Volunteer Nickname
Since the Revolutionary War, Tennesseans have been quick to volunteer for military duty. That reputation was solidified during the Mexican War when Gov. Aaron Brown issued a call in May 1846 requesting 2,800 volunteers for military service and 30,000 responded. A UT athletic team was dubbed the Volunteers for the first time in 1902 by the Atlanta Constitution following a Tennessee-Georgia Tech football game. The Knoxville Journal and Tribune did not use the name until 1905. By the fall of 1905 both the Journal and the Knoxville Sentinel were using the nickname. The name “Volunteers” is frequently shortened to “Vols” in describing Tennessee’s athletic teams. The dragoon uniform worn by Tennessee regulars during the Mexican War is worn by the color guard at UT Knoxville athletic events.
Some really fine GIs come out of Tennessee.. Then and still today..
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