University of Tennessee Athletics
A Big Opportunity For The Volunteers
October 14, 2013 | Football
Oct. 14, 2013
The coaches and athletic directors signed a formal document on stage, but as Jones posed for photos at the start/finish line of Bristol's iconic concrete half mile, he signed on another dotted line.
UT Broadcasting's Andy Jeffers, owner of Sports & Entertainment Media, which provides in-car cameras for NASCAR broadcasts and assistant to the head coach Chris Spognardi came up with the idea for Jones to follow a longstanding tradition of fans at Bristol to sign the checkerboard of the start/finish line.
Fans normally sign in black, to match the black checker of the flag and start line. Jones signed in his usual orange, the match UT's iconic take on the checkered pattern, which will grace the infield at the speedway on September 10, 2016.
By Brian Rice BRISTOL, Tenn.
UTSports.com
Two of the state of Tennessee's biggest traditions came together on Monday morning as an idea decades in the making finally became a reality. Tennessee will face Virginia Tech on September 10, 2016 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The only sporting venue in the state larger than Neyland Stadium will play host to what officials anticipate being the largest crowd in college football history.
In prerecorded comments, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam summed up the event in a perfect statement.
"After years of asking 'what if?,' you said 'why not?'"
The idea of the teams playing isn't new. Dating to the early 90s, the idea of bringing the two schools to the midway point between them, which also happens to have a place to put 150,000 fans, was often discussed, but never accomplished.
"Hats off to both administrations, Tennessee and Dave Hart," Butch Jones said. "That's the vision we talk about with our athletic program and our football program. That vision to constantly move forward and now to make this a reality and be a part of college football history is just another illustration of what's going on at Tennessee."
The excitement for the event is already high from the anticipation from years of talk for UT fans, but outside of Vol Nation, the national attention is on the size of the event. 150,000 fans for a college football game will far exceed previous records, and the opportunity to be a part of something that will capture the attention of the entire sporting world has Jones excited for the opportunities that will bring to Tennessee.
"To be a part of not just college football history, but football history, what a great experience for our fan base, our University, but also for our student-athletes," he said. "This is why you come to Tennessee to be a part of something as big as this."
In the traditional style of Speedway Motorsports Inc., fireworks and confetti rained down as the logos for the event were unveiled.
"It's amazing that right here in the middle of NASCAR country and college football country, that we can come together to celebrate now that becoming a reality," SMI President and COO Marcus Smith said.
ESPN NASCAR and college football broadcaster Dr. Jerry Punch, who served as master of ceremonies for the press event summed up the day with words that are both exciting and familiar to Volunteer fans.
"Wherever you are on September 10, 2016, it's Football Time in Bristol, Tennessee!"
