no mention of football dumpster fire...
A Letter From John Currie: October 13, 2017
Good Morning, Big Orange Nation!
We're set for another jam-packed weekend on Rocky Top, and my main reason for writing this today is to share my anticipation for a uniquely special and rare ceremony that takes place this afternoon—the investiture of our chancellor, Dr. Beverly Davenport.
Investiture proceedings are incredibly meaningful and symbolic for any institution of higher learning. The academic equivalent of a political inauguration, these ceremonies provide university leaders a forum through which they can share their vision. Dr. Davenport is just the eighth chancellor in UT Knoxville's storied history—and she is the first woman to occupy the campus's top leadership post.
The festivities began earlier this week with a tree planting ceremony in Circle Park. Chancellor Davenport's official investiture ceremony takes place today at 3:30 p.m. in Cox Auditorium in Alumni Memorial Building. There is a reception to follow, and the campus community is invited to attend.
The University of Tennessee has sent invitations to approximately 300 other universities, inviting them to send a representative to help celebrate Dr. Davenport's investiture. I encourage everyone who shares a reverence for this university to attend Friday's ceremony in Cox Auditorium to hear, firsthand, Dr. Davenport's vision for the future of UT Knoxville.
LEGENDS RETURN TO ROCKY TOP FOR HALL OF FAME INDUCTION
When you think about the collective collegiate achievements of the eight legendary individuals who will be inducted into the Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame this evening, it's hard not to be impressed.
We are incredibly honored to welcome our 2017 Induction Class, featuring Monica Abbott (softball), the late Ray Bussard (coach; men's swimming), Phillip Fulmer (coach; football), Justin Gatlin (men's track), Todd Helton (baseball), Jeremy Linn (men's swimming), the late Gen. Robert Neyland (coach; football) and Delisa Walton Myricks (women's track).
To read more about each of our inductees, click here. Fans in attendance at tomorrow's home football game against South Carolina will have the opportunity to show their appreciation for this year's inductees when they are introduced on the field during the first quarter break.
ACTION ABOUNDS ON CAMPUS
Our Tennessee soccer team, under the direction of head coach Brian Pensky, is 12-1-1 this season and riding a three-game win streak. Fans on Rocky Top can catch this fun-to-watch squad in action tonight at Regal Soccer Stadium when they host Georgia at 7 p.m. Based on our record, national ranking (No. 19) and RPI (No. 8), there's a good chance we'll be hosting NCAA Tournament soccer action on Rocky Top next month for the first time since 2012!
Basketball season is nearly upon us and tonight you can get your first glimpse at our Vol and Lady Vol hoops teams as they host Rocky Top Tip-Off at Thompson-Boling Arena, beginning at 6 p.m. The event will offer a fun, first-hand look at this year's squads and will feature an autograph session, a three-point shootout and a dunk contest. Complete with a photo booth, face painting, inflatables and a prize wheel, Rocky Top Tip-Off is an event for the whole family. Admission is free!
Of course, all of that Friday excitement leads us into Saturday's showdown with South Carolina at Neyland Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon on ESPN. It seems as if this game has been played on a razor's edge in recent years, with every meeting since 2012 being decided by three points or fewer. I know that the bye week was a productive one for our coaches and student-athletes and I'm eager for Team 121 to return to action in front of the Vol faithful.
If you were tuned into ESPNU on Wednesday night you witnessed our volleyball team pull out a gritty, five-set road victory over Georgia in Athens. The Lady Vols are back at it on Sunday, this time hosting Missouri at 1:30 p.m. at TBA.
Vol fans in the Jonesborough area are encouraged to support our men's golf team this weekend at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate, contested at the Blackthorn Club at The Ridge. Round One of the 54-hole tournament began this morning and will continue with rounds on both Saturday and Sunday.
Also on the road but not far from home is our women's tennis squad. Six Lady Vols have taken to the Midstate this weekend, competing at the ITA Ohio Valley Regional Championships in Murfreesboro with eyes on earning a bid to the inaugural Oracle ITA National Fall Championships in Indian Wells, California.
One last thing—rumor has it you may be able to catch a glimpse of the two fastest men on the planet on Shields-Watkins Field during the second timeout of the second quarter tomorrow. Don't blink!
Go Big Orange!
John Currie, Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics
A Letter From John Currie: October 13, 2017
Good Morning, Big Orange Nation!
We're set for another jam-packed weekend on Rocky Top, and my main reason for writing this today is to share my anticipation for a uniquely special and rare ceremony that takes place this afternoon—the investiture of our chancellor, Dr. Beverly Davenport.
Investiture proceedings are incredibly meaningful and symbolic for any institution of higher learning. The academic equivalent of a political inauguration, these ceremonies provide university leaders a forum through which they can share their vision. Dr. Davenport is just the eighth chancellor in UT Knoxville's storied history—and she is the first woman to occupy the campus's top leadership post.
The festivities began earlier this week with a tree planting ceremony in Circle Park. Chancellor Davenport's official investiture ceremony takes place today at 3:30 p.m. in Cox Auditorium in Alumni Memorial Building. There is a reception to follow, and the campus community is invited to attend.
The University of Tennessee has sent invitations to approximately 300 other universities, inviting them to send a representative to help celebrate Dr. Davenport's investiture. I encourage everyone who shares a reverence for this university to attend Friday's ceremony in Cox Auditorium to hear, firsthand, Dr. Davenport's vision for the future of UT Knoxville.
LEGENDS RETURN TO ROCKY TOP FOR HALL OF FAME INDUCTION
When you think about the collective collegiate achievements of the eight legendary individuals who will be inducted into the Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame this evening, it's hard not to be impressed.
We are incredibly honored to welcome our 2017 Induction Class, featuring Monica Abbott (softball), the late Ray Bussard (coach; men's swimming), Phillip Fulmer (coach; football), Justin Gatlin (men's track), Todd Helton (baseball), Jeremy Linn (men's swimming), the late Gen. Robert Neyland (coach; football) and Delisa Walton Myricks (women's track).
To read more about each of our inductees, click here. Fans in attendance at tomorrow's home football game against South Carolina will have the opportunity to show their appreciation for this year's inductees when they are introduced on the field during the first quarter break.
ACTION ABOUNDS ON CAMPUS
Our Tennessee soccer team, under the direction of head coach Brian Pensky, is 12-1-1 this season and riding a three-game win streak. Fans on Rocky Top can catch this fun-to-watch squad in action tonight at Regal Soccer Stadium when they host Georgia at 7 p.m. Based on our record, national ranking (No. 19) and RPI (No. 8), there's a good chance we'll be hosting NCAA Tournament soccer action on Rocky Top next month for the first time since 2012!
Basketball season is nearly upon us and tonight you can get your first glimpse at our Vol and Lady Vol hoops teams as they host Rocky Top Tip-Off at Thompson-Boling Arena, beginning at 6 p.m. The event will offer a fun, first-hand look at this year's squads and will feature an autograph session, a three-point shootout and a dunk contest. Complete with a photo booth, face painting, inflatables and a prize wheel, Rocky Top Tip-Off is an event for the whole family. Admission is free!
Of course, all of that Friday excitement leads us into Saturday's showdown with South Carolina at Neyland Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon on ESPN. It seems as if this game has been played on a razor's edge in recent years, with every meeting since 2012 being decided by three points or fewer. I know that the bye week was a productive one for our coaches and student-athletes and I'm eager for Team 121 to return to action in front of the Vol faithful.
If you were tuned into ESPNU on Wednesday night you witnessed our volleyball team pull out a gritty, five-set road victory over Georgia in Athens. The Lady Vols are back at it on Sunday, this time hosting Missouri at 1:30 p.m. at TBA.
Vol fans in the Jonesborough area are encouraged to support our men's golf team this weekend at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate, contested at the Blackthorn Club at The Ridge. Round One of the 54-hole tournament began this morning and will continue with rounds on both Saturday and Sunday.
Also on the road but not far from home is our women's tennis squad. Six Lady Vols have taken to the Midstate this weekend, competing at the ITA Ohio Valley Regional Championships in Murfreesboro with eyes on earning a bid to the inaugural Oracle ITA National Fall Championships in Indian Wells, California.
One last thing—rumor has it you may be able to catch a glimpse of the two fastest men on the planet on Shields-Watkins Field during the second timeout of the second quarter tomorrow. Don't blink!
Go Big Orange!
John Currie, Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics
