University of Tennessee Athletics
TENNESSEE OLYMPIANS HONORED BY HOMECOMING CROWD AT NEYLAND STADIUM
September 28, 2004 | Women's Track
Sept. 28, 2004
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - During Saturday's homecoming football game victory versus Louisiana Tech, the University of Tennessee Athletics Department took time to honor former student-athletes who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
The Olympians attended an afternoon reception with university officials, including UT President Dr. John Petersen, Men's Athletics Director Mike Hamilton and Women's Athletics Director Joan Cronan. The athletes were later recognized for their accomplishments during pre-game festivities on the field at Neyland Stadium.
"We are extremely proud of the large contingent of our former student-athletes who competed in the Olympics this summer," Hamilton said. "Their representation characterizes the commitment to excellence in athletics that UT strives to achieve each season."
The 2004 Olympians present for the ceremony included All-American, NCAA champion, Olympic pole vault record-holder and gold medalist Tim Mack (USA); All-American, NCAA champion, Pan Am Games champion, IAAF world champion, Olympic 400m fifth-place finisher and Olympic 4x400m relay gold medalist Dee Dee Trotter (USA); All-American, NCAA champion, world champion and Olympic decathlete Tom Pappas (USA); All-American, NCAA champion and Olympic 400m runner Gary Kikaya (Democratic Republic of Congo); and All-American and Olympic backstroke swimmer Paulo Machado (Brazil).
Jearl Miles-Clark and Hazel Clark, 2004 Olympians in the 800 meters who are coached by UT Head Women's Track & Field Coach J.J. Clark, were also honored. Jearl, who is married to J.J., was the sixth-place finisher in the 800m while competing in her fifth Olympiad and is a two-time gold medalist (2000, 1996) and one-time silver medalist (1992) with U.S. 4x400m relay teams. Hazel, meanwhile, made her second appearance at the Games and finished seventh at the 2000 event in Sydney, Australia. She is J.J.'s sister.
"These activities were a great way to show our former athletes that we appreciate the way they've represented our school on an international stage," Cronan said.
FOOTNOTE: Trotter also joined Bob Kesling, Tim Priest and Jeff Francis on the Vol Network Kickoff Call-In Show outside Neyland Stadium before the game. Trotter wore her Olympic gold medal, signed autographs and answered questions from fans and media afterward.
