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Big Orange bon voyage
Pads packed, players pumped as Vols head to SEC Championship
University of Tennessee football equipment managers Tommy Phillips, left, and Chris Woolsey load a custom tractor-trailer with gear Thursday for the trip to the Southeastern Conference Championship game in Atlanta.
University of Tennessee football equipment manager Tyler Roberts walks past a custom tractor-trailer adorned with billboard-size photos of UT football and logos. The team’s gear was being loaded Thursday for today’s send-off to Atlanta for Saturday’s Southeastern Conference Championship game.
University of Tennessee football equipment manager Tommy Phillips checks off items on a list in the back of a tractor-trailer Thursday while loading gear for this weekend’s trip to the SEC Championship in Atlanta. Over the years, UT equipment managers have signed their names on the trailer’s interior wall.
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The other students call him "Alaska," and that's fine with Paul Hufford.
" 'Alaska' has been good luck for UT," said the exchange student from the University of Alaska, who hasn't missed a University of Tennessee home game this year.
Hufford, a senior from Anchorage, hopes he's good luck Saturday when the Vols play the Louisiana State University Tigers for the SEC Championship in Atlanta.
"I've actually been a Vol fan since I was a little kid," said Hufford, who was home-schooled way up north. "I think it started with the checkerboard end zone, but also the flashy colors - the orange and white."
Students will see off the Vols today when the Orange Nation, a UT student pep organization, gathers on Johnny Majors Drive between Stokely Athletics Center and the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center.
"We're gonna have a huge blowout," said Samantha Preshong, a senior pre-law major and president of the Orange Nation. "We're going to have a pep rally for the team as we send them off to clinch the championship."
The send-off is open to the public and scheduled noon-12:45 p.m. today.
There won't be a "Big Orange Tailgate Tour" in Atlanta this weekend, but the University of Tennessee Alumni Association is endorsing SEC FanFare at the Georgia World Congress Center, 1-9 p.m. today and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. It's food, it's fun, and it's games for the kids, said Kris Phillips, UT alumni program director.
The Tyson Alumni Center on the Knoxville campus has fielded a steady stream of phone calls and e-mails asking about tickets and tours. "Do you have tickets?" alumni ask. "The answer is 'No,' " Phillips said.
Hufford said he only recently got a ticket through a fellow student, and he's planning on making a weekend of it. This is what his semester has been about at UT. He does well with his studies, but he said he came to Knoxville for a season of Vols football.
"I'm not sure where I'm sitting, but I'll be there," Hufford said. "That's what matters."
Darren Dunlap may be reached at 865-342-6334.
© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by Chainsaw on November 30, 2007 at 12:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That's an awesome graphic on the side of the trailer.
Posted by RocketVol on November 30, 2007 at 6:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The graphic is spectacular!
To everyone headed to the game; be safe, drive carefully, make a ton of noise. Go Vols!
Posted by eb502us on November 30, 2007 at 6:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I saw that truck at the Cal game. It really stood out as it was parked right next to the stadium outside one of the gates. Got a picture standing next to it.
Posted by utvols1 on November 30, 2007 at 7:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'd agree-very nice graphics-hoped he packed some running game and improved secondary too!
Posted by GreerVol22 on November 30, 2007 at 7:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As Yoda might phrase it...This picture a Hester does not stop...
Posted by pdhuff on November 30, 2007 at 7:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Right on utvols1! We'll win the pretty truck contest and heaviest coach prize. Lets also see if we can light the scoreboard. Go Vols.
Posted by VAVols on November 30, 2007 at 8:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's forget the up & down season this year and get behind our beloved Vols tomorrow! Through adversity comes victory! V-O-L-S! Go VOLS Go!!
Posted by marc_ash on November 30, 2007 at 8:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think it's more likely Yoda would say, A Tennessee Vol, it's great...to be.
Posted by breecejr on November 30, 2007 at 8:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That's was Ainge's first game running through the T if I am not mistaken, seems like an eternity ago.
Posted by eduardo on November 30, 2007 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
An eternity ago, not soon enough if you ask me, what has the Peyton prodigy done? This rag tag bunch of bum players and coaching staff are on their way to a slaughter in hotlanta1
Posted by tigervol9802 on November 30, 2007 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I just hope Alaska gets to go home 8-0 if he makes to trip to Atlanta!
Posted by KnoxVol_in_TX on November 30, 2007 at 10:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Eduardo...you're an idiot! Ya bum!
Posted by UT_Tim on November 30, 2007 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How can I get that graphic on the walls of my living room? WOW
Posted by SavDawg on November 30, 2007 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good luck Vols! Thump 'em and send us to a great BCS bowl. Hey, you can say you're SEC champs, and at the same time you will have beaten the team that beat USC, OK, OSU, or whomever we play. See ya in Athens. Go Vols!
Posted by soddydaisy777 on November 30, 2007 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Some people who gets on here are not TN fans. They should be banned. Go Vols!
Posted by orangebloodgmc on November 30, 2007 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Eduardo, aren't you excited, man??? Our boys are in the SEC Championship game !!! C'mon now, sing it with me, "Wish that I was on ole Rocky Top, down in the Tennessee Hillllllls ...
Posted by VOLstuckINky on November 30, 2007 at 11:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
eduardo ... I just sent an email to the Go vols site and the NIS ... find your green card out or get the hell out, especially TN.
Posted by hiresanders on November 30, 2007 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm off to Atlanta. Let the beatdown begin! We should've put a pic with our home jerseys on there instead of the throwbacks.
Posted by Stumps on November 30, 2007 at 2:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
wish I could go to the game... I priced airfare for me at $220, tickets probably at least $200, so even if I slept at the airport sat. night (worth the sacrafrice) it was cutting too much into my Christmas budget. not this year. Those that are going, have fun, and make it loud! I sure wish we could play this game in Neyland.
Posted by mdvolmom on November 30, 2007 at 2:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We're pumped up here in Maryland! Making a day long party of it with some VT folks. You know, not many are picking TN to win this game but I think they're wrong. Let em hear us in Atlanta! GO VOLS!!
Posted by ozoney on November 30, 2007 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
you know, i've been bitching all year..not without good reason..but i love my vols and i'm very excited to see these young men bring it home for the big orange...GO VOLS...IT'S GREAT...TO BE...A TENNESSEE VOL!~
Posted by Colliervol on November 30, 2007 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Eduardo still hasn't gotten his sheep over the fence yet. Or he's helped too many over it. Not sure which.
Soddy, that was the price we paid for this thing going free. It was much better when folks had to pay for it. Cut down on the trolls from other schools. Seems like the number of dim bulbs increased on the site when they didn't have to pay that $4.00 a month.
Posted by DennisVols on November 30, 2007 at 6:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What do you call 75 men wearing a special black jersey while sitting around watching the SEC Championship game on TV?
Answer: The GA Bulldogs
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