University of Tennessee Athletics
For the Volunteer State
July 13, 2024 | Baseball, Football, General, Men's Basketball, Softball
Few states in the country have a college or university with the same nickname as that of the state in which it resides.
Tennessee is, of course, one of them. It is even believed to be one of only three states that has ever had an official license plate with a state nickname that is the same one of its Division I universities.
The Volunteer State.
"By the very name 'the Volunteer State,' Tennessee has always nudged its people to a higher, nobler purpose," Evan Ford, UT's associate director of digital branding & design, said. "A Volunteer can come in all shapes and sizes, but ultimately it is about giving of yourself for others. That's an ideal worth striving for and it's in the very fabric of our state's DNA."
In Tennessee, it means something to be a Volunteer. From Johnson City to Memphis, from Union City to Chattanooga, from Clarksville to Pulaski, from the state capital of Nashville across I-40 to Knoxville itself and everywhere in between, the residents of this state take pride in the Volunteers.
They do so in both the origins of the term—an homage to military heroes two centuries ago—and the current-day usage, the University of Tennessee's athletic teams clad in their traditional Big Orange. That those two groups have the same name is, obviously, no coincidence and it furthers the deep passion citizens all over Tennessee have for UT.
When the Volunteers take the field—or any other competition venue—they do so as representatives of the people of their state, past and present. The people, in turn, return that support.
"The state bleeds orange," Alicia Longworth, UT's Executive Associate Athletics Director of External Operations, said. "Whether it is a Saturday night at Neyland Stadium, an afternoon in Food City Center or a spring night on the field, fans from all across the Volunteer State continue to make the trip to America's College Sports City, creating the best atmospheres in all of college sports."
Tennessee is the fifth-widest state in the nation and UT is located only about 75 miles from North Carolina, well towards the state's eastern border. Nonetheless, people from all over Tennessee do indeed flock to Knoxville for sporting events all year long.
Aided by the unrivaled uniqueness and passion of its fan base, UT's athletic success has exploded over the last three years, recently culminating with the greatest athletic campaign in school history, which was capped with a national championship in baseball. It could certainly be argued no institution will enter 2024-25 with more momentum in athletics than Tennessee, victor of the final collegiate athletic event of 2023-24 by claiming its crown on the diamond June 24 in Omaha, Neb.
Now, perhaps as much as ever, this state is connected by the athletic teams that don the Volunteer nickname. No school in America had more people come through its turnstiles in football, men's basketball and women's basketball in 2023-24 than Tennessee. Few schools saw the same level of consistent winning in home venues in ticketed sports as UT, which just became the first school in SEC history to claim the regular season title in men's basketball, baseball and softball in the same year.
"I've coached in East Tennessee for nearly 30 years, including 23 right here in Knoxville. During that time, I've never ceased to be amazed by the enthusiasm of UT athletic teams' followers all over the Volunteer State," Tennessee head softball coach Karen Weekly, a four-time SEC Coach of the Year, said. "When we play our annual mid-state game in Columbia, the Lady Vol fans in attendance are just as rabid as those at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium, which is home to what I believe is the premier softball crowd in America. I know many of my coaching colleagues at UT feel similarly about their sports."
UT head men's basketball coach Rick Barnes, entering his 10th year on Rocky Top, is one who certainly shares the same sentiment.
"I've said it before and I'll say it again – we have the very best fans in the country. And I don't just mean in basketball," the 2019 Naismith Coach of the Year shared. "No matter where you go in this state, the love for the University of Tennessee is evident. The bond between our teams and our supporters is unparalleled."
There is no question the remarkable commitment of Tennessee fans has aided the University's recent across-the-board athletic achievements.
The student body, in particular, has been a big part of cultivating a daunting environment for visiting teams at multiple venues across the scenic Knoxville campus. Nearly two-thirds of Tennessee's 28,883 undergraduate students entering the 2023-24 academic year hailed from in-state and a significant number of them were loyal fans before even stepping foot in their freshman dorm room.
Meanwhile, Tennessee's alumni base is also rapidly approaching 300,000 members, many of whom also call the Volunteer State home, sweet home. They come out to athletic competitions across the state to cheer on their alma mater.
Countless individuals throughout the state also love UT without ever attending the flagship institution. They, too, are Volunteers, caring just as deeply about the Big Orange and meaning just as much to the teams' triumphs.
"Current students, University graduates and generations of families have grown up with a love and passion for UT that is incomparable," Longworth shared. "Viewership, social media, attendance and revenue growth – you name it and those in the Volunteer State continue to push the boundaries to new levels of success on what can be done."
That excitement will only continue as the next generation of Volunteers—both in terms of state identity and collegiate fandom—comes of age. Those individuals have both nature and nurture nudging them towards UT, the three-time reigning SEC All-Sports champion.
Additionally, as more and more people move to Tennessee—among the states with the largest population increases over the past few years—the energy for UT will further ramp up. Whether those new residents choose homes closest to Gay Street, Broadway or Beale Street, they will all be part of the Volunteer State and have a group of Volunteers to cheer for that seeks to bring them joy.
"Tennesseans have so much pride in our state. You don't have to look far to see the Tri-Star logo anywhere you go in the state," Ford, an East Tennessee native, said. "A simple circle and three stars mean so much to so many. It unites three grand divisions – East, Middle and West. Each has its own geography, its own music and its own culture, but all corners of this state can take pride in that symbol."
Ford helped design UT's new Smokey Grey football uniform, the first in program history to feature that Tri-Star logo on the jersey itself. The new gear, like the nickname of the team the players who will wear it compete for, signifies a connection to people from all over the Volunteer State.
In Tennessee, you not only root for the Volunteers, you are a Volunteer. That has always been true – but it has never been more fun than it is right now.
"For us to succeed at the highest level we can," Longworth remarked, "we need the whole state unified and cheering for Tennessee."
Of late, that has undoubtedly been the case. And as it assuredly continues, the University of Tennessee will continue its glorious rise on a national scale.
It will do so not just as the Tennessee Volunteers, but for—and as part of—the Volunteer State.
Tennessee is, of course, one of them. It is even believed to be one of only three states that has ever had an official license plate with a state nickname that is the same one of its Division I universities.
The Volunteer State.
"By the very name 'the Volunteer State,' Tennessee has always nudged its people to a higher, nobler purpose," Evan Ford, UT's associate director of digital branding & design, said. "A Volunteer can come in all shapes and sizes, but ultimately it is about giving of yourself for others. That's an ideal worth striving for and it's in the very fabric of our state's DNA."
In Tennessee, it means something to be a Volunteer. From Johnson City to Memphis, from Union City to Chattanooga, from Clarksville to Pulaski, from the state capital of Nashville across I-40 to Knoxville itself and everywhere in between, the residents of this state take pride in the Volunteers.
They do so in both the origins of the term—an homage to military heroes two centuries ago—and the current-day usage, the University of Tennessee's athletic teams clad in their traditional Big Orange. That those two groups have the same name is, obviously, no coincidence and it furthers the deep passion citizens all over Tennessee have for UT.
When the Volunteers take the field—or any other competition venue—they do so as representatives of the people of their state, past and present. The people, in turn, return that support.
"The state bleeds orange," Alicia Longworth, UT's Executive Associate Athletics Director of External Operations, said. "Whether it is a Saturday night at Neyland Stadium, an afternoon in Food City Center or a spring night on the field, fans from all across the Volunteer State continue to make the trip to America's College Sports City, creating the best atmospheres in all of college sports."
Tennessee is the fifth-widest state in the nation and UT is located only about 75 miles from North Carolina, well towards the state's eastern border. Nonetheless, people from all over Tennessee do indeed flock to Knoxville for sporting events all year long.
Aided by the unrivaled uniqueness and passion of its fan base, UT's athletic success has exploded over the last three years, recently culminating with the greatest athletic campaign in school history, which was capped with a national championship in baseball. It could certainly be argued no institution will enter 2024-25 with more momentum in athletics than Tennessee, victor of the final collegiate athletic event of 2023-24 by claiming its crown on the diamond June 24 in Omaha, Neb.
Now, perhaps as much as ever, this state is connected by the athletic teams that don the Volunteer nickname. No school in America had more people come through its turnstiles in football, men's basketball and women's basketball in 2023-24 than Tennessee. Few schools saw the same level of consistent winning in home venues in ticketed sports as UT, which just became the first school in SEC history to claim the regular season title in men's basketball, baseball and softball in the same year.
"I've coached in East Tennessee for nearly 30 years, including 23 right here in Knoxville. During that time, I've never ceased to be amazed by the enthusiasm of UT athletic teams' followers all over the Volunteer State," Tennessee head softball coach Karen Weekly, a four-time SEC Coach of the Year, said. "When we play our annual mid-state game in Columbia, the Lady Vol fans in attendance are just as rabid as those at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium, which is home to what I believe is the premier softball crowd in America. I know many of my coaching colleagues at UT feel similarly about their sports."
UT head men's basketball coach Rick Barnes, entering his 10th year on Rocky Top, is one who certainly shares the same sentiment.
"I've said it before and I'll say it again – we have the very best fans in the country. And I don't just mean in basketball," the 2019 Naismith Coach of the Year shared. "No matter where you go in this state, the love for the University of Tennessee is evident. The bond between our teams and our supporters is unparalleled."
There is no question the remarkable commitment of Tennessee fans has aided the University's recent across-the-board athletic achievements.
The student body, in particular, has been a big part of cultivating a daunting environment for visiting teams at multiple venues across the scenic Knoxville campus. Nearly two-thirds of Tennessee's 28,883 undergraduate students entering the 2023-24 academic year hailed from in-state and a significant number of them were loyal fans before even stepping foot in their freshman dorm room.
Meanwhile, Tennessee's alumni base is also rapidly approaching 300,000 members, many of whom also call the Volunteer State home, sweet home. They come out to athletic competitions across the state to cheer on their alma mater.
Countless individuals throughout the state also love UT without ever attending the flagship institution. They, too, are Volunteers, caring just as deeply about the Big Orange and meaning just as much to the teams' triumphs.
"Current students, University graduates and generations of families have grown up with a love and passion for UT that is incomparable," Longworth shared. "Viewership, social media, attendance and revenue growth – you name it and those in the Volunteer State continue to push the boundaries to new levels of success on what can be done."
That excitement will only continue as the next generation of Volunteers—both in terms of state identity and collegiate fandom—comes of age. Those individuals have both nature and nurture nudging them towards UT, the three-time reigning SEC All-Sports champion.
Additionally, as more and more people move to Tennessee—among the states with the largest population increases over the past few years—the energy for UT will further ramp up. Whether those new residents choose homes closest to Gay Street, Broadway or Beale Street, they will all be part of the Volunteer State and have a group of Volunteers to cheer for that seeks to bring them joy.
"Tennesseans have so much pride in our state. You don't have to look far to see the Tri-Star logo anywhere you go in the state," Ford, an East Tennessee native, said. "A simple circle and three stars mean so much to so many. It unites three grand divisions – East, Middle and West. Each has its own geography, its own music and its own culture, but all corners of this state can take pride in that symbol."
Ford helped design UT's new Smokey Grey football uniform, the first in program history to feature that Tri-Star logo on the jersey itself. The new gear, like the nickname of the team the players who will wear it compete for, signifies a connection to people from all over the Volunteer State.
In Tennessee, you not only root for the Volunteers, you are a Volunteer. That has always been true – but it has never been more fun than it is right now.
"For us to succeed at the highest level we can," Longworth remarked, "we need the whole state unified and cheering for Tennessee."
Of late, that has undoubtedly been the case. And as it assuredly continues, the University of Tennessee will continue its glorious rise on a national scale.
It will do so not just as the Tennessee Volunteers, but for—and as part of—the Volunteer State.
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