Why Knoxville is without doubt one of the greatest faculty sports activities cities within the nation

Published On: September 1, 2026

Sept. 1, 2026, 5:04 a.m. ET

The College of Tennessee was named the No. 10 greatest faculty for sports activities followers by USA TODAY’s 10BEST Readers’ Selection Awards.
Tennessee’s Vol Navy custom, the place followers tailgate on boats on the Tennessee River, ranked No. 8 for Finest School Sports activities Traditions.
Different notable fan traditions embrace Checker Neyland, the Vol Stroll, and the crew operating by means of the “T” shaped by the band.

Knoxville will quickly flip right into a sea of orange because the Tennessee Volunteers put together to tackle Furman College on the College of Tennessee’s dwelling opener on Sept. 5.

It is no secret that Vols followers love their Scruffy Metropolis, however now its place as top-of-the-line schools for sports activities followers has as soon as once more been cemented by USA TODAY’s 2026 10BEST Readers’ Selection Awards.

Tennessee simply made the listing this yr, taking spot No. 10 on the 10BEST listing. It fell six spots from final yr, having earned the No. 4 spot on the 2025 10BEST Readers’ Selection Awards.

The Vols additionally took a prime 10 spot in Finest School Sports activities Traditions, touchdown at No. 9 for the Vol Navy, forward of the College of Alabama and behind the Ohio State College.

Soccer followers dominate Tennessee’s campus, downtown and even the Tennessee River throughout Saturday video games. It is no shock Knoxville is without doubt one of the greatest cities for faculty sports activities. Listed below are some traditions, together with the Vol Navy, that assist it earn the title.

Checker Neyland

First occurring in 2014, Checker Neyland is the follow of utilizing the seating sections in Neyland to create an alternating orange and white checkerboard within the stands, mirroring the sample within the discipline’s finish zones that has turn into an icon of Tennessee soccer.

The custom took a four-year hiatus between 2017 and 2021, however since its return 4 years in the past, it has shortly turn into a fan favourite follow for soccer season.

The 2026 Checker Neyland recreation is scheduled for Sept. 26 because the Vols tackle the Texas Longhorns. Followers who need to take part within the checkering can discover out if they should put on orange or white by going to CheckerNeyland.com.

Working by means of the ‘T’

Simply earlier than kickoff, the Pleasure of the Southland Band types Tennessee’s legendary “Energy T” for the Vols to run by means of, all whereas the group in Neyland erupts in cheers and shouts.

The ‘T’ is made on the sphere because the band’s last formation of its pre-game present. As soon as the form is shaped, the soccer crew runs by means of it.

The Vols have been finishing this custom for over 60 years, having first begun in 1965, in response to the NCAA. The crew took a break in 2020 as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.

Singing ‘Rocky High’

Written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryan in 1967 and recorded by The Osborne Brothers later that yr, “Rocky High” turned a fixture of Tennessee soccer and finally a nickname for the college.

It debuted on campus in 1972 and was first performed by the Pleasure of the Southland Band at a recreation in opposition to Alabama on Oct. 21. It has turn into one of the crucial recognizable songs in faculty soccer.

The tune is performed by the band and sung by followers each time the Vols get a landing through the recreation, gaining popularity than Tennessee’s precise struggle tune, “Down the Discipline.”

Vol Navy

Neyland Stadium sits simply beside the Tennessee River, creating the proper surroundings for this distinctive gameday expertise: tailgating on the water, in any other case often called sailgating.

It’s assured that whereas some followers congregate in Circle Park and others replenish G10 Parking Storage, all on the brink of watch the Vols tackle whichever crew they’re set to play that day, hundreds of others are boarding their boats and partying on the water.

The Vol Navy is a set of boats that dock simply by Neyland Drive and the stadium, internet hosting tailgates on the again of boats as a substitute of the again of automobiles.

The unofficial custom will enter its sixty fourth yr in the beginning of this soccer season.

Vol Stroll

The Vol Stroll is absolutely what kicks off the beginning of the sport. Earlier than followers enter Neyland, earlier than kickoff, earlier than the Vols run by means of the ‘T’, followers collect simply outdoors the stadium to look at the Vols stroll into the stadium.

The custom takes place a bit over two hours earlier than recreation time. First, the Pleasure of the Southland Band after which the soccer crew stroll by means of crowds of followers lining the road, high-fiving, shaking fingers and hugging as they go.