I Will Always Bleed Orange and White — Go Vols!
There are some things in life you choose, and some things choose you. For me, being a Tennessee Volunteer was never a decision—it was destiny. From the first time I heard the booming echo of “Rocky Top” rolling through Neyland Stadium, I knew this wasn’t just a team. This was a tradition, a family, and a way of life. And for as long as I live, no matter where I go, I will always bleed Orange and White.
A Legacy Rooted in Pride
The University of Tennessee isn’t just a school—it’s a symbol of heritage, pride, and unshakable loyalty. Founded in 1794, its traditions run deep, with the football program becoming a cornerstone of Volunteer culture since its inception in 1899. From General Robert Neyland’s legendary coaching to Peyton Manning’s unforgettable Saturdays on Shields-Watkins Field, Vols football is steeped in history. But to truly understand why I bleed Orange and White, you have to understand what Tennessee stands for.
It stands for pride. For unity. For grit. For heart.
Saturdays in Neyland: A Sacred Ritual
Anyone who has stepped foot into Neyland Stadium on a fall Saturday knows it’s not just a game. It’s a sacred ritual. With a capacity of over 100,000, it becomes the fifth-largest city in the state every game day. The sea of orange, the prideful chants of “V-O-L-S, VOLS! VOLS! VOLS!”, the team running through the Power T—it all sends chills down your spine no matter how many times you’ve seen it.
Neyland isn’t just a stadium. It’s where generations of fans come to celebrate wins, mourn losses, and stand tall together no matter the outcome. It’s where parents take their kids for their first taste of Vol football, passing down the torch of tradition like a rite of passage. It’s where memories are made—unforgettable Saturdays that mark the seasons of our lives.
Rocky Top: Our Heartbeat
If you’ve never heard “Rocky Top” blare through the speakers after a touchdown, you haven’t truly lived. It’s not just a fight song; it’s our anthem. Written in 1967, “Rocky Top” captures the essence of Tennessee pride with its toe-tapping rhythm and backwoods spirit. It’s joyful, fierce, defiant—everything the Vols are. When the Pride of the Southland Band strikes up those first few notes, the whole stadium comes alive. It’s pure magic.
“Rocky Top, you’ll always be, home sweet home to me.” Yes. Always.
No matter how far away I go, the sound of that song brings me right back home.
A Passion That Never Wavers
Through every high and low, win and loss, coaching change and rebuilding year, one thing has remained steady: the passion of Vol Nation. We’re not fair-weather fans. We don’t jump ship when times are tough. We stick it out, side by side, arm in arm, because we know that being a Tennessee Volunteer is about more than the scoreboard.
We’ve had our share of heartbreaks, sure. But we’ve also seen comebacks that shook the foundation of Neyland. We remember the Hail Mary against Georgia in 2016, the goal-line stand against Florida in 2004, the grit of the 1998 National Championship team. We remember Peyton’s leadership, Al Wilson’s fire, Eric Berry’s heart. Every era, every player, every game becomes a thread in the orange-and-white tapestry of our collective memory.
And we’re proud of all of it.
More Than Football
Bleeding Orange and White doesn’t stop at football. It’s in our basketball team, with its raucous Thompson-Boling crowds and fierce rivalries. It’s in our Lady Vols—the most iconic program in women’s basketball history—built by the indomitable Pat Summitt. Her legacy of toughness, class, and excellence will forever define what it means to represent Tennessee.
It’s in our baseball team, our track stars, our swimmers, our rowers. Every athlete who wears that Power T does so with the weight of tradition on their shoulders and the full support of Vol Nation behind them. Win or lose, we show up. We support. We cheer. We believe.
The Power T: A Symbol of Home
That simple, bold orange “T” is more than a logo. It’s a symbol of home. You see it on hats, bumper stickers, and t-shirts across the country. And when two strangers cross paths wearing it, there’s a silent nod, a mutual respect. Because we get it. We know what it means to rep the Power T.
It means you believe in tradition. You believe in loyalty. You believe in something bigger than yourself.
Family Through and Through
The most beautiful part of being a Tennessee fan is the community it creates. Vol Nation is a family, plain and simple. We cry together, cheer together, argue over play calls together, and celebrate the highs like no one else. From tailgates that feel like family reunions to message boards lit up with opinions, analysis, and undying support, there’s a bond that ties us all.
Whether you’re from Knoxville, Memphis, Chattanooga, or halfway across the world, when you say “Go Vols,” you instantly have a connection. You’re part of something special. Something real.
Why I Bleed Orange and White
I bleed Orange and White because it’s in my bones. Because it’s where I found my people. Because it’s where I learned what it means to be proud, to stand tall in the face of adversity, and to never back down from a challenge.
I bleed Orange and White because of the memories—of shouting from the stands, of road trips to away games, of heartbreak and triumph and everything in between.
I bleed Orange and White because when I see those colors, I see more than a football team—I see a legacy.
The Future Is Bright
And we’re just getting started. With new coaches bringing fresh energy, young talent stepping up, and a renewed sense of purpose flowing through the program, the future of Tennessee athletics is blazing bright. The Vols are rising again, and the nation is taking notice.
But no matter where we go from here—championships or not—I’ll still be here. Wearing orange. Singing Rocky Top. Rooting with every fiber of my being.
Because my love for Tennessee isn’t conditional. It’s eternal.
