University of Tennessee Athletics
Student-Athletes Enjoy Welcome Back BBQ
August 23, 2017 | General
by Coy Gill
UTSports.com
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Nearly 500 Tennessee student-athletes came together on Tuesday evening to celebrate the start of a new semester at the Tennessee Athletics Welcome Back BBQ on the Tennessee Terrace at Neyland Stadium.Â
Student-athletes helped themselves to barbeque while socializing with their fellow student-athletes. The common theme of the event revolved around excitement for the upcoming year.
"It's really special being back in Knoxville, and I think what makes it so special is all the people here," said Sadie Hammond, a junior on the women's tennis team. "One of the most enjoyable things to me is just being at school and being surrounded by all its tradition—especially with it being football season again. I think it's just going to be a great year."
Other student athletes were looking forward to the opportunities a new year brings and preparing for the coming season.
"I think we have an opportunity this semester to prepare," said sophomore men's tennis player Luca Wiedenmann. "It's just important to get ready and win as many matches as possible to get confident for the spring. For me, personally, it [last year] was good to adjust to this whole new process in the U.S. since it is different from Germany. I feel more ready than I was last year, and I am really looking forward to this year."
While the student athletes were being social, Tennessee vice chancellor and director of athletics John Currie, UT faculty athletics representative Dr. Donald Bruce, and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative and senior member of the rowing team Jennifer Davis made short statements to get the new academic year kicked off. He also challenged the student-athletes to set their sights high as it relates to their athletic pursuits, particularly mentioning his expectation that Tennessee ascend in the Learfield Director's Cup standings.  Â
