The CheckerBoard

There isn't a lot of college football fans up here in Philly.... But after the Vandy loss I went to the park to walk my Dog on Sunday Morning and was wearing a Tennessee Beanie. Some middle aged guy and his wife were walking there dog and saw my beanie and openly said "How's it feel to be a Tennessee fan lately" I didn't respond and just dropped my head in shame...

At family functions people will bring it up but now I can just come back with "Your coach covered up a child molester and you won't be in a bowl game for 4 years" so I got some pull now.

I'd venture to say I live in the worst place outside of SEC-Land to be a Vols fan... Central Indiana. Dealing with the stupid Basketball Hoosiers and Football Irish it's just too much. I have the benefit of everyone loving Peyton Manning here but that's about it.

I used to live in Knoxville, and every time I'm down there I am indescribably happy. Knoxville is where I'm meant to spend the rest of my life, this much I know for sure.

Fortunately, all of the Pac12/USC fans up here have been pretty silent after USC got beatdown by Georgia Tech. Ironically, most of them also confused GT with UGA, so they think it was an SEC team that beat USC to hell and back. The Oregon fans were kinda hyped last night, then I mentioned the Browns HC job and they suddenly got real nervous...

I live in south alabama and no one gives me a hard time. When we were winning everyone hated that I was a Vol. No one cares if you not a threat.

I live in Charlotte and don't really catch a ton of "crap." Most of my friends are Gamecock fans so that's a little tough, but they understand what it's like to be down, so do the Clemson fans.

It's funny how, living in ACC country, even though we're the next state over, the SEC is rarely talked about in the media. I unfortunately have to listen to sports talk radio from a duo that one is a Miami fan and the other a Bama fan, so UT literally never gets mentioned. UNLESS, I tune into TSR, which happens as much as possible.

But to answer your question, most of my friends/co-workers realize how big of a fan I am and that I went to school at UT so I don't hear too much negative stuff. I think most of the people I'm around realize that we're a sleeping giant that is just going through a rough period. They don't want to say too much incase the giant wakes up.

Be proud and wear our university all i say. I live in a tourist trap in gatlinburg and i have to deal with fans from all states but they all respect and understand what our tradition is