University of Tennessee Athletics
#TailgateTuesday - Orangeulance Delivers
October 07, 2014 | Football
By Brian Rice
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.
UTSports.com
"My husband bought this and really just pulled up in the driveway and honked the horn and I came outside and was like `What is this?'" his wife Wendy said.
"It" is the Go Big Orangeulance, the most unique resident of the parking lot behind the communications building on game day.
"One of the most important rules we have here is that you have to address it as the Orangulance," Tony said. "That kind of started with our group and has progressed to anyone that tailgates here with us.
The former, ahem, medical transport vehicle, has been converted into the perfect tailgating hub. The interior features TVs, a sound system, microwave and plenty of storage space for everything needed for the tailgate and for comfortable travel down I-75 to each home game.
"It started last year," Tony said. "We started coming and bringing our families and we just really enjoyed it. We were trying to find a vehicle and, the more we looked, the Orangeulance was the best thing for us. It allows us to have an inside room when it gets cold or hot, and store all the things we need. It's just a big thing for friends and family to enjoy."
The outside features graphics in a full orange-and-white theme, while maintaining a certain nod to the vehicle's former occupation. Another big-screen TV is set up outside under the tent.
"We had it wrapped and worked on the inside so we could just really enjoy tailgating and spend the day here and have some great family time here at the game," Wendy said.
Along the wall on the inside of the Orangeulance are photos from past tailgates with family, friends and even legendary Tennessee figures like John Ward, Tobias Harris and Jayson Swain that have stopped to check out the setup.
"It's been awesome," Tony said. "Tailgating here, we've met so many people, past, present and future Vols. It's been really good for our kids to meet them, for us to meet them, it brings a lot of joy for everybody."
