On Rocky Top - June 15, 2022

On

Rocky Top 2022

THE DAILY BEACON

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

3

2022 ON ROCKY TOP

Letter from the Editor

PRODUCTION STAFF Abby Ann Ramsey

Emily Bishop

Managing Editor The Daily Beacon

Student Advertising Manager

Bella Hughes

Victoria Wheelock

Design Editor The Daily Beacon

Student Advertising Production Manager

University of TN Student Media

Student Media Advertising

11 Communications Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996

865.974.5206 admanager@utk.edu

On Rocky Top is produced by the students of The Daily Beacon, the student-run newspaper under the Office of Student Media.

This guide is a commercial product and its proceeds support Student Media. Inclusion in this guide is not an endorsement.

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

4

When I came to college as a freshman, I quickly learned that students could be sorted into two general categories based on their feelings about UT. There were those who had dreamed of being here and couldn’t believe they got to walk by Neyland Stadium or Ayres Hall on their way to class. Then there were those who were skeptical about the chance of ever loving UT or finding a home here.

Though I came to college a skeptic, I quickly embraced UT as my home. I saw the brilliance of professors, many of whom are leaders in their fields. I attended lectures where visiting scholars and politicians spoke of their admiration for UT and the beauty of Knoxville.

I came to love the Minecraft charm of Hodges Library, the sheer scale of Ney-

land Stadium and the importance of living out the Volunteer Creed.

In short, I began to love it here. I left behind my days as a skeptic and became a dreamer.

The main reason I am Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Beacon, UT’s editorially independent student newspaper, is because it allows me to lead a team of students who show their love for UT by documenting life here.

The Beacon has made On Rocky Top because we want you to become dreamers before you step foot on campus as freshmen in the fall. We want you to imagine the life you will create for yourself at UT and the ways in which this campus will become your home. Because no matter who you are, it will become just that.

I want to give a special thanks to our design editor Bella Hughes for her work on the magazine, including the beautiful cover.

Daniel Dassow, Editor-in-Chief The Daily Beacon

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

5

CAMPUS

Letter from the Chancellor

Congratulations on becoming a Tennessee Volunteer. I’m looking forward to welcoming you to campus this fall.

College is a place where so many of us broaden our understanding of the world and deepen our understanding of ourselves. Here on Rocky Top you’ll build lifelong friendships, discover new interests, and prepare yourself for the career and life you want. As you’re getting ready to begin, here are a few pieces of advice:

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

6

Go to office hours You are in charge of your education, so be an active learner. You’ll get the most out of your coursework if you engage with your classmates and instructors. Ask questions. Go to office hours.

Email your professors. Your grades will be better—and more importantly, your understanding of the material will be better.

a place. You’ll find people who share your perspective, your experiences and your interests. And you’ll meet others who are nothing like you. Being part of the Volunteer community means embracing both. It’s a place where you can find comfort among those who understand you and grow through your relationships with those who challenge you.

Ask for help College is a lot of fun, but it’s also hard, and no one expects you to get through it alone. Your Vol Success Team is here specifically to ensure that you are thriving on campus, so stay connected with them. Resources like the Academic Success Center and Writing Center can help with your studies, and support from the Counseling Center and the Office of the Dean of Students can help with needs outside the classroom.

Good students seek help.

Order a treat from the Starship robots They’re just so cute—and convenient.

Get involved Go to that club meeting. Join that intramural team. Attend the social events. Cheer on the Vols from the stands. Enjoy all the experiences that make college special. You may even find a new passion along the way, and at the very least you’ll make some friends. Speaking of which— Meet new people What’s great about college—particularly a place like Rocky Top—is that everyone has

Find moments to step forward Being a Volunteer is about having the courage to act in moments big and small. What does that look like? Offer a kind word to someone who needs encouragement, run for student government, start a new student organization, find a volunteer opportunity through the Jones Center for Leadership and Service. There are a lot of ways to lead, and UT will be the place where you learn to step forward and light the way for others.

I know you will do great things here on Rocky Top, and I look forward to watching you thrive.

Donde Plowman Chancellor

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

7

CAMPUS

The Volunteer Creed: More than a nickname EMILY HOLT Staff Writer

The University of Tennessee’s Volunteer Creed embodies what it means to be a Volunteer and shows how the UT spirit is more than the word “Vols”or Smokey the dog. Through hard times, doubt and confusion, the creed lights the way for students, faculty and staff to remain hopeful.

The creed states, “One that beareth a torch shadoweth oneself to give light to others.”

The creed means that those who share their talents and light to the world may sometimes have to make sacrifices and put others first. This creed strongly represents our team name, the Volunteers.

The name derives from the 1,500 troops from Tennessee that volunteered to fight in the War of 1812, and was cemented when Tennessee sent 30,000 troops during the Mexican-American War in 1846, though the secretary of state had called for only 2,800 volunteers.

The state quickly adopted the nickname “the Volunteer State,” and that legacy is still carried on every time our sports teams enter the playing field.

Those who come to UT will quickly become familiar with the quote, and even more familiar with its physical representation. The Torchbearer statue, located in Circle

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

8

Everyone here truly has the Volunteer spirit, and that’s what makes UT so different from everyone else.

MIRANDA BLEVINS SOPHOMORE

Park, was completed in April of 1968, and has since been a reminder to all who enter the university of what it means to be a Volunteer.

The Volunteer Creed was officially adopted in 1932 after being written by Thomas Beck in 1931. The university held a contest looking for the perfect quote to embody the Volunteer spirit, and settled on Beck’s submission after many years of searching.

Miranda Blevins, a sophomore studying audiology and speech pathology, shared what the Volunteer Creed has meant to her during her time at Tennessee.

“For me, being a Volunteer means putting others first. I think being at UT is great for students because it’s more of a family atmosphere than just students at a common university,” Blevins said.

The Volunteer spirit creates a bond among students

that not all schools are capable of creating. While students can never fully become a bulldog or a wildcat, they can fully become a volunteers. The bond Tennessee students have with one another goes beyond the parties and the fun times, and is based on a shared vision of service and leadership.

“Everyone here truly has the Volunteer spirit, and that’s what makes UT so different from everyone else,” Blevins said.

Graduating seniors who have uniquley embodied the creed receive the Torchbearer award, the highest honor an undergraduate can obtain. To win the honor of the Torchbearer award, a senior must participate in acts of service as well as make significant contributions to the university.

Savannah Hall, one of this year’s Torchbearers, spoke on what the creed means to her.

“Being a volunteer means embodying the creed at every step in your journey. This includes service to all the communities you belong to, and leaving a place better than you found it,” Hall said.

The spirit of the creed has the unique ability of touching more than just Tennessee’s students and staff. After leaving, the creed travels with alumni, as they spread the giving spirit that the Volunteer State was named for.

“Overall, being a Volunteer shapes your identity and places you at an even higher standard for you as an individual to uphold you in all that you do,” Hall said.

CAMPUS

Class of 2022 offers advice to class of 2026 SARAH RAINEY 2021-22 Editor-in-Chief

Be a hard worker, but take breaks and listen to your body.

KATHERINE BURTON SPEECH-LANUAGE PATHOLOGY GRADUATE

As the college cycle continues to turn, the senior class of 2022 has parted ways with the University of Tennessee, and the freshman class of 2026 will soon arrive on campus.

While any advice for the college experience is helpful for incoming freshmen, the best people who could offer their expertise on university life are those who have just recently graduated. The senior class of 2022 has done their due diligence on Rocky Top, learning the ins and outs of the school.

Now, as graduates, they have been able to reflect on their experiences and realize things they would do differently if they could have a re-do. They have also been able to reflect on the good times that they have had.

Whether incoming freshmen are eager, nervous, excited or all of the above, here is a bit of advice from four students from the Class of 2022 to ruminate on for those who are starting at UT this fall.

Justice Hammers, supply chain management graduate: Making friends “Make the most of Welcome Week!

It might seem like everyone has made friends but most likely they are just friends from their high school. Just go up and talk to anyone and they will be more than happy to hang out! Just ask if they want to get food at the dining hall.”

Hollis Gafney, marketing graduate: Putting yourself out there “When you hear ‘college goes by fast,’ you don’t really believe that until you’re packing up at the end of senior year. Cherish your years in this community with all you have, because it goes by faster than

you think. You have to make this experience yours by putting yourself out there and the rest will fall in line. This university will give you the memories and friends that will last forever.”

Katherine Burton, speech-language pathology graduate: Taking care of yourself “Congratulations on this new chapter – enjoy every second of it! My piece of advice for you is to be a hard worker, but take breaks and listen to your body. College can be hard and it is easy to get caught up in just getting good grades. Enjoy your time on Rocky Top!” Claire Donelan, marketing graduate and 2021-2022 SGA President: Getting involved “College is a crazy experience to go through. For some of us it is a scary 12hour drive away from home, while for others it is readjusting to a city they have known their whole lives. This is what makes UT so great. We as a Volunteer family are here to support, offer help and answer questions as needed, but it really is a chance for you to explore what your life could be!

My biggest piece of advice would be to get involved with something! Could be anything that you want, but go to a meeting, get out of your dorm room, and put yourself out there. It can be scary going to things alone and trying something new, but it is also so rewarding when you find something you love. The world is ahead of you, and we want to see you embrace it!”

We as a Volunteer family are here to support, offer help and answer questions as needed, but (college) really is a chance for you to explore what your life could be!

CLAIRE DONELAN 2021-22 STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

9

CAMPUS

Recap of 2021-2022 year: The events that will shape the future CALEIGH ROZMENOSKI 2021-22 Managing Editor The UT student body is its own community, and past events shape the future of incoming students. Here is a recap of events from the past year that will shape student life in the 2022-2023 school year.

Aug. - West campus dining hall opens Complete with a P.O.D. Market and Chick-fil-a, Rocky Top Dining Hall replaced the dining hall in President Court Building. This new dining hall provides students on the west side of campus with more options. Students can use their meal swipes, dining dollars and VolCard here.

Aug. - Pride Center moves to a new location Now located in the Student Union, the Pride Center opened the doors to its new location early last year. The center offers resources for the LGBTQ community, and its new location makes accessibility and outreach easier.

Oct. - Mustard Bowl In a football game against Ole Miss on Oct. 16, 2021, Tennessee fans responded to a questionable call by throwing trash – most notably a whole mustard bottle – onto the field. The event resulted in multiple arrests, hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines for UT and some students banned from all athletic events for the remainder of the 2021-2022 season.

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

10

Nov. - Food trucks come to campus To lessen the burden on Vol Dining, local food trucks can be found scattered across campus. Students can use the dining and flex dollars, in addition to credit or debit cards.

Jan. - Dean Shea Kidd Brown leaves UT After just three years, Dean of Students Shea Kidd Brown left UT, sparking the search for a new Dean of Students. As of May 2022, the university is still interviewing candidates.

Feb. - Smokey XI announced Since 1953, UT has been represented by Smokey, a Bluetick Coonhound.

Smokey X took over the role of mascot in 2013 and will retire in the fall. Taking over is 10-month-old Smokey XI. He can be found running through the Power T on game days on Rocky Top. Feb. - Two additional residence halls approved The UT Board of Trustees approved President Randy Boyd’s amendments to the UT Knoxville Master Plan. These amendments include the addition of two new residence halls, relieving pressure as housing on campus becomes increasingly difficult to secure.

March - COVID-19 guidelines lifted After mask and vaccine mandates were lifted in December, Chancellor Donde Plowman announced all COVID-19-specific guidance would change to reflect the CDC’s recommendations. Students are encouraged to monitor their own health as UT policy treats COVID-19 similarly to the flu.

March - Men’s basketball wins big For only the fifth time in program history and the first time since 1979, the men’s basketball team won the SEC Tournament.

The Vols finished as the No. 2-seed with a 27-8 record.

March - Free Store opens a permanent location Created in 2018 under the Office of Sustainability, the Free Store opened a permanent location. Intended to combat waste issues, students, staff and faculty can donate gently used items to the Free Store. Much like a thrift store, community members are encouraged to shop around, though everything is free.

April - Increases to HOPE scholarship As class sizes increase in the UT System, the Tennessee General Assembly voted to increase funding for HOPE scholarship recipients. The award money has increased from $3,500 to $4,500 per year for freshmen and sophomores and from $4,500 to $5,700 per year for juniors and seniors.

Residents that have graduated from a Tennessee high school and plan to attend a four-year college or university are eligible for the scholarship.

May - Roe v. Wade student-led activism After a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion signaled the end of Roe v. Wade, students took to campus in protest.

Marches and sit-ins – all of which were peaceful – took place around campus, showcasing the student body’s readiness to speak up. Though COVID-19 made activism more challenging, students continue to find ways to make their voices heard on critical issues.

CAMPUS

UT student organizations for shared passion, sense of community AUTUMN HALL 2022-23 News Editor

Making new friends and connections can be a difficult process, especially when you are brand new to an area. One way to combat this issue is by getting involved on campus.

With more than 500 registered student organizations, UT makes it easy for new students to find a community of individuals with shared interests. The following list consists of some of the most popular organizations on campus. These organizations are great places to get started, but there are many other opportunities that can be found on the UT organizations website.

Student Government Association (SGA) If you are interested in making UT a better place for everyone, SGA might be a good fit for you. With senate positions and 10 student services committees ranging from UT Traditions to Environment and Sustainability, there is a place for everyone to have their voice heard about issues that concern them.

For first year students, SGA has the First-Year Leadership Council (FYLC), which helps to integrate new members into the organization and campus as a

whole. Through FYLC, students will have the opportunity to explore the different elements of SGA and explore the topics covered by SGA. For more information, visit the SGA website.

Professional Fraternities and Sororities For individuals who are interested in professional development or service opportunities, UT’s Professional Greek Council consists of eight chapters, including the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity, Kappa Alpha Pi law and government fraternity, Phi Sigma Pi honors fraternity, Sigma Alpha agricultural sorority, Theta Tau engineering fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity and Alpha Rho Chi art and architecture fraternity.

Despite the traditional gender roles of sororities and fraternities, all of UT’s professional chapters — with the exception of the all-female Sigma Alpha — are co-educational. These professional organizations offer students the opportunity to explore career interests, give back to the community and meet members of the UT community who have shared passions.

Canoe and Hiking Club If you find yourself loving nature in your home state, or if you are familiar with the Tennessee outdoors, the Canoe and Hiking Club is a great opportunity to take a break from studying and take a breath of fresh air. The organization offers multiple outdoor opportunities each month, including hiking, climbing, canoeing and more, so if you are

interested in learning more about techniques and Tennessee’s outdoor areas, or if you are simply interested in meeting more nature-loving people, this organization may be a good fit for you.

Campus Events Board (CEB) Engaging, inclusive activities are one of the most common ways that students are able to get to know each other and become involved in UT culture. This cannot be done, however, without the hard work and dedication that is put in by members of the Campus Events Board throughout the school year.

Members of CEB are responsible for planning and coordinating fun-filled events for UT students.

The organization has three committees that focus on different event topics, including arts and culture, entertainment and issues. For more information, visit the CEB website.

Political Organizations Regardless of what end of the political spectrum you might be on, it is important to be well-informed and politically involved within Knoxville.

With its wide range of political organizations, UT most likely has an option that is full of like-minded individuals. These organizations include the College Democrats, College Republicans, Libertarians at UTK, UTK Conservative Coalition, Young Democratic Socialists of America, the Progressive Student Alliance and more.

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

11

CAMPUS

As campus grows, plans advance for pedestrian bridge over Tennessee River DANIEL DASSOW 2022-23 Editor-in-Chief

The Tennessee River has long been viewed as the immovable southern boundary of UT’s campus. But on Feb. 25, the board of trustees approved the expansion of the campus boundary to include a narrow parcel of land on the south shore of the river along Scottish Pike and W. Blount Avenue.

Campus planners, partnering with the city of Knoxville and Knox County, have proposed construction of a pedestrian-bicycle bridge which would connect the area along the South Waterfront to the rest of campus. The plan is in its earliest stages, and UT has yet to acquire the tract of land added to the official campus boundary.

Representatives from UT, the City of Knoxville and Knox County said the three were working in tandem to move forward with funding on the bridge project, which is projected to cost between $50 and $55 million.

The idea for the bridge, which would extend from near Thompson-Boling Arena to the South Knoxville Waterfront, first appeared in the city’s 2006 South Waterfront Vision Plan.

The project, if fully completed, would connect an 18mile downtown greenway with the pedestrian-bicycle

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

12

the incoming freshman class could rise to between 6,200 and 6,300 students.

Enrollment management projected a 50% decrease in on-campus housing for students who stay on campus after freshman year. In response to a lack of on-campus housing, UT created a lottery system for fall 2022 housing selection that would prioritize incoming freshman and push upperclassmen off campus.

The bridge proposal said the area represented a “unique opportunity” to address increasing housing and parking needs in the future.

At the 2022 State of the University Address, UT Rendering courtesy of the City of Knoxville, Lawrie and Associates, CRJA, Wilbur Smith Associates, S&ME, President Randy Boyd and UT chancellors touted the and Sanders Pace Architecture growth of the system and the expansion of educational bridge and the Knoxville Urban Wilderness, a system of opportunities. over 50 miles of trails and scenery in South Knoxville.

“Without a doubt, this is a strong second year to the Renewed energy for the bridge proposal is tied to greatest decade in the history of the University of Tenmomentum for developing the South Waterfront and nessee,” Boyd said. connecting it with UT and downtown Knoxville.

Tyra Haag, director of news and information at UT, From the latest board of trustees meeting, however, said that the board of trustees meeting represented the it was clear that the central reasons for moving forward first step of the early planning stages. with the bridge proposal were the growing number of “We are grateful to have alignment with city and students at UT and the limited room to build within the state leaders, but we are in the early stages of explorcampus boundary. atory discussion and planning,” Haag said.

UT accepted the largest freshman class on record in The South Waterfront tract included in the campus fall 2021, reaching almost 6,000 new students. Appli- boundary is currently home to underutilized or vacant cations for fall 2022 increased by over 30% from last industrial and commercial property, according to camyear, and the enrollment management team projects pus reports.

WELCOMES YOU! DISABILITIES WE SERVE: ADD/ADHD | Learning | Psychological and emotional health Chronic health diagnoses | Vision | Hearing | Temporary injuries Autism Spectrum Disorder | Traumatic brain injury | Mobility

"In my experience as a student with a disability, SDS has been a huge support in providing me with classroom accommodations and ensuring that I, alongside other students, have the most accessible university experience possible."

Madison Allen

Fourth year Nuclear Engineering student, member of the UT Jazz and Classical Saxophone Studio

100 Dunford Hall | (865) 974-6087 sds.utk.edu | sds@utk.edu On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

13

CAMPUS

Everything you need to know about the Starship food delivery robots AUTUMN HALL 2022-23 News Editor

If you have been anywhere on campus during the last few months, it is likely that you have encountered a small, food-carrying robot scooting alongside you.

The delivery company behind the robots, Starship, was originally founded by two Skype co-founders who saw a need for more convenient delivery services.

On March 8, UT officially started offering robot deliveries to multiple locations on campus, becoming one of only 20 universities that offer Starship delivery services. Students can pay for food through Starship with dining dollars, VolCard or credit card.

Since their arrival on campus, the robots have amassed great popularity because of their cuteness, as well as people’s fascination with the technology behind them.

Sophomore Allison Williams described her first encounter with one of the robots, and their prevalence on various social media platforms.

“I was sitting by the Student Union and all of a sudden I saw this little white robot rushing toward me. At first, I was very confused because I hadn’t seen any-

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

14

thing about the robots before, but after a couple weeks I started to see stuff about them all over my Instagram,” Williams said.

Not only have the robots been very useful to students in terms of a wider range of delivery options, but they have also become a media craze among students at UT. With videos and posts on the official UT Instagram pages, as well as memes created by the student body, members of the Knoxville community have had a fun time upon the arrival of the robots.

The Starship robots come along with a wide range of positive opportunities for students, but they also pose many new, foreign challenges.

Lily Monet, a barista at the Starbucks in Hodges Library, provided her perspective of the robots as a food service worker.

“There definitely was a learning curve at first and it took a second to understand how to work the system.

However, once we got it, the system worked really well,” Monet said. “It’s so funny watching the little things. It’s almost strangely human-like, we all think.

But it’s so cool to see a little piece of what the future of robotics looks like.”

The robots navigate from place to place using satellite imagery. Each robot has its own specific situational awareness bubble, which involves twelve cameras, sensors and radar to ensure that it can avoid obstacles

such as cars, animals and pedestrians.

For those who are worried about their food potentially being stolen, do not fret. Many have been deterred from attempting to steal from the robots because of a high-pitched screeching noise that is emitted when unauthorized individuals try to pick them up.

During their running time of nearly 8 years, not a single food item has been taken from a robot wrongfully, although there have been numerous attempts.

Now part of the community, the delivery robots say “Go Vols!” as they deliver food and drinks.

Starship Technologies launched its food delivery robot innovation on UT campus, allowing the robots to deliver food and packages to students across campus. Erick Gomez-Villeda / The Daily Beacon

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

15

CAMPUS / CITY

Who’s who in Knoxville, at UT: Important people you should know MADELYN MUSCHEK 2021-22 City News Editor

For those of you coming to UT who are not from Knoxville, especially if you’re an out-of-state student like me, it may be confusing to hear some important names and be confused as to who those people are. This list gives a basic overview of important people at UT and in Knoxville, including politicians and athletic coaches.

Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon Elected in 2019, Mayor Kincannon is Knoxville’s 69th mayor. She’s a member of the Democratic Party, and is only the second woman to ever be elected mayor of Knoxville. It’s important to note that when talking about Knoxville’s mayor, there are two separate individuals with similar titles. One is the mayor of Knoxville and the other is the mayor of Knox County.

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs Mayor Glenn Jacobs, also known by his professional wrestling name Kane, is the mayor of Knox County. Elected in 2018, Jacobs is a member of the Republican Party, and is also still signed to WWE, though his main focus is politics.

UT System President Randy Boyd Randy Boyd’s official title is president of the University of Tennessee System, meaning that he oversees the entire UT system

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

16

of schools, which includes UT Knoxville, UT Martin and UT Chattanooga, among others. After Joe DiPietro retired, Boyd was appointed as the interim president, and in 2020, he became president. A Knoxville native and UT alumnus, Boyd is also a businessman and was a Republican candidate for governor of Tennessee in 2018.

UT Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman Donde Plowman is UT Knoxville’s ninth chancellor, the highest leadership position at the flagship campus. Plowman was appointed chancellor in 2019, following Beverly Davenport and interim chancellor Wayne Davis. Prior to her role as chancellor, Plowman was also the head of the Department of Management in the Haslam College of Business, before moving to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and then returning to UT. Athletics Director Danny White One of the most coveted positions at UT, Danny White is UT’s athletic director, recently appointed in 2021. Of White’s accomplishments in his short time at UT, one of the first was appointing Josh Heupel as head football coach.

Though White is the current athletic director, it’s hard to talk about that position without talking about Philip Fulmer, who was athletic director from 2017 to 2021 but has a long history at UT. Fulmer played football here as an offensive guard during his time in school, from 1969 to 1971, and after some brief jobs at different universities, Fulmer became

an assistant coach at UT in 1980. Then, Fulmer served as head coach from 1993 to 2008, and was the head coach for UT’s national championship victory in 1998. You’ll still hear his name around UT, so it’s important to know who he is.

Coach Josh Heupel Josh Heupel is the head football coach here at UT. He’s one of the most recent newcomers to UT on this list, having become head coach just last year, in 2021, following Jeremy Pruitt’s removal. Heupel was a quarterback himself at the University of Oklahoma during his college years, and focuses mostly on offense at UT. Coach Kellie Harper An alumna of UT’s 1999 women’s basketball team herself, Harper is the head coach of the Lady Vols, UT’s women’s basketball team. In the 2021-2022 season, she also led the team to a spot in the Sweet 16.

Coach Rick Barnes Another important coach on this list is UT’s head basketball coach, Rick Barnes. Barnes became head coach in 2015, and has led UT’s men’s basketball team ever since. Barnes also played basketball in college at Lenoir-Rhyne College.

Coach Tony Vitello A former player at the University of Missouri, Vitello is UT’s head baseball coach. UT’s baseball team has been growing its national recognition more and more in recent years and Vitello has been with the team since 2017.

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

17

CITY

The 1982 World’s Fair at 40: A legacy of revival and remembrance PIERCE GENTRY Staff Writer

Political unrest, rising inflation, closing businesses and a narrowing job market are issues familiar to all Americans. Some 45 years ago, they were all too familiar to East Tennesseans attempting to recover from the worst economic recession since the Great Depression.

Downtown Knoxville in particular was in dire shape.

Abandoned warehouses and high-rises plagued the skyline, as more and more businesses were leaving the central city in pursuit of the suburbs.

One man, Stuart Evans, had an idea that would forever alter the structure, economy and reputation of Knoxville: Let’s hold a world exhibition.

Inspired by the 1974 fair held in Spokane, Washington, Evans proposed his idea to the city government that same year. He suggested that the event be energy-themed, to emphasize East Tennessee’s three major institutions: the University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Intrigued, Mayor Kyle Testerman appointed local banker and economist Jake Butcher to investigate the feasibility and potential benefits of holding a World’s Fair in the small city of Knoxville. Butcher knew there

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

18

Photograph by Gary McMahon. Courtesy of Knoxville History Project’s “Knoxville Shoebox” program would be obstacles, but he was convinced they could pull it off.

Soon the word was out, federal approval and funding were secured, and the Knoxville Energy Exposition, deemed a “World’s Fair,” was set to be held in 1982.

Construction of the Sunsphere and the many other architectural marvels of the fair began in 1981, with more than 100 million dollars invested into the project.

An 85-acre abandoned rail-switch yard to the east of Henley Street was chosen as the fair site due to its central location, nestled between UT campus and the central downtown area.

Here was an abandoned railway station that was

previously owned by the Louisville and Nashville Railway Company, left empty for 12 years. Jack Neely, local Knoxville historian and director of the Knoxville History Project, remembers the solemn state of the city before the fair all too well.

“People had been kinda looking at the forlorn L&N Station kinda wishing someone could save it,” Neely said.

The station, along with several other landmark structures, went on to be renovated for the fair. This included a handful of Victorian-era homes, an iron foundry and a candy factory.

“That was one of the things that made the fair historic, I think, and different from all other World’s Fairs in that it did save so many old buildings,” Neely said.

Opening day on May 1 was an extravagant affair for Knoxville, deemed “a scruffy little city...on the Tennessee River” by the Wall Street Journal. Nearly 100,000 visitors from across the globe arrived, eager to see what years of preparation had led up to.

“On opening day, I was just kind of an observer. I waited til night to go there, and it was just kind of a happy bedlam of unorganized stuff there,” Neely said, reminiscing on his experience that day. Neely spent 6 months working at the fair in various positions, though he was primarily involved in crowd control.

STORY CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

19

CITY

STORY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 There were exhibits assembled by 22 nations, as well as six separate U.S. states and over 80 corporations.

Technological wonders taken for granted today were unveiled at the fair, such as an early touch-screen computer, a pay-at-the-pump gasoline system and an incar hands-free telephone.

While Knoxville has perhaps grown slower and with less fanfare than hoped, the growth it has seen is undeniable and inextricably linked to the fair.

“As for downtown, its effects were mainly indirect and unexpected I think. I think there were effects, but they – some of them – took a while to percolate. A lot of the redevelopment of the fair didn’t happen nearly as fast as people thought,” Neely said.

The family friendly fun provided by the fair got Knoxville citizens used to the idea of coming downtown at night, an idea that hadn’t existed beforehand, according to Neely. The Old City, now a staple neighborhood and commercial district, can attribute its revitalization to the 1982 World’s Fair.

“The fair closed October 31, 1982, and within six months there was obvious stuff going on in the Old City, which was a place that people had never heard of before. It was a kind of fairly new term for this empty warehouse district that was considered kind of dirty and dangerous,” Neely said.

Today, the Old City is one of Knoxville’s staple nightlife destinations.

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

20

Countdown sign for 1982 World’s Fair photographed by Bob Rose. Courtesy of Knoxville History Project’s “Knoxville Shoebox” program UT also became internationally renowned, with participation in energy symposiums and archaeological expositions. Professor William Bass, founder of the UT Forensic Anthropology Center, drew acclaim with his unveiling of a Peruvian mummy. UT’s energy research divisions and anthropology department were some of the finest in the nation, and drew massive acclaim from professionals worldwide.

The sports world would have a taste of what UT had to offer, in the form of an NFL exhibition game held in Neyland Stadium on Aug. 14, 1982. The Pittsburgh Steelers faced the New England Patriots in a rumbling show of American spirit, attended by thousands from across the world and broadcast on national television.

Undeniably, Knoxville’s impact was felt by the entire nation, if not the world. For an entire generation, it became a household name no longer associated with Tennessee, but with the great cities of the world.

“Knoxville was in the news a lot. I had a friend who was older than me who just said ‘have you noticed that when they say Knoxville, they don’t say Knoxville, a city in East Tennessee anymore, they just say in Knoxville.’

That made it seem like we had joined the world of cities that people were familiar with,” Neely said.

However, this legacy has faded in recent years. With the declining popularity and profitability of World Expositions, there are few below the age of 50 who remember the publicity of the 1982 World’s Fair in a little town called Knoxville. C. L. Brown, a lifetime resident of Knoxville, remembers well the time following the fair.

“I do remember a lot of, when it left, the park sat empty. There was a lot of ‘what are we going to do with this now?’” Brown said.

For Knoxville citizens, however, there are permanent reminders in the form of the Sunsphere and the Tennessee Amphitheater, manufactured to withstand the test of time. Hundreds of events have since been held in World’s Fair Park, renovated and opened in 2007 as a public park.

With a 40-year legacy, the 1982 World’s Fair has long since departed from the records and memories of a majority of the world. But to East Tennesseans, it is something to be looked back upon with fondness and warmth, for the year the world came to Knoxville.

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

21

CITY

5 Knoxville coffee shops to fuel your studying this fall ABBY ANN RAMSEY 2022-23 Managing Editor

If you’re not already a coffee drinker, your first semester of college might change that. According to a 2018 article published in the journal “Clinical Nutrition,” 92% of college students surveyed reported drinking caffeine.

If you’re living on campus, chances are you will spend a solid portion of your dining dollars on coffee from Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Einstein’s Bagels and the POD Markets. If you’re looking for a calm study environment and quality coffee, though, you might want to consider some off-campus options.

Here are five coffee shops that are local favorites in Knoxville, ranked by proximity to campus from nearest to farthest. But even the farthest one won’t take more than 15 minutes to get to and is well worth the drive.

The Golden Roast The original Golden Roast location is so embedded in UT culture that it does not even feel like it’s off campus. Take a short walk to Melrose Avenue to get to this cafe, which has graced the UT community with its presence for more than 25 years.

There is usually plenty of space to sit down and study for hours at a time as you stay caffeinated. It is also just a short distance from most residence halls if you need to

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

22

take a quick coffee detour on the way to class.

If you’re wanting to get a little farther from the Strip, you can also check out their Marble City location on Sutherland Avenue which opened just a few years ago.

Capybara Coffee Capybara Coffee is a fairly new addition to the Knoxville coffee scene, but is popular with UT students as it is located in University Commons right by Publix and the Vol Shop.

It is walking distance from campus, but is a much shorter drive. They have an extended coffee menu as well as sandwiches and food options.

Be sure to swing in and support this local business when you’re shopping for groceries or passing by on the way to your dorm.

Mahalo The original Mahalo location is located in Powell. The company as a whole was started by Nascar driver Trevor Bayne. The name of the Hawaiian-themed shop translates to an expression of gratitude.

Mahalo now has a location on Union Avenue, just a few steps away from Market Square. They opened up another location inside a car wash on Alcoa Highway in May, but the downtown one is significantly closer to campus.

The shop does small-batch roasting Monday through Friday, so you can always be sure your coffee is fresh.

Remedy Remedy Coffee is located just a little bit past downtown in North Knoxville. The shop offers a dimly

A chai tea to-go and a mocha at Remedy Coffee.

Erick Gomez-Villeda / The Daily Beacon lit and calming environment, but be prepared to struggle to find a table on weekends. Remedy uses Methodical coffee to make their drinks, which is an acclaimed coffee roaster.

If you’re sitting at Remedy, you don’t have to worry about going hungry. Paysan Bread and Bagels is right next door and offers a variety of freshly made bagels.

Wild Love If you’re looking for an almond croissant, look no further. Wild Love Bakehouse is not only a good spot for your morning coffee but it is also the perfect place to be greeted by some baked goods.

In 2017, Wild Love was called the best bakery in America in the travel publication “Afar.” You don’t want to miss out on a quaint place to drink coffee and eat a pastry, but be sure to get there early.

CITY

A guide to eating like a local in Knoxville KYRA BOGDAN 2021-22 Copy Chief

Living in Knoxville provides easy access to authentic, local places to choose from for every meal of the day. But, when someone comes to the city to visit, all of those choices can become a bit overwhelming. With breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert to choose from, it can be hard to narrow down your favorites to show your guests the full Knoxville eating experience.

To help with the indecision, here is a guide to an all-local day of eating in Knoxville to give you or your visitors a small glimpse into the great dining options we have in Knoxville.

Scrambled Jake’s Breakfast Company Scrambled Jake’s served a need in the Knoxville community when it opened in summer 2017: a local, authentic breakfast and brunch place. Ever since it opened, Scrambled Jake’s has been a hit spot for college students looking for a Sunday brunch hangout and Knoxville locals craving one of the menu’s many sweet treats or savory favorites.

Along with many traditional breakfast items such as omelets, pancakes and French toast, Scrambled Jake’s also offers unique items like the “Pineapple Express”

or the “Sin-O-Man Roll.”

They also serve local coffee from Honeybee Coffee Co. and have a selection of seasonal drinks as well — the spring menu features beverages such as “Jake’s Proper Irish Coffee” and the “Raspberry Blood Orange Bellini.” This early-morning eatery is open daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. for any and all hungry customers.

The French Market Crêperie The French Market Crêperie is Knoxville’s first and only French crêpe restaurant. With a cozy atmosphere and lots of places to sit, it is a great place for a quick bite to eat or a simple cup of coffee. The downtown location is only a short five-minute drive from campus or a brisk 20-minute walk, if you’re feeling up for it.

They have a large selection of savory crepes, such as the turkey, bacon and avocado with Swiss cheese or the Vegetarian Deluxe. There are also sweet crêpes for anyone with a sweet tooth, such as the lemon and sugar, strawberries and cream or Nutella-filled crêpe, any of which can be made with a gluten-free batter.

Along with the crêpes, this eatery also offers baguette or croissant sandwiches, soups, salads and an extensive coffee and tea selection to satisfy whatever lunch-time craving you might have.

Anaba Japanese Cusine For those who enjoy Japanese cuisine, Anaba Japanese offers some of Knox-

ville’s best. First opened in 2005, Anaba now has three different locations in East Tennessee — Northshore, Downtown and Maryville.

Their sushi menu is what they are best known for.

These rolls are made by a third-generation Japanese sushi expert, and the selection is quite extensive with many different sections to break the menu up.

This authentic Japanese restaurant offers several different options for dinner besides just the sushi, including a wide variety of warm rice bowls, hibachi with your choice of protein and noodle dishes such as ramen, udon and soba. So, whether you’re a sushi lover or not, Anaba is sure to have a dinner item you’ll enjoy.

Moonshine Mountain Cookie Co. Lastly, a guide of Knoxville eating is never complete without dessert.

Tennessee moonshine is a big part of the history in East Tennessee, and Moonshine Mountain Cookie Co. plays a small part in keeping that history alive. The founders of this cookie company all met while attending UT and now have two locations in the Knoxville area — one in Farragut and another in West Hills.

The cookie flavors found here are mostly plays on the names of famous figures like “Berry White,” “Mint Jagger” and “Sugar Shine,” which have moonshine mixed into the batter. These sweet treats are a delicious way to end any day of eating in Knoxville and are something you won’t be able to find anywhere else.

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

23

CITY / SPORTS

Despite recent setbacks, Smokies optimistic about move back to Knoxville JOSH LANE 2022-23 Sports Editor

One of Knoxville’s most famous attractions is coming back to the Old City in the spring of 2025.

The Tennessee Smokies — the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs — are relocating back to Knoxville after two decades of playing at Smokies Stadium in Sevier County. The Smokies have had success since moving to their current home — seven playoff appearances, four division titles and a league title — but with 22 years under Smokies Stadium’s belt, the venue is starting to show its age.

“To have a viable, long-term team, you’ve got to have a viable stadium because they do get old,” the radio voice of the Smokies Mick Gillispie told The Daily Beacon. “And even as great as Smokies Stadium has been, it’s just gotten old after all this time.”

Baseball in Knoxville dates back over 100 years, and the Smokies have been a Double-A franchise since 1963.

By the late 1990s, Bill Meyer Stadium — the Smokies’ home for the better part of 40 years — had lost most of its functionality, and Knoxville mayor Victor Ashe was not eager to keep the team in the city. So the Smokies

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

24

packed up and migrated 21 miles east to Kodak, where they took on a new name — the “Tennessee Smokies” — that was more representative of the entire state.

Gillispie joined the Smokies in 2007, but even then he recognized the city’s unhappiness with Ashe and the potential it had as a baseball town.

“I knew Knoxville loved baseball,” Gillispie said.

There have been calls since the initial move for the team to relocate, but it was only when current UT President Randy Boyd bought the team in 2013 that a reunion with Knoxville became real. Sevierville is not without its baseball lovers, but most of the fans in attendance at Smokies Stadium each night made the drive from Knoxville.

For the decision makers in the process, such as Chris Allen, the Smokies’ president, a move back to the fans is the most logical choice.

“This is a highly emotional project, if you do the history and find out how the Smokies got to Sevier County in the first place,” Allen said.

“It left some people with a bad taste in their mouth and unhappy that the team left Knoxville originally. It’s a very emotional project, but for the most part, people are excited to get the team back to Knoxville.”

The plan from Populous — an architectural design firm responsible for 20 Major League Baseball ballparks — was to build the new stadium just east of the Old City in an empty lot, so no businesses or residents would be

disturbed.

The $80.1 million dollar facility would be a multi-purpose venue complete with the latest amenities in food service, signage and video boards. Other events such as concerts and markets could be held there, and it would even be subleased out to a professional soccer team.

The initial plan for a 2024 opening, however, has suffered some major-league setbacks.

“It’s probably one of the worst times in my lifetime to try and build anything in this country,” Allen said.

A press release from April 2022 said that a delay is “likely because of global supply chain issues and a volatile construction market.”

The spike in the prices of building material, as well as the increasing difficulty to acquire said materials, has left the Boyd Sports group in a precarious spot.

Knoxville natives have waited patiently for two decades for baseball to return to the third-most populous city in Tennessee, and team ownership does not want to make them wait any longer.

Yet as prices continue to increase, they also want to spend their money wisely.

“At the end of the day, you’ve got to make the right business decision,” Allen said. “You can’t let emotions determine your decision making process because that could cost you a lot of money.”

KNOXVILLE - KNOX COUNTY - THE SPORTS AUTHORITY

KNOXVILLE MULTI-USE STADIUM and

A drawing of the Knoxville Multi-Use Stadium. Submitted When the new stadium is completed in Knoxville, it will be a bittersweet day for Allen and the rest of his team. They will get to see the fruits of years of hard labor pay off, but at the cost of leaving Kodak, a place they called home for a quarter-century.

In their eyes, the benefits of baseball in Knoxville outweighs the emotions of

leaving.

“I think it will be a day of celebration, because we’re going to look back at all the wonderful moments we had at that ballpark,” Allen said. “At the end of the day, it’s going to be a little bittersweet because you’re going to be moving on.”

Daily Beacon YouTube

For more information on what Rocky Top has to offer, check out the Daily Beacon YouTube.

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

25

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

26

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

27

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

28

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

29

SPORTS

4 Tennessee programs finish at top of SEC in 2021-22 season ETHAN STONE 2021-22 Assistant Sports Editor

It was a season of championships for Tennessee athletics in 2021-22.

Four separate athletic programs — men’s basketball, baseball, soccer and women’s swimming and diving — all won SEC titles. Several more, namely Lady Vols tennis, which lost 4-3 to top-ranked Georgia in the final, came close to the mountaintop.

In all, it was a strong year for the Tennessee athletics program. Tennessee baseball started SEC play 12-0 and spent several weeks as the No. 1 team in the country after being picked fourth in the SEC East to start the season.

Josh Heupel and Tennessee football eclipsed six wins in his first year as head coach and Tennessee softball kept high expectations under now-solo head coach Karen Weekly after the departure of legendary cocoach Ralph Weekly this past offseason.

Here’s a look at some of Tennessee’s athletic highlights from 2021-22.

Men’s basketball tears down the nets for the first time since 1979 Tennessee basketball was a consensus

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

30

top-25 team at the beginning of the college basketball calendar in November.

The Vols, led by a surprising freshman point guard duo of five-star prospect Kennedy Chandler and previously-unheard-of Zakai Zeigler from New York, tied the bow on a strong regular season by downing Texas A&M in Tampa, Florida to win its first SEC Championship title since 1979 in early March.

Three Vols were featured on the All-SEC Tournament team – Chandler, Josiah-Jordan James and Santiago Vescovi. Chandler, who finished with 14 points, seven assists and four rebounds, won tournament MVP. “Very proud of our team,” head coach Rick Barnes said following the win. “These guys have worked hard.

They deserve what they’ve been able to achieve here.”

Tennessee went on to blitz past No. 14 seeded Longwood in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to red-hot Michigan in the second round.

Baseball dominates regular season, wins SEC outright Tennessee baseball clinched the SEC title for the first time since 1995 after a historic 2022 regular season. The Vols won 23 consecutive games, their first 12 SEC contests, spent over eight weeks at the top of the national rankings and hit more home runs in 2022 than in any other season before. Trey Lipscomb made a case to be SEC Player of the Year, and the Vols dazzled with pitching depth four SEC weekend starters deep.

After winning the SEC East Division for the first

time in 24 years in 2021, the Vols took it a step farther by locking down the SEC regular season championship with a full weekend to go. With a deep lineup and pitching staff, the Vols are heavy favorites as the NCAA postseason draws near.

“Last year – 20 SEC wins – we felt like we were at the top of the East,” first baseman Luc Lipcius said. “It’s like, ‘how can it get any better?’ And it did.”

Swim and Dive notches SEC championship Lady Vols swim and dive notched their second SEC title in three years, taking home 17 medals and a league-high 1,313.5 points.

“This is an incredibly special and unique team with a number of different components,” swimming and diving director Matt Kredich said. “It is almost like alchemy. You put all of these pieces together for something that is greater than the pieces themselves. The depth of this team is something that we felt we obviously needed in order to win this championship. I am so impressed with every person on our roster.”

Freshman Ellen Walshe led the way for the Lady Vols, boasting one of the best performances by a Vol in SEC Championships history. Walshe became the first swimmer in SEC history to win the 100 fly, 200 IM and 400 IM at the same meet.

A month later, the Lady Vols finished within the top 10 in the NCAA Championships for the fourth consecutive year.

SPORTS Tennessee soccer finishes historic season on top for first time in nearly 15 years Tennessee earned its fifth SEC title in program history in early November, downing top-seeded Arkansas 3-0.

It was a fitting end to SEC play for the Vols. Tennessee finished the season having tied the program record for most wins in a single season at 18 with their win over the Razorbacks. Tennessee would score two more wins in the NCAA Tournament before falling to Michigan in the round of 16.

Pensky and the Vols had a record-breaking season, which garnered attention from around the country as topnotch programs looked to replace their staff. In April, national powerhouse Florida State hired Pensky to be its new head coach.

Tennessee soccer veteran Joe Kirt will take up the mantle for Pensky following his departure.

“Tennessee is undoubtedly a special place. I am both honored and humbled to represent the Lady Vols and Volunteers,” Kirt said.

Top left - Santiago Vescovi goes for a layup against South Carolina as teammate Uros Plavsic boxes out a defender at Thompson Boling Arena on Tuesday Jan. 11, 2022. Erick Gomez-Villeda Top right - Joe Kirt speaks during a press conference on Monday, May 2, 2022. Kirt was named UT soccer head coach, promoted after former coach Brian Pensky departed for Florida State. Josh Lane Bottom - The women’s swimming and diving team celebrates after taking the SEC title on Feb. 19, 2022. Alexandra Ashmore

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

31

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

32

SPORTS

A look back at Tennessee’s historic soccer season ANDREW PETERS 2022-23 Assistant Sports Editor

Tennessee soccer had its winningest season in program history in 2021, notching a 20-3 record on its way to an SEC Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance.

While the Lady Vols didn’t make the tournament run they had hoped for, it was still a historic, successful season.

From the gate, the Lady Vols proved they were destined for greatness. Tennessee didn’t allow a goal in its first seven games, a program record 633 minutes without allowing a goal.

The Lady Vols dropped their first game of SEC play to Arkansas, but from there torched their SEC competition. Tennessee went on a six-game win streak and didn’t lose again until Vanderbilt beat the Lady Vols 2-1 for their final loss of the regular season.

Tennessee won its final two games of the season before beginning its phenomenal SEC Tournament run.

The Lady Vols’ remarkable season didn’t go unnoticed.

Six Lady Vols and head coach Brian Pensky all received postseason honors.

Pensky was named SEC Coach of the Year after his

This was a storybook ending to the SEC season for this group.

BRIAN PENSKY LADY VOLS COACH

best season yet at Tennessee.

Mackenzie George earned First Team All-SEC honors, Wrenne French, Jaida Thomas and Taylor Huff earned Second Team All-SEC and Jordan Fusco, Claire Rain and Huff were named to the SEC All-Freshman Team.

Huff was also named SEC Freshman of the Year after a breakout freshman season where she scored eight goals and notched four assists.

The Lady Vols followed up their outstanding season by tearing through the SEC Tournament. Tennessee beat Florida 5-2, Ole Miss 3-2 and Arkansas 3-0 for the championship.

Thomas was the guiding force on offense for Tennessee. She scored five goals in three games in the SEC Tournament, bringing her season total to 13 goals.

Following the SEC Tournament, George, French,

Thomas and Abbey Burdette were named to the SEC All-Tournament team. Burdette was also given the Tournament MVP award.

“This was a storybook ending to the SEC season for this group,” Pensky said following the Lady Vols win over Arkansas. “What a complete performance. Our kids came to win, simple as that.”

Tennessee made it to the third round of the NCAA Tournament, defeating Lipscomb 3-0 and Washington State 2-0 before losing to Michigan.

As the season came to an end, so did the Brian Pensky era. It was unexpectedly announced at the end of April that — after 10 years with Tennessee — Pensky would take over as head coach of Florida State, the 2021 National Champion.

Just a week later, the Lady Vols’ new head coach was announced. Tennessee hired internally, promoting long-time assistant Joe Kirt to head coach.

Kirt served Tennessee as an assistant coach for 15 years, helping lead the Lady Vols to some of their best seasons in program history. Kirt is looking forward to staying with the team and continuing the Lady Vol tradition of excellence.

“We talk about how special they are, how much they make this so enjoyable and so rewarding,” Kirt said.

“To be able to continue that with these guys, I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

33

SPORTS

A new tradition: UT’s unlikely transformation into a baseball school ANDREW PETERS 2022-23 Assistant Sports Editor

Thousands of fans clad in orange and white, with “Mike Honcho” t-shirts and “Daddy” hats line up outside of Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Ticket scalpers stand outside the gates, hoping to make a few last-minute sales. Students wait outside the ticket booth, hoping they can secure a standing room-only ticket.

This is the scene outside of Tennessee’s baseball stadium ahead of the Vols’ Sunday rubber match against Auburn. The Vols beat the Tigers Friday and lost Saturday, and fans filled the stadium to see if Tennessee could clinch its seventh SEC series of the season.

Baseball games have been prime entertainment for Knoxvillians all season long, and there wasn’t a weekend that the seats of the stadium weren’t filled.

But Lindsey Nelson hasn’t always looked like this.

For most of this century, attending Tennessee baseball games has not been a priority for students and Knoxville residents. Games served more as a social gathering than prime entertainment.

“Back then the team was terrible so you could just get a porch for your little league team and have a nice-little postgame gathering,” Brian Hall, a Knox County elec-

tion official coordinator and season-ticket holder said.

Hall, like many others in Knoxville, attended games as a student in the 80s, and was locked in during the Todd Helton era, but didn’t attend many games throughout the mid-2000s. There just wasn’t much to root for.

But when Tony Vitello was hired in 2018, he offered hope to the Tennessee fans who experienced the greatness of Tennessee baseball during its World Series runs in the 90s.

“I started getting interested again at Tony’s introductory press conference,” Hall said. “He was pretty charismatic. I didn’t know who he was, I didn’t know anything about him, but I thought it’d be fun if we started getting good again.”

The moment things changed Vitello’s first season on Rocky Top was one to forget, but his second season saw drastic improvement. He led the team to a 40-21 season, Tennessee’s best season in over a decade.

Tennessee continued to trend upward, starting off 15-2 in 2020 before the season was canceled due to COVID-19.

After the 2020 season, fans started to buy into Tennessee baseball and 2021 saw the seats filling up more and more.

“There weren’t a ton of people, but it was just like this slow build,” Hall said. “Every week I would notice there were a few more people there in line trying to get

SUPERMARKET Established in 2008, Sunrise Supermarket has become the biggest oriental market in Knoxville. We carry products from all around the globe. You can find goods from Asia all the way to South America in our store

Hours of Operation Monday – Friday 9:00 am – 8:00 pm Saturday – Sunday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

Can’t stop by and see us in person?

That’s alright! A curbside pickup service is available on our website!

Visit us at

www.sunrise-supermarket.com 8509 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919 On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

34

a ticket.”

2021 saw the emergence of the Legends of Lindsey Nelson, a group of students who attend games and have gone semi-viral for their presence on Twitter.

The group, who began attending games in March of 2021, led the charge in increasing student attendance and engagement at baseball games.

Matthew Mancino, a senior English major, is a member of the Legends of Lindsey Nelson.

“The baseball team is good now and that’s why people love it so much,” Mancino said. “They want something to cheer for.”

The interest in Tennessee baseball peaked at the end of the season. The Vols capped off a successful regular season with a deep postseason run, beginning with NCAA regionals.

The Vols defeated Wright State in front of a packed Lindsey Nelson stadium in the most dramatic way possible: a walk-off grand slam. That was the moment things shifted.

“That instant, when that ball left the stadium,” Hall said. “I have gone all over the country watching UT football through the decades and that was a top five moment. That moment was unbelievable. You could not believe 5,000 people could make that much noise.”

STORY CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

35

SPORTS

STORY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34 Vols vs. Everybody The excitement from the 2021 season carried over into the 2022 season. Tennessee’s season opener against Georgia Southern, that in the past wouldn’t have seen many fans, saw huge crowds all weekend.

Tennessee fans were officially bought in 2022, and it wasn’t just because the team was so good, although that definitely helped.

The Vols have fully adopted the villain mentality this season. Other teams don’t like them, and they’re okay with that. They play with the type of swagger and confidence that can only make opposing teams’ blood boil, and they back it up with their play on the field.

Now, the fans are embracing the villain mentality as well.

“I think what’s so alluring about the villain thing is just that we do not care at all,” Mancino said. “And the excuse, you know, ‘act like you’ve been there before,’ well, we haven’t, so we’re within reason to act this way.”

Now, every weekend at Lindsey Nelson sees sold out crowds and rowdy fans, something that in the past would only really be seen at football and basketball games.

Tennessee’s new baseball culture stems from success on the field, a mindset adopted by players and fans alike and ultimately, something to root for.

“I think it’s here to stay as long as we win, and I think we’re going to continue to win,” Hall said. “Whether we’re ever this good again, I don’t know, but as long as we’re winning, Tennessee fans will be there.”

No. 40 Luc Lipcius cheering after a two run homer by no. 27 Jordan Beck in game 3 against Auburn University at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Sunday, May 1, 2022. Edward Cruz / The Daily Beacon

No. 21 Trey Lipscomb celebrates with his teammates after hitting a two run homer against Auburn University at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Sunday, May 1 2022.

Edward Cruz / The Daily Beacon On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

36

SPORTS

Student tickets: How to get them, how to use them ERIC WOODS Staff Writer

As baseball season winds down and we grow closer to another reset of the sports scene, here is a look at how to get your student tickets at the University of Tennessee. Big Orange Tix allows students to attend Vol sports events at a heavy discount and even for free.

What is Big Orange Tix? Big Orange Tix is the portal in which students can request for tickets for football and basketball games. Students can go to bigorangetix. utk.edu and begin the process. In order to be eligible to request tickets through Big Orange Tix, a student must be enrolled at UT and have paid the full student programs and services fee.

All Big Orange Tix reservations follow a basic process: log in to Big Orange Tix with your Net ID, request the ticket, purchase if needed, print the ticket and attend the game. Keep in mind that eligible students are not guaranteed a ticket.

How to reserve your ticket for football Student tickets for home football games are sold at $10 a ticket, while guest and away tickets are sold at face value, which can be found at the information page for each game.

There is a two-day request period for obtaining a

home game ticket, typically starting at 9 p.m. EST 10 days before the game, usually Wednesday through Thursday. A student can request for one student ticket and two face-value guest tickets. If students want to sit with a group, they must select a group leader and request to be seated with them.

After the request period, students will be sent an email letting them know that they have been given the opportunity to claim and purchase the ticket or have been put on a waiting list. They have until Monday at 4 p.m. to claim the ticket. If there are tickets unclaimed, then another claim period will take place for those on the waiting list. Any tickets available after this period will be given on a first come, first serve basis.

Priority will be given based off loyalty points, which accumulate as students attend each game.

How to reserve your ticket for basketball Home basketball tickets during the regular season are completely free for students.

They are awarded on a first come, first serve basis and do not have a loyalty points-based system. Students will go through the request period through Big Orange Tix, which opens five days before the game.

The students will then be sent an email to claim the ticket three days before the game, and another one two days before the game before the open sales period.

Student seating will be at general admission in sections 123–126, 128–130 and/or 322–327A, with overflow seating in sections 301A and 309A for men’s games, and sections 128 and 129, with overflow seating

in sections 328–330 and 312–314 for women’s games.

Student tickets will not need to be printed out. Instead, the tickets will be connected with the student’s Vol Card, which will be scanned at the gates.

How to reserve your ticket for all other sports Students can attend baseball, cross country, golf, indoor and outdoor track, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, volleyball and rowing for free by simply showing their UT ID at the entrance gates.

Volunteers Jaylen Wright and Ja’Quain Blakley celebrate with the crowd after the Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt football game on Nov. 27, 2021.

Jamar Coach / The Daily Beacon

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

37

On Rocky Top

|

The Daily Beacon

|

38