The Vols are back.
No, really, the V-O-L-S are back.
When the Tennessee Volunteers open their 2022 football season Thursday night against visiting Ball State, they will do so inside a Neyland Stadium that will have videoboards above both the north and south end zones. It’s the first time a videoboard has resided in the north end zone of the 101,915-seat facility that opened 101 years ago.
Yet it’s the return of the V-O-L-S block letters on each side of the south end zone videoboard that is sure to have Tennessee fans feeling a bit nostalgic.
“Traditions are a great thing, and you don’t ever want to forget about them,” said Bill Emendorfer, the CEO of Chattanooga’s Norspring Center for Rejuvenation and an All-Southeastern Conference guard for the 1972 Volunteers. “You’ve got to adjust to what’s going on in today’s world, but traditions can still be a significant part of your program.”