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| Smokey Volunteered to be Tennessee's Mascot |
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS NICKNAME
Ever since the early days of the 19th century when General Andrew Jackson formed large
armies from his home state to fight the Indians and later the British down at the Battle of New
Orleans, Tennessee has been know as the "Volunteer State."
The name was reinforced to an even larger scale when 30,000 Tennessee volunteers
answered the call to fight against Santa Ana's troops in the Mexican War. The University of
Tennessee drew the nickname for its athletic teams from this state nickname. However, the
University's teams are often referred to as the "Vols."
TENNESSEE: TWO SMOKEYS AND DAVEY CROCKETT
Until 1953, UT's mascot was all "no bark and no bite." The reason was simply because the
University didn't have a live mascot to help support it teams. That year a student poll
suggested that they wanted a mascot and the UT Pep Club began the selection process.
Any drama concerning the type of animal that would be featured quickly faded when it was
announced that the chosen mascot would be a coon hound, a breed native to the state.
However as the school paper noted, "This can't be an ordinary hound." He must be a 'Houn'
Dawg' in the best sense of the word."
The late Rev. W.C. Brooks entered his blue tick hound, Smokey, into the hound dog competition
that took place during half time of a 1953 home game. The hound put on such a crowd
pleasing performance that the fans were quick to jump on top of old Smokey for their choice.
The competing dogs were lined up on the old cheerleaders' ramp and then introduced one at a
time over the loudspeakers. When it was Smokey's turn he received the loudest cheers after
he barked when his name was called out. Upon hearing the crowd's response Smokey
howled again. The sequence of howling and cheering gained momentum until the whole
stadium was rocking. That day a star and the new UT mascot were born.
When Smokey trotted away from his mascot role, Rev. Brooks continued to supply the school
with a line of "Smokeys" until his death in 1986. His wife Mrs. Mildred Brooks and family
friends now oversee the dog's daily care.
Throughout the years the line of Smokeys have had their dog day afternoons. Smokey II was
dog napped by Kentucky students in 1955 and then survived an unpleasant altercation with the
Baylor bear at the 1956 Sugar Bowl. The 140 degree on the field temperature caused Smokey
VI to suffer heat exhaustion during the 1991 UCLA game. The mascot was listed on the Vol's
injury report until he returned later in the season.
Smokey VIII continued the blue tick tradition when he became UT's top dog in 1995. Cloaked in
Tennessee's colors, he is famous for leading the Big Orange out of the giant "T" before each
home game. Elvis once echoed the song, "You ain't nothin but a hound dog," but Vol fans can
proudly exclaim, "you ain't ever caught a rabbit, but you are a friend of mine."
Donning much less fur, a costumed version of Smokey also patrols the UT sidelines. Whether
he’s leading cheers or teaming up with UT’s original mascot, Davey Crockett, this two-legged
adds much bark to the Vol’s mascot bite.
A musket toting, frontier style dressed student named Davey Crockett holds the rank of UT”s
most established mascot tradition. (Brian Lanius) The mascot name salutes the “volunteer”
ethic that helped Tennessee develop its reputation of helping others. “We are the Volunteer
State
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER FIGHT SONG: “ROCKY TOP”
One of the best know fight or rally songs is the one that echoes throughout
the tremendous double decked bowl known as Neyland Stadium. Whenever the
Volunteers score or another joyous occasion arises, the UT band cranks up
"Rocky Top" and the following words are expressed.
"....Rocky Top, you'll always be
home sweet home to me:
Good ol' Rocky Top:
Rocky Top Tennessee:
Rocky Top Tennessee."
Needless to say, when more than 100,000 fans sing along, the song is delivered in a
thunderous
manner.
Ever since the early days of the 19th century when General Andrew Jackson formed large
armies from his home state to fight the Indians and later the British down at the Battle of New
Orleans, Tennessee has been know as the "Volunteer State."
The name was reinforced to an even larger scale when 30,000 Tennessee volunteers
answered the call to fight against Santa Ana's troops in the Mexican War. The University of
Tennessee drew the nickname for its athletic teams from this state nickname. However, the
University's teams are often referred to as the "Vols."
TENNESSEE: TWO SMOKEYS AND DAVEY CROCKETT
Until 1953, UT's mascot was all "no bark and no bite." The reason was simply because the
University didn't have a live mascot to help support it teams. That year a student poll
suggested that they wanted a mascot and the UT Pep Club began the selection process.
Any drama concerning the type of animal that would be featured quickly faded when it was
announced that the chosen mascot would be a coon hound, a breed native to the state.
However as the school paper noted, "This can't be an ordinary hound." He must be a 'Houn'
Dawg' in the best sense of the word."
The late Rev. W.C. Brooks entered his blue tick hound, Smokey, into the hound dog competition
that took place during half time of a 1953 home game. The hound put on such a crowd
pleasing performance that the fans were quick to jump on top of old Smokey for their choice.
The competing dogs were lined up on the old cheerleaders' ramp and then introduced one at a
time over the loudspeakers. When it was Smokey's turn he received the loudest cheers after
he barked when his name was called out. Upon hearing the crowd's response Smokey
howled again. The sequence of howling and cheering gained momentum until the whole
stadium was rocking. That day a star and the new UT mascot were born.
When Smokey trotted away from his mascot role, Rev. Brooks continued to supply the school
with a line of "Smokeys" until his death in 1986. His wife Mrs. Mildred Brooks and family
friends now oversee the dog's daily care.
Throughout the years the line of Smokeys have had their dog day afternoons. Smokey II was
dog napped by Kentucky students in 1955 and then survived an unpleasant altercation with the
Baylor bear at the 1956 Sugar Bowl. The 140 degree on the field temperature caused Smokey
VI to suffer heat exhaustion during the 1991 UCLA game. The mascot was listed on the Vol's
injury report until he returned later in the season.
Smokey VIII continued the blue tick tradition when he became UT's top dog in 1995. Cloaked in
Tennessee's colors, he is famous for leading the Big Orange out of the giant "T" before each
home game. Elvis once echoed the song, "You ain't nothin but a hound dog," but Vol fans can
proudly exclaim, "you ain't ever caught a rabbit, but you are a friend of mine."
Donning much less fur, a costumed version of Smokey also patrols the UT sidelines. Whether
he’s leading cheers or teaming up with UT’s original mascot, Davey Crockett, this two-legged
adds much bark to the Vol’s mascot bite.
A musket toting, frontier style dressed student named Davey Crockett holds the rank of UT”s
most established mascot tradition. (Brian Lanius) The mascot name salutes the “volunteer”
ethic that helped Tennessee develop its reputation of helping others. “We are the Volunteer
State
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER FIGHT SONG: “ROCKY TOP”
One of the best know fight or rally songs is the one that echoes throughout
the tremendous double decked bowl known as Neyland Stadium. Whenever the
Volunteers score or another joyous occasion arises, the UT band cranks up
"Rocky Top" and the following words are expressed.
"....Rocky Top, you'll always be
home sweet home to me:
Good ol' Rocky Top:
Rocky Top Tennessee:
Rocky Top Tennessee."
Needless to say, when more than 100,000 fans sing along, the song is delivered in a
thunderous
manner.
Traditions, Mascots, Nicknames & More |