TNJN - Football headlines exciting sports year for UT

Football headlines exciting sports year for UT

Smokey is a staple at athletic events around campus, especially on Saturdays at Neyland Stadium.

TNJN.com/Moser, Ben

TNJN/Moser, Benjamin

Smokey is a staple at athletic events around campus, especially on Saturdays at Neyland Stadium.

By Cliff Chartrand

published: August 13 2009 10:45 PM updated:: August 16 2009 02:37 PM

Chances are if you're coming to UT as a student you know the school's reputation in sports. However, you might not know just how many great teams the Vols and Lady Vols field every year. Contrary to popular belief, there is more happening athletically at UT than what goes on at Neyland Stadium and Thompson-Boling Arena.

This guide will provide information on all sports at UT, and let you know where to go to catch every squad in action.

Football

Why You Should Watch: Last season's struggles led to the first UT coaching change that most students can even remember. We don't really know what to expect this season, and attending games is the best way to find out.

Venue: Neyland Stadium (on campus)

Student Ticket Process: Purchase season tickets for all home games, or buy on a game-by-game basis. The full process for purchasing student tickets is found here.

Home Dates: Eight home games from September-November. The team's complete schedule is viewable here.

Soccer

Venue: Regal Soccer Stadium (Leinard Lane off Neyland Drive. About a mile from campus)

Student Ticket Process: Show up with a Student ID.

Home Dates: 11 games from August-October. Full schedule available here.

Why You Should Watch: It's a new chapter for the Lady Vols. A pair of stars, forward Kylee Rossi (13 goals in 2009) and goalkeeper Jaimel Johnson (five shutouts in '09), have each graduated. However, head coach Ange Kelly has been forced to reload before, and has had success doing so.

Volleyball

Venue: Thompson-Boling Arena (on campus)

Student Ticket Process: Show up with a student ID

Home Dates: 13 matches from August-November. Full schedule available here.

Why You Should Watch: The Lady Vols had a run of nine straight winning seasons (including a NCAA Final Four appearance in 2005) prior to a disappointing 2007 campaign. However, Rob Patrick’s squad bounced back last season and returns 10 players in 2009.

Basketball (Vols and Lady Vols)

Why You Should Watch: Both teams disappointed last year and will look to bounce back in 2009-10. The Lady Vols missed out on the Sweet Sixteen for the first time ever, while Bruce Pearl learned merely appearing in the NCAA Tournament is no longer acceptable for the Vols.

Venue: Thompson-Boling Arena (on campus)

Student Ticket Process: Show up with a student ID. For more important games arrive early because it’s first-come, first-serve.

Home Dates: Final schedules aren't available yet, but there will be plenty of chances to catch the teams in action. Last season each team had around 15 home games from November-March.

Swimming & Diving (Vols and Lady Vols)

Why You Should Watch: Neither team is far-removed from success. Last season the Vols competed in the NCAA Championships and finished eighth, while the Lady Vols are just two years removed from an eighth place finish.

Venue: Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center (on campus)

Student Ticket Process: Show up with a student ID.

Home Dates: The Lady Vols current schedule features four events at UT, including the UT Invitational November 19-21. The men’s 2009-10 schedule hasn’t been released, but last season included eight home events from October-March.

Tennis (Vols and Lady Vols)

Why You Should Watch: This is another sport that is used to success on both sides. Last season the Vols were ranked No. 5 in the nation before falling in the NCAA Tournament Round of 16. The No. 10 Lady Vols fell in the second round.

Venue: Goodfriend Indoor Tennis Center/Varsity Tennis Courts (on campus)

Student Ticket Process: Show up with a student ID.

Home Dates: No schedules out yet, but last season featured around 10 home events for both teams in the Spring.

Track & Field (Vols and Lady Vols)

Why You Should Watch: You can always count on watching outstanding athleticism if you go see these teams in action. The Track and Field program at UT has produced Olympic-caliber athletes for years.

Venue: Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium (on campus)

Student Ticket Process: Show up with a student ID.

Home Dates: The season doesn’t start until January, so schedules haven’t been released. Last season featured five events in Knoxville, including the Sea Ray Relays in April.

Baseball

Why You Should Watch: It’s a make or break year for coach Todd Raleigh. After two poor seasons, this could be his last shot if things don’t start to improve.

Venue: Lindsey Nelson Stadium (on campus)

Student Ticket Process: Show up with a student ID.

Home Dates: Another Spring sport, so the schedule isn’t out yet. Last season included 33 home games.

Softball

Why You Should Watch: The Lady Vols field a competitive team every year. The team made it all the way to the College World Series in three straight seasons from 2005-07 and appeared in the NCAA Regionals the past two years.

Venue: Sherri Parker Lee Softball Stadium (Leinard Lane off Neyland Drive. About a mile from campus)

Student Ticket Process: Show up with a student ID

Home Dates: Spring sport, so the schedule will be announced during the school year. Last year featured 28 home games, including NCAA Tournament action.

Other Sports

UT also fields teams in three additional sports, but these teams would prove more difficult to follow on site when events come to Knoxville.

Cross Country (Vols and Lady Vols): The cross country teams have one scheduled home event. The Tennessee Invitational at Lambert Acres Golf Club in Maryville will take place September 19, with the men’s race at 8:30 a.m. and women’s to follow.

Golf (Vols and Lady Vols): The Vols have yet to release a schedule, but had no events in Knoxville last year. The Lady Vols host the Mercedes-Benz Women’s Collegiate Championships at Fox Den Country Club, October 16-18.

Rowing: The schedule has not been released. Last year there were four local events: one in Oak Ridge in the Fall, two in Knoxville and one in Oak Ridge in the Spring.

Editor: Benjamin Moser

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This is likely the last season UT fans will get to watch Eric Berry as a Vol. (TNJN.com)

Navigating Knoxville on Football Saturdays

If you haven't done it before, getting around Knoxville on a Saturday in the Fall can be a challenging experience. Here's a few tips to help navigate the crowd and enjoy the gameday experience.

Park your car Friday night and don't move it until after the game. If you try to leave for any reason on Saturday, your spot will be gone when you get back.
Go see the Vol Walk. Coach Kiffin and the players will follow the same path to the stadium every Saturday, and the trek starts around two hours before the game. You'll want to take part in this tradition at least once.
Watch UT's band--"The Pride of the Southland"--perform its famous "Salute to the Hill." This typically happens shortly after the Vol Walk at the corner of Andy Holt Ave. and Phillip Fulmer Way.
Get in the stadium before the team enters the field. There's nothing better than watching the band form the "T" and seeing the football team come sprinting through. It's a magical moment that can't be put into words.
Be prepared to stand the whole game, and if you don't want to then don't come. If you do choose to sit down don't complain to those who want to stand the whole time, or you'll quickly become Public Enemy No. 1 in your section.
Sing "Rocky Top" every time. Yes we do it 50 times per game, but don't ever roll your eyes when the band starts. If you're doing it right you won't have a voice left by the time the game kicks off anyway.
Don't leave the stadium until after the band plays the "Tennessee Waltz." When it starts, put your arms over the shoulders of those next to you and sway back and forth.
After the game go to The Strip (Cumberland Avenue if you haven't learned that yet). If you're not 21 there are only a couple places you can go, but the party goes all night long after a game whether UT wins or loses. Of course, the party is always better after a win.

Tyler Smith returned for his senior year to lead the men's basketball team in 2009-10. (TNJN.com)

Zach Osborne was named to the 2009 SEC All-Freshman Team after batting .325 in SEC games. (TNJN.com)