KNOXVILLE, Tennessee — Around Rocky Top, the buzz about the basketball team is non-stop. And as the Vols see win after win and climb higher in the polls, students are starting to embrace a new identity. 10News caught up with them outside Thompson-Boling to see what they think.
Is University of Tennessee a basketball school?
Caleb Norris, freshman: Yes. The culture around it. The guys are great. They're great guys off the court.
What makes them great guys off the court?
Norris: Well the other day I was at a campus ministry and two of the guys were getting baptized. The rest of the team and supported them. It was really nice to see. If you say hi to them on campus, they always say what's up.
Is UT a basketball school?
Gordon Jinks, UT worker: Both. We've had good teams here. Good players good teams in basketball and football. I would say that we're predominantly at one time football . . . but we're still both.
So. Are we a football school or a basketball school?
Cole Hughes, UT linebacker: I think it's both. We've been good historically in football in the past. We're really good in basketball right now. Also we're not doing too bad in football right now, especially with all the new hires. All teams support each other, so I don't think it's any one school.
Is UT a basketball school?
Cade Hannah, freshman: I think we're 100 percent a basketball school. We should be one or two in the polls after next week, after the Duke loss last night. I do think we're on the rise in football. But as of right now we are a basketball school.
What's it like on campus? Do you own the whole like, 'Oh we're a basketball school now?'
Hannah: Whenever you see one of the athletes, it's like ... You see The Admiral. And you're like man. He's a stud.
Is UT a basketball or a football school?
Emily Keith, UT grad student: Right now it's a basketball school. But historically, football for sure.
Does that change the dynamic of stepping into a game, knowing the team is doing so well?
McKenzie Reynolds, UT grad student: I think us being here at 5:30 like. I would have never done that.
Brooke Bailey, UT grad student: Yeah, I've never done this before.
Reynolds: We've never seen this line.
Is UT a basketball or a football school?
Cierra Short, freshman: Well, I think we're a basketball school now. We used to be a football school. But now we're way better at basketball. This is actually my first basketball game. But football season was really cool so. I have the same expectations for this.
Is UT a basketball or a football school?
Brendan Gibson, student: I think if you ask people last year, they would have said basketball school because last season was not that great. But I think the way the football program's going ... I think we could be both in five years.
Is UT a basketball or a football school?
Noah Bond, freshman: I think right now we're definitely a basketball too. Right now we're pretty much on top in basketball.
As a freshman, what it's like to have the history and tradition of football but now the team is killin' it in basketball?
I think coming in we thought we were a football school. We had all the history of Peyton Manning all these really great players. Coming to basketball, knowing we're a pretty good team and seeing how much better we've gotten. It's just really fun coming here. Even just some of the smaller games at the beginning of the year it's really fun.
Alright. Are we a football school or a basketball school?
Sanderson Wall, sophomore: Basketball school right now. Until basketball season ends. Then we're back to being a football school. The love for football is more year round. This morning we hired Tee Martin and that got announced at like, three a.m. And it's big news as soon as we wake up and roll out of bed. So I think we're still a football school just because of the money that football brings in. And obviously the attendance. A hundred thousand people versus whatever is here. 30 or 25, so.
Is University of Tennessee a basketball or a football school?
Brock Miller, sophomore: UT is now a basketball school. We actually have a competitive basketball program that has the potential for Final Four.
If it got to that point what would your reaction be?
Miller: I would wanna go. I've been a Tennessee fan my whole life. Both my parents went here. Brother went here. Last year it was kind of like only some people believed in the team. This year it's like everyone knows they're pretty good.
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