KNOXVILLE — It would be easy to assume that the Tennessee Vols would take a bowl invitation for granted. After all, this month’s Music City Bowl pairing against North Carolina on Dec. 30 will mark the school’s 49th bowl appearance,which ties UT for second all-time with that other UT (Texas). Alabama leads with 58.
But if that were the case, why, oh, why, did Luke Stocker schedule his wedding to Daine Karst for this Saturday in Kingsport?
“Obviously, after our team meeting in February, Luke decided there was no way we were going to a bowl game,” said UT coach Derek Dooley with a slight smile on Tuesday afternoon.
“My first question was, ‘Who planned that day? And why not in the middle of January?’ … But he didn’t answer that. He didn’t have to.”
What Stocker did do, according to Dooley, was present a plan that would make it easier for this teammates to attend the wedding, especially groomsmen Nick Reveiz, Daniel Lincoln and Cody Pope.