue to invest in our students through scholarship, enhancing our already excellent facilities and providing a world class academic experience. This is another way for prospective students to learn and experience UT.”
Representatives from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions will be present at each event to celebrate new incoming Vols and share information with families who have students with an interest in attending UT. The incoming freshman class at UT Knoxville is among the best and brightest in school history.
(Contact Dennis Norwood at sportsshooter614@gmail.com; follow him on Twitter at @DennisENorwood)