Decking the Vols with Santa Vol

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Welcome, everybody, to another episode of Connect the Knox.

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I'm Julia Hurley, your hostess with the

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mostess, connecting Knoxville to the nation.

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Today, we have a massive surprise for you.

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One of my absolute favorite people that you - if you have never

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attended a University of Tennessee football game, you have to now.

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This season's your season.

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We're gonna be winning anyway.

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And this is the guy you want to meet.

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Everybody meet Santa Vol.

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Thank you for being with us today.

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Thank you for asking me.

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Thank you for having me.

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Just glad to be here.

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We're so happy to have you here.

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Honest to goodness.

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So we were just talking pre-recording.

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We were talking how where my season tickets are for the football games.

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And you walk around the stadium and let people take pictures with you, and

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you're hyper involved in UT Athletics, but we've never, you've never made it

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over to the student athlete family section, which is where our tickets are.

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So this year, that's gonna have to change.

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We're gonna have to get you to our tailgate as well.

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So, tell us a little bit about how Santa Vol came to be.

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I mean, I don't want to say it was just on a LARP, but it was really,

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it was nothing that was predestinated, planned, or anything like that.

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If you remember, like, I'm gonna be showing my age here, but

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like, you go back 20 or 25, 30 years ago, and that's when

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they first started seeing, like, the Santa hat in team colors.

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Well, I thought, "What would happen if I had a whole Santa suit orange?"

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Well, then fast forward a few years, and, uh, I

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just decided I was going to see if I could find one.

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I found one online, ordered it, and it came out looking more

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kind of burnt orange, kind of, orange down, the wrong color.

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But it was the only one I had, so I wore it to the Vanderbilt game in 2015.

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In that time, I made the Facebook, I made a Twitter.

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Didn't really think anything about it until I wore it

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to the game, and the reception was just incredible.

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I thought it would be fun to do, like, the last game of the season,

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right before Thanksgiving, getting into Christmas, you know.

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Then, that year we went to the Outback Bowl.

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So I asked my mother, who does a lot of my suits, I said, "Hey,

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do you think you could make like a short sleeve summer version?"

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And she said, "I could probably do that."

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So, I went to the Outback Bowl when we beat Northwestern,

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and then it just kind of blew up from there.

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I mean, it was just, originally I was going to do this like maybe one,

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maybe two games a season, but then as I get messages on Facebook and

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Twitter, I would get more people, "Hey, are you gonna be at this game?"

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"Yeah, but it's September."

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"It's gonna be fine."

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"Well, I'm bringing my daughter."

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Okay, I'll dress up.

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You're kind of the icon in the tailgating world, honestly.

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Every time, every game we see you at, we're

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like, "Oh, there's [unintelligible] . We to go.

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We gotta go find him and get a picture."

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I mean, you have literally become a legend at UT Athletics.

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Does that get you any extra anything?

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Do you get like better season tickets or do you get invited to anything?

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Officially through the school?

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No.

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Now with, with that, uh, I have been able to,

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a lot of the former players really enjoy it.

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I've been down pregame.

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I've been able to get into the Letterman's room and hang out

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with the former players and former coaches a couple of times.

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And that's really cool.

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But, uh, I'm still just a big fan.

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That's just, I have to be a goofy guy to wear this kind of thing.

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So, any part that comes with that's great.

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I was trying to think of how to word it.

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The last coach that we can't speak of that was here, I was invited

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to be the official Santa for their coach's Christmas party.

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So, that was pretty cool.

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Uh, we won't name names, but that was pretty neat.

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I got to, you know, just go act like I belong and hang out in the

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Santa foot and get to visit with their kids and coaches and it was fun.

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In the history that I can remember of all the coaches that

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we have been through, there are only three that I mentioned.

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So, I mean, there's only three people that actually coached in my mind at UT.

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The rest of them were just kind of...

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[laughter] All right, you have been attending UT games since 1985.

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That's a long time.

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Tell us about that.

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First game that I saw, uh, was in 1985 and, um, my mom and dad and a couple of

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friends came to the, uh, Vanderbilt game, which was one of the, and I didn't

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think about it at the time until somebody pointed it out just a few weeks ago.

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At that game, we beat Vanderbilt 30 to nothing and

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then stormed the field and tore down the goalpost.

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Somebody was like, we tore down the goalpost after beating Vanderbilt.

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It was the game that clinched the SEC championship for us

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that year when we went on to beat Miami in the Sugar Bowl.

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So, it wasn't Vandy.

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It was the culmination of the season.

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And since then, um, we saw at least one game every year since then.

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Then when they, and again, showing my age, when they closed down

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the north section, the upper deck, we got season tickets in 95.

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And we've been up there ever since.

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I love to hear fan stories.

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We have, what, now 103,000 seats, down from 110,000

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with our new VIP section, which is stunning, by the way.

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The new section is amazing.

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Some of the things that we've been able to do.

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But on any given Saturday in the fall at University of

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Tennessee, Knoxville, there's 200,000 people there, hands down.

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Even people, they come to tailgate even if they don't get to go to the game.

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I've never seen more happy and supportive fans than at UT Knoxville.

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Just never.

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So I love to hear that.

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Um, let's see here.

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You have two daughters and you've been married to your wife since 1995.

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Does she, is she Mrs.

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Claus?

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Do we have like a whole family we're not aware of?

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She doesn't do the dress up.

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When my daughters were little, they would a little bit, but now they're both old

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enough that, yeah, it's kind of cool, but it's embarrassing at the same time.

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So I get it.

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I get it.

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I think, I think, you know, as an adult and someone who cherishes fandom

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and we all love to see you at the games, I think at this point you probably

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have like a trademark situation that you could possibly, possibly put in.

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Um, I don't know.

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Yeah, I thought about looking into it, but I don't know the ins and outs.

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I need a manager.

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Yeah, I would agree.

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So tell us about your children's hospital and kind of some of your

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volunteerism in the Knoxville market because that's really important.

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Yeah, a couple years ago, I was at my mom's house, not in

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Santa costume, and I get a message on Twitter from Josh Dobbs.

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And I'm like, okay, this is cool.

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I know Josh, but I don't know Josh.

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And it just said, Hey, Santa, if you would give my

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mom a call and have a phone number and I'm like, okay.

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So that year he wasn't able to make it, but he had bought a ton

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of presents that he wanted to pass out to the children's hospital.

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So me and his mom and dad went through and

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visited every child that we could get into.

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I mean, of course, there were some that you weren't able, you know,

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for whatever their illness was, but we visited every child, gave

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every child a, uh, A toy for Christmas, took pictures, and it was

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really, it was one of those, I never understood the word humbling, and

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still I started doing this, and then I kind of get that, you know, it

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really makes you appreciate, you know, things you take for granted.

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Do you work at all with Legends of Tennessee on their Christmas events?

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I did.

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This year I worked with the, um, Volunteer Club.

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They did a, uh, Christmas with the, uh, basketball team, and

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I was there with some of the players, and it was pretty cool.

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Yeah, I, going back to Josh Dobbs, he is involved

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in so many things still here in Knoxville.

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I don't know if people realize how involved and giving

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he really is, and still here in the Knoxville Market.

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I mean, he is, um, he was at Kickball with Curt, Curt Maggit,

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and he has been there every season to contribute and play.

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And he always shows up for the Knoxville

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market, and so including you in that was huge.

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I, and also, just a PS, these football players, they

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really do randomly text you on Twitter or Instagram.

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With a phone number and a question.

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And you're saying to yourself, is this really you?

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Going back to the first year that I dressed up, that just done the two game.

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That summer, I just had the Facebook and the Twitter.

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I now I've got Instagram and TikTok, but I don't know what I'm doing.

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Uh, but I'm driving down the road and my phone buzzes.

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I glanced down and it says message from Chip McCallum in my brain.

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I'm going, the only Chip McCallum I know

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kicked through UT back in the early nineties.

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This is crazy.

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So I get to where I'm going.

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I get my phone.

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Don't text and drive.

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And, uh, he's like, "Hey, Santa, this is Chip McCallum, I kicked for the Vols.".

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I'm like, I know who you are.

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And then the text is like, "Are you going to be at the Alabama game?"

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And I'm like, what?

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Yeah, but I'm probably not going to dress up.

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I mean, you know, I still think I'm just going to do it once or twice a year.

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"Well, if you come to the game, my daughter wanted to meet

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you and I can get you down because it's Letterman's Reunion.

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I can get you down to the Letterman's area and you

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can meet, you know, Coach Majors and former players."

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Well, I guess I'm dressing up then.

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I mean, you know, it was, I mean, that's pretty simple.

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Uh, but yeah, um, I'm going to be real good, real good friends with Chip.

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And then, um, Jabari Davis and Chris Treece, you mentioned the legends earlier.

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I do, uh, I do help out with them as much as I can.

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I haven't really done any official events with them,

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but I'll just kind of show up and crash theirs.

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Um, uninvited, not invited, don't have to

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be invited, I don't know at this point.

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Jabari and Chris so much for the community.

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I find that a lot of the former players, Derek Furlow, does

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so much with SLB and Jabari and Chris have done an amazing

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and with the, uh, the past and current players coaching all

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over the state of Tennessee and the southeast for their camp.

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So, I know that that is a connection that they would like to continue with you.

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Um, tell us more about it.

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When you're on campus, dress, is this, is

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this like a full on Santa suit meeting?

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Is this like hardcore wool?

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It is like 95 degrees outside for the first home game coming up.

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What are you, I mean, tell us about how often you're dressed up.

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Is it special occasion games only, like now?

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The home game for Alabama, definitely you're going to have to be there.

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Tell us more.

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It went from I was just going to do it like the last game of the

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season, then I decided, well, I can do it for just the big game.

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And now it's, I do something every game.

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I've got a Hawaiian shirt that's Santa and, and Tennessee-themed.

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So, I've got like the Santa Hawaiian shirt I may wear for early games.

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Um, I've got a short sleeve version of this suit.

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I'm not sure, it's not wool, but it's not thin.

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Uh, I'm not, I'm not sure what the material is, but, uh, yeah,

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I've got the, um, I've got a dark mode suit, um, for the Music City

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Bowl, um, a few years ago, I had my mom create a, a smoky gray suit.

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So, when they roll those back out, I've got air already waiting.

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So, I've got a suit for just about every color

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other than white because then I can't wear.

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A white suit trimmed in orange, that would look weird and get dirty.

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Um, but for the most part, if it's an early game, it's probably gonna be

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orange shorts with a Hawaiian themed, or a Santa-themed Hawaiian shirt.

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Or maybe just the short sleeves and Santa's summer suit, I call it.

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But then once we get into October, depending if it's a night game, even

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if it's early in the season and warm, I can get by with it at night.

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The worst part's the hat.

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I tell everybody it truly, you know, they tell you

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in the wintertime the hat holds in all the heat.

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It does.

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The suit itself, it's not as bad even when it is that hot.

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Your body just kind of regulates you get used to it.

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With the hat, I just sweat and sweat and sweat.

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00:10:28,949 --> 00:10:30,817
So, you didn't graduate from UT?

235
00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:31,400
No, ma'am.

236
00:10:31,730 --> 00:10:33,670
My dad was just a huge UT fan.

237
00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:35,840
He coined the term sidewalk alumni.

238
00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:39,430
I guess that's fitting because, you know, we never really

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00:10:39,430 --> 00:10:41,139
went to class, but we've been on sidewalks walking around.

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00:10:41,770 --> 00:10:45,900
We all know that real estate is location, location, location.

241
00:10:46,549 --> 00:10:50,510
Our team at Just Homes Group has the true expertise

242
00:10:50,850 --> 00:10:54,020
pairing buyers and sellers with the right opportunities.

243
00:10:55,100 --> 00:10:59,009
Whether you're looking to buy or sell a home right here in Knoxville.

244
00:10:59,769 --> 00:11:03,460
Lenore City, Clinton, or Farragut.

245
00:11:03,750 --> 00:11:07,390
We have the expertise throughout every Knoxville surrounding area.

246
00:11:08,490 --> 00:11:10,290
Call Just Homes Group today.

247
00:11:11,730 --> 00:11:12,040
I get it.

248
00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:15,309
I also did not graduate from UT, and we now are season ticket

249
00:11:15,309 --> 00:11:18,890
holders to every possible purchased sport at the University

250
00:11:18,890 --> 00:11:21,339
of Tennessee and members of the Shareholders Society.

251
00:11:21,339 --> 00:11:24,300
So, we have fully purchased orange.

252
00:11:24,510 --> 00:11:28,330
Uh, at such a level, half of my closet is now the University of

253
00:11:28,330 --> 00:11:32,340
Tennessee's, uh, original Pantone orange, which you're wearing, and I love.

254
00:11:32,349 --> 00:11:36,474
Almost a yellow, uh, orange, which makes it a very different color.

255
00:11:36,599 --> 00:11:36,969
Color.

256
00:11:36,990 --> 00:11:37,930
It's absolutely stunning.

257
00:11:38,150 --> 00:11:39,899
What are your thoughts as such a fan?

258
00:11:39,900 --> 00:11:44,460
What are your thoughts on this, uh, this year adding schools to the SEC?

259
00:11:44,460 --> 00:11:46,320
How's that going to affect us coming up?

260
00:11:46,390 --> 00:11:48,700
And how do you feel that's going to affect the SEC as a whole?

261
00:11:48,860 --> 00:11:50,749
I don't want to say I'm against adding schools

262
00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:53,390
because I like getting away from the conferences.

263
00:11:53,390 --> 00:11:55,760
I didn't like the East West because if you've got, if the

264
00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:58,174
two best teams happen to be, and I'll just say in the West,

265
00:11:58,174 --> 00:12:01,013
so I'm not plain biased, but if the two best teams happen to

266
00:12:01,013 --> 00:12:03,160
come out of the same conference, they should play in Atlanta.

267
00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:05,650
You know, so I think that's one advantage we've got here.

268
00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:07,790
Uh, someone was asking me earlier what I thought about the

269
00:12:07,790 --> 00:12:10,830
season, and I said, honestly, I don't know game by game.

270
00:12:11,330 --> 00:12:15,900
But I feel like, you know, 11-1, 10-2 regular season is possible.

271
00:12:15,980 --> 00:12:18,660
With that, you know, I said I don't want to get into what game we might

272
00:12:18,710 --> 00:12:23,610
lose, but I honestly think we could see whoever wins in Athens turn

273
00:12:23,620 --> 00:12:26,690
around and then play in Atlanta the same two teams for the championship.

274
00:12:26,730 --> 00:12:30,050
Because I think it's going to be that, you know, going to be that stack.

275
00:12:30,139 --> 00:12:33,469
I think Oklahoma and Texas, more Texas than Oklahoma,

276
00:12:33,570 --> 00:12:36,350
is going to have a kind of a learning curve.

277
00:12:36,500 --> 00:12:40,180
I think Oklahoma seems to be coming into it with "Hey, thank you for having us.

278
00:12:40,180 --> 00:12:41,020
We're glad to be here."

279
00:12:41,020 --> 00:12:44,349
Where Texas is kind of coming in, flexing their "We're Texas," muscle,

280
00:12:44,349 --> 00:12:47,320
and I don't know that they're going to get the reception exactly.

281
00:12:47,330 --> 00:12:47,950
Horns down.

282
00:12:48,130 --> 00:12:49,690
Yeah, I think it'll be fun.

283
00:12:49,900 --> 00:12:50,760
You know, perfect world.

284
00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:53,010
I can go back to 1933 and still have Swanee

285
00:12:53,010 --> 00:12:54,490
and Georgia Tech and Lincoln Quarters.

286
00:12:54,490 --> 00:12:55,150
I mean, you know.

287
00:12:55,469 --> 00:12:56,121
We were actually, talking about this the

288
00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:58,280
other day, like, what schools would we add?

289
00:12:58,550 --> 00:12:59,990
And I said, I want Virginia Tech.

290
00:13:00,060 --> 00:13:02,529
I have always wanted I love Virginia Tech.

291
00:13:02,529 --> 00:13:03,080
I love Virginia Tech's colors.

292
00:13:03,110 --> 00:13:04,410
I like how they feel.

293
00:13:04,450 --> 00:13:05,750
I like their fan base.

294
00:13:05,759 --> 00:13:08,689
They're respectful, and they bring in a different level of

295
00:13:08,750 --> 00:13:12,980
other sports, like their gymnastics program is huge for the SEC.

296
00:13:12,980 --> 00:13:14,775
Their rowing program is huge for the SEC.

297
00:13:15,060 --> 00:13:18,960
They bring in more athletic ability other than football,

298
00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:21,579
but their football program is also outstanding.

299
00:13:21,620 --> 00:13:24,910
So, adding the fan base to it and their educational system,

300
00:13:24,910 --> 00:13:29,259
the ability to have the SEC grow financially in all sports.

301
00:13:29,420 --> 00:13:31,420
I think Virginia Tech would be an amazing add.

302
00:13:32,550 --> 00:13:34,060
I could definitely go without FSU.

303
00:13:35,150 --> 00:13:37,230
I couldn't care less about FSU.

304
00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:40,579
I didn't really want the Aggies, but here we are.

305
00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:42,940
I understand the add.

306
00:13:43,009 --> 00:13:43,680
Didn't love it.

307
00:13:43,820 --> 00:13:44,420
Didn't love it.

308
00:13:44,660 --> 00:13:48,410
Um, but everybody has their space in SEC sports.

309
00:13:48,500 --> 00:13:52,920
I feel like we're probably gonna go to losing a whole conference.

310
00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:55,790
I mean, there's a very specific conference that's been just chopped all to heck.

311
00:13:55,860 --> 00:13:58,570
I don't know where they're gonna go from here, uh, but I don't really know

312
00:13:58,570 --> 00:14:02,840
if they have any choice other than to add to the power base of the SEC.

313
00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:06,510
I mean, we continue to lead in almost every sport.

314
00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:10,550
Yeah, and I think, you know, the writings on the wall were eventually,

315
00:14:10,690 --> 00:14:13,900
there might just be two conferences, you know, and I don't know, God forbid

316
00:14:13,900 --> 00:14:17,339
we change the name, but I mean, I could see the Big Ten, who've got 18

317
00:14:17,340 --> 00:14:20,860
schools, but they're still the Big Ten, um, and the SEC just being the

318
00:14:20,860 --> 00:14:24,309
two main conferences and just, you know, the other schools still playing

319
00:14:24,309 --> 00:14:27,690
and, and people, You know, that's going to take away, you're still going

320
00:14:27,690 --> 00:14:31,750
to have the bowl games because the teams that are, you know, run of the

321
00:14:31,750 --> 00:14:35,169
mill, good every five or ten years, they're still going to be excited to

322
00:14:35,170 --> 00:14:38,600
go to a ball game, you know, the teams that are supposed to be really good,

323
00:14:38,839 --> 00:14:41,990
somebody gets hurt, they have a season where they finish, you know, eight

324
00:14:41,990 --> 00:14:45,570
and four, nine and three, instead of the, you know, eleven and ones, they're

325
00:14:45,570 --> 00:14:48,350
still going to want that ball game to get practice, get playing time in.

326
00:14:48,350 --> 00:14:51,070
So, you know, last year we had the teams opting out

327
00:14:51,070 --> 00:14:52,670
of the bowls because they didn't get in the playoffs.

328
00:14:52,670 --> 00:14:54,240
I think that's just kind of a one off.

329
00:14:54,330 --> 00:14:56,699
I don't think that's anything that's going to stick permanently because

330
00:14:56,700 --> 00:14:59,700
the coaches recognize they need the, you know, need the extra practice.

331
00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:02,420
Well, let me get your opinion on NIL while I've got you here.

332
00:15:02,450 --> 00:15:05,699
Somebody that's been such a huge fan and been involved in all the athletics, and

333
00:15:05,700 --> 00:15:09,190
you're obviously an icon for the University of Tennessee athletic department.

334
00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:10,980
Hopefully they Hopefully, they start inviting

335
00:15:10,980 --> 00:15:12,510
you to some cool things in this podcast.

336
00:15:12,630 --> 00:15:14,550
You're definitely an icon in the fan base.

337
00:15:14,620 --> 00:15:17,229
What is your opinion on NIL and where that's going

338
00:15:17,230 --> 00:15:19,640
to take the college, uh, college sports arena?

339
00:15:19,740 --> 00:15:23,479
I really think, and the guys over at the Spy Group got on it

340
00:15:23,500 --> 00:15:26,720
for UT quick, and I really think it's helped us, and I think

341
00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:29,400
some other schools are probably looking to see what we've done.

342
00:15:29,820 --> 00:15:32,149
You know, I'm not one of the old heads that are like,

343
00:15:32,150 --> 00:15:33,639
"Man, I can't believe they're paying these guys."

344
00:15:33,759 --> 00:15:35,010
The guys should have been getting paid.

345
00:15:35,010 --> 00:15:36,529
They're getting them every weekend.

346
00:15:36,529 --> 00:15:38,080
They're out there risking lock and limb.

347
00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:40,979
The coaches are making money, crazy money.

348
00:15:41,110 --> 00:15:44,200
You know, I don't know, does it need to be better regulated?

349
00:15:44,220 --> 00:15:44,720
Maybe.

350
00:15:44,809 --> 00:15:47,699
You know, you don't need, you hear like the, somebody

351
00:15:47,700 --> 00:15:49,469
had a 20 million dollar contract or something.

352
00:15:49,469 --> 00:15:52,050
Okay, I find it hard to believe that any group

353
00:15:52,050 --> 00:15:53,779
in college paid a kid 20 million dollars.

354
00:15:53,779 --> 00:15:55,700
I just, I can't find that in my head.

355
00:15:55,700 --> 00:15:56,460
It don't make sense.

356
00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:59,969
But, um, you know, does it need to be where, you know, certain

357
00:15:59,970 --> 00:16:02,579
positions get X amount, other positions get other amount?

358
00:16:02,630 --> 00:16:03,350
That's fine.

359
00:16:03,580 --> 00:16:05,349
But the main thing I like about it is.

360
00:16:05,630 --> 00:16:09,290
It just makes it easier for the student athlete to be able

361
00:16:09,290 --> 00:16:11,190
to go through things without having to worry about it.

362
00:16:11,190 --> 00:16:12,639
I mean, you hear the stories from the 80s

363
00:16:12,639 --> 00:16:14,910
and 90s where, you know, somebody was hungry.

364
00:16:14,910 --> 00:16:16,680
The coach gave them money to go buy a hamburger.

365
00:16:16,770 --> 00:16:18,209
Well, then they're under investigation.

366
00:16:18,300 --> 00:16:18,660
Okay.

367
00:16:18,660 --> 00:16:19,930
Well, was it really?

368
00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:21,479
It was just for buying a hamburger?

369
00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:24,230
I mean, you know, that seems a bit strange, but at the

370
00:16:24,230 --> 00:16:27,170
same time, it really helps the fans be able to reconnect.

371
00:16:27,170 --> 00:16:30,610
Kids can get paid $1,500 to show up at a store for

372
00:16:30,610 --> 00:16:32,670
two hours and take pictures and sign autographs.

373
00:16:32,710 --> 00:16:33,950
Why shouldn't he be able to?

374
00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:35,000
I mean, you know, it's America.

375
00:16:35,030 --> 00:16:38,770
So I think from that point, it really helps the

376
00:16:38,770 --> 00:16:41,420
athletes get through college a little easier.

377
00:16:42,099 --> 00:16:44,399
We've all been broke college students at one time or another and

378
00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:47,199
it's not fun, especially if you don't have anything that you can.

379
00:16:47,389 --> 00:16:48,670
Yeah, especially if you're broke.

380
00:16:48,950 --> 00:16:50,040
It's just really not a fun time.

381
00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:55,510
These kids literally are sacrificing 15, 16 hour day

382
00:16:55,550 --> 00:16:59,160
currently in fall camp, up and training by 5:30 a.m.

383
00:16:59,179 --> 00:17:04,109
check-ins, school starts next week, and their last check in is 9:30 p.m.

384
00:17:04,109 --> 00:17:05,769
So, these kids, 5:30 a.m.

385
00:17:05,770 --> 00:17:09,449
to 9:30 p.m., coaching, game time, playbooks,

386
00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:12,339
practice, weightlifting, dietician.

387
00:17:12,579 --> 00:17:17,710
All the things that relegate a physical person's ability

388
00:17:17,710 --> 00:17:21,869
to leave and have freedom to be in and out of a space?

389
00:17:21,869 --> 00:17:23,089
They don't have that right now.

390
00:17:23,139 --> 00:17:26,839
They're giving all of that to us as fans every single day laying it on the line.

391
00:17:26,859 --> 00:17:28,920
So, I agree they should be able to be paid.

392
00:17:29,130 --> 00:17:33,620
Um, and I like that some of the previous athletes have been able to be paid.

393
00:17:33,700 --> 00:17:37,620
And I love that EA Sports started paying the kids to be on their games.

394
00:17:37,620 --> 00:17:39,770
I think that we're starting to see more of a respect

395
00:17:39,780 --> 00:17:44,790
for the ability and the beat of your actual body.

396
00:17:44,940 --> 00:17:47,690
I think there are enough athletes now that are older that

397
00:17:47,690 --> 00:17:51,830
recognize the sacrifice and the pain that your body will go

398
00:17:51,830 --> 00:17:56,139
through in all sports and they're happy to see these kids get paid.

399
00:17:56,139 --> 00:17:57,130
So, I agree with that.

400
00:17:57,130 --> 00:17:59,280
I think Spire Sports definitely set the tone.

401
00:17:59,570 --> 00:18:04,040
I think that anybody in the Knoxville market who is looking to

402
00:18:04,060 --> 00:18:06,679
possibly compete with that, or any other school looking to compete

403
00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:09,649
with that, needs to possibly take that model into consideration.

404
00:18:09,910 --> 00:18:13,599
I know that the SEC is moving more toward a profit share system possibility.

405
00:18:13,599 --> 00:18:14,780
That's been a conversation.

406
00:18:14,940 --> 00:18:18,219
I think that'll be very interesting to watch, kind of like the NFL and NBA.

407
00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:18,830
We'll see what happens

408
00:18:20,220 --> 00:18:24,830
But always finding it interesting that an individual such as yourself's

409
00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:29,270
contribution in the local market has made such an impact on the fan base.

410
00:18:29,309 --> 00:18:32,830
What are your plans, let's say, for the next season?

411
00:18:32,839 --> 00:18:35,709
Do you have like a schedule of you're available at this

412
00:18:35,740 --> 00:18:38,280
game, you'll be at this tailgate, or people can come to this

413
00:18:38,370 --> 00:18:41,250
specific place to get pictures with you during this time?

414
00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:46,130
Or you'll be at this not for profit event for conversations and pictures.

415
00:18:46,130 --> 00:18:47,679
Do you have a set schedule this year?

416
00:18:47,950 --> 00:18:48,919
Not really.

417
00:18:48,990 --> 00:18:53,789
I know, and nothing's official, but generally every year, the last

418
00:18:53,789 --> 00:18:57,169
home game, I will do something with the ball shop on game day, where

419
00:18:57,170 --> 00:18:59,330
it just makes it a little easier for people to get in, to get you

420
00:18:59,330 --> 00:19:01,910
know, and again, that's kind of Thanksgiving going into Christmas.

421
00:19:01,910 --> 00:19:02,990
It makes a little more sense.

422
00:19:03,170 --> 00:19:07,919
Otherwise, generally, I'm usually up around the Torchbearer.

423
00:19:08,049 --> 00:19:10,130
I've just discovered that's the easiest spot

424
00:19:10,330 --> 00:19:12,219
to get candy canes handed out to players.

425
00:19:12,219 --> 00:19:13,870
Right where they get off the buses, they haven't had

426
00:19:13,980 --> 00:19:16,420
time to split up much, and that's been an easier way.

427
00:19:16,420 --> 00:19:18,410
I've been doing that for the past two or three years.

428
00:19:18,470 --> 00:19:22,709
As tailgates, I always get asked, and honestly, I would love to be able

429
00:19:22,710 --> 00:19:26,709
to get around as many as I could, but It's just literally on game day.

430
00:19:26,849 --> 00:19:27,840
I can't move.

431
00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:34,080
If I'm at one spot, if I start walking, I will be able to go.

432
00:19:34,230 --> 00:19:37,080
I can walk 15 20 minutes fine until somebody

433
00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:38,879
breaks the ice and stops me for a picture.

434
00:19:39,170 --> 00:19:40,632
And then once that happens, I can go.

435
00:19:40,679 --> 00:19:43,160
I'm in that spot for 15, 20, 30 minutes taking

436
00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:45,280
pictures, and I'm not going to walk off.

437
00:19:45,370 --> 00:19:47,470
I mean, you got to take pictures as long as people want them,

438
00:19:47,719 --> 00:19:52,440
especially because I'm still, I'm still getting understanding.

439
00:19:52,510 --> 00:19:53,970
I'm just a guy in a Santa suit.

440
00:19:54,020 --> 00:19:56,570
I'm not really understanding why people want pictures with me.

441
00:19:56,840 --> 00:20:00,560
And then the only, The only drawback for folks is

442
00:20:00,620 --> 00:20:04,810
for the second home game, I believe it's Kent State.

443
00:20:04,930 --> 00:20:06,620
We started a couple years ago.

444
00:20:06,740 --> 00:20:10,060
My wife wants to go to just one game with Morgan instead of Santa.

445
00:20:10,120 --> 00:20:13,080
So, I will go incognito so she don't have to put up

446
00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:16,380
with the Santa hubbub, and I usually pick like a smaller

447
00:20:16,380 --> 00:20:18,850
game earlier in the season, so it won't affect anything.

448
00:20:18,990 --> 00:20:22,169
But Santa will not be at the Kent State games.

449
00:20:22,459 --> 00:20:22,869
Gotcha.

450
00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:24,959
Well, we'll be on the lookout for Santa Ball.

451
00:20:25,030 --> 00:20:27,520
Be on the lookout to make some connections for you and with

452
00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:31,080
you to some larger tailgates, maybe get you paid to be at some

453
00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:34,070
events, and see if we connect you with some different people.

454
00:20:34,070 --> 00:20:36,169
Because again, this podcast is called Connect

455
00:20:36,179 --> 00:20:38,264
the Knox, and that's what we sure plan on doing.

456
00:20:38,580 --> 00:20:42,579
And we really appreciate your time, energy, effort, and volunteerism.

457
00:20:42,850 --> 00:20:45,800
That's what we're all about here in the Volunteer State, and it's

458
00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:50,930
really important to see people like you motivate other fans to continue

459
00:20:50,930 --> 00:20:54,946
to support our players and our coaches all across all sports at UT.

460
00:20:55,090 --> 00:20:57,780
We really appreciate you so much for contributing.

461
00:20:57,790 --> 00:21:00,249
You, your family, for allowing you to do

462
00:21:00,250 --> 00:21:02,050
that as well and supporting that endeavor.

463
00:21:02,260 --> 00:21:04,899
Is there anything that you would like to say to anybody, a way to

464
00:21:04,910 --> 00:21:08,489
connect with you, follow you on Instagram, social media, TikTok?

465
00:21:08,610 --> 00:21:10,500
Tell us where people can find you and support you.

466
00:21:10,559 --> 00:21:15,800
Yes, ma'am, on Instagram and uh, Twitter or X, I guess, it is

467
00:21:15,809 --> 00:21:20,860
" santa_vol," no "s," just, "santa_vol.", uh, and both of those I've

468
00:21:20,860 --> 00:21:24,480
got a link pre-up that will take you to my TikTok and to my Facebook.

469
00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:26,219
Facebook has so many different things at the

470
00:21:26,220 --> 00:21:28,230
end of the address, I can never remember it.

471
00:21:28,360 --> 00:21:31,239
If you only have Facebook, if you just go in and search

472
00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:34,149
"Santa Vol," you'll see, I think right now it's set

473
00:21:34,150 --> 00:21:37,030
up, you'll see a giant number nine wearing a Santa hat.

474
00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:39,540
This is the ninth year that I've done my Santa ball

475
00:21:39,540 --> 00:21:41,290
countdown to kickoff, which we didn't even talk about.

476
00:21:41,610 --> 00:21:44,970
Uh, every year, and I started this, I guess,

477
00:21:44,980 --> 00:21:47,150
the second year that I started wearing the suit.

478
00:21:47,360 --> 00:21:51,169
But, uh, every year from August 1st until the first day of kickoff,

479
00:21:51,389 --> 00:21:54,809
I've got a different, uh, autographed item that I will give away.

480
00:21:55,140 --> 00:21:57,629
Just go in and follow and it's like, hey, if you want this comment,

481
00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:02,020
and I pass something into the player and today I can't remember who it

482
00:22:02,020 --> 00:22:04,230
is today, but I'm going to have that drawing to find out who that is.

483
00:22:04,230 --> 00:22:07,140
And I'll get it posted today and it's just every year.

484
00:22:07,140 --> 00:22:08,870
And that's 1 thing that I've started doing.

485
00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:12,579
I know where a lot of the guys tailgate that played in the late 80s, early 90s.

486
00:22:12,889 --> 00:22:15,760
And I will literally, I've stopped doing even football cards.

487
00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:16,895
I'll just find a picture online and print

488
00:22:17,060 --> 00:22:18,590
it myself and get them to autograph it.

489
00:22:18,620 --> 00:22:21,440
And a lot of times, if I don't have something for them to sign,

490
00:22:21,450 --> 00:22:23,560
they'll be ragging on me like, "Why can't I sign this week?"

491
00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:25,240
And I'm like, "Dude, I've got like six of your autographs.

492
00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:25,859
It's okay.

493
00:22:25,860 --> 00:22:26,840
I'll give them, give them away.

494
00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:27,410
I promise."

495
00:22:27,830 --> 00:22:30,249
But, uh, they know what I'm doing with it, so they don't mind.

496
00:22:30,340 --> 00:22:32,610
You know, they know it's not going to wind up on eBay or something.

497
00:22:32,610 --> 00:22:33,730
It's just straight up.

498
00:22:33,730 --> 00:22:36,870
And even, I've always been an autograph collector since I was a little kid,

499
00:22:36,950 --> 00:22:40,830
so I understand, you know, why people like that, and I hate seeing people

500
00:22:40,830 --> 00:22:43,889
have to pay to get somebody's signature, you know, so if I can make it as a

501
00:22:43,889 --> 00:22:47,280
giveaway, you know, great for them, so that's just something I like to do.

502
00:22:47,430 --> 00:22:49,740
Again, that volunteer spirit, it's something that is

503
00:22:49,780 --> 00:22:53,679
so ingrained in true fans in the Knoxville Market.

504
00:22:53,690 --> 00:22:55,449
We can't say thank you enough for all the

505
00:22:55,450 --> 00:22:57,810
support and exuberance and fandom that you bring.

506
00:22:57,810 --> 00:22:59,629
And we're very excited to connect with you

507
00:22:59,630 --> 00:23:01,389
in the future for our tailgates as well.

508
00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:02,209
You be on the lookout.

509
00:23:02,230 --> 00:23:02,720
Yes, ma'am.

510
00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:05,770
And we'll get you connected with some new players and see what we

511
00:23:05,770 --> 00:23:08,600
can't do to make sure that you stay connected in the Knoxville Market.

512
00:23:08,610 --> 00:23:10,510
Thank your mother, by the way, for that suit.

513
00:23:10,970 --> 00:23:11,580
Thanks, mom.

514
00:23:11,630 --> 00:23:16,849
We appreciate you and we're going to start to follow santa underscore V-O-L.

515
00:23:17,090 --> 00:23:18,940
That's volunteer santa underscore vol.

516
00:23:19,330 --> 00:23:21,489
Santa, thank you so much for being with us today.

517
00:23:21,799 --> 00:23:24,269
And everybody that listens into our podcast, I'm

518
00:23:24,270 --> 00:23:27,660
Julia Hurley, connecting Knoxville to the nation.

519
00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:30,800
Until next time, thank you for tuning into the show.

520
00:23:31,090 --> 00:23:33,179
Make sure to like and subscribe.

521
00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:36,280
Leave a five star review on your podcast player of choice.

522
00:23:36,540 --> 00:23:38,610
And if you would like information on moving

523
00:23:38,610 --> 00:23:41,150
to Knoxville, send me a private message.

524
00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:45,500
As always, this is Julia Hurley connecting Knoxville to the nation.