HAPPY BIRTHDAY CONDREDGE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CONDREDGE

January 25, 2013

Knoxville, TN  (HOUSEOFNEYLAND) Condredge Holloway, Jr., Tennessee quarterback from 1972-1974 & current assistant AD at UT, celebrates a birthday today.

Condredge was born on January 25, 1954 in Huntsville, Alabama, the son of Condredge (Sr.) & Dorothy Holloway.

Mrs. Holloway was the 1st African-American employee of NASA working at the Marshall Space Flight Center.

Condredge was a multi-sport athlete at Lee High School in Huntsville.  He was a star in baseball & was drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1971.

Dorothy Holloway, however, was set on her son getting a college education.  The likely spot might have been in Tuscaloosa, but Coach Bryant would not agree to put Condredge in the QB position.

Coach Bill Battle would & did.  

Condredge came to Knoxville where he would lead the VOLS to a 25-9-2 record.  

Condredge made his Neyland Stadium debut on September 16, 1972 in a 28-21 victory over Joe Paterno's Penn State squad.

Holloway holds the record for the best interception to pass attempt ratio in VOL history...only 12 picks in 407 pass attempts.

Condredge became known as "the artful dodger," because, as UTsports.com says...

"(he) packed excitement into every play, whether it developed into a pass or a scramble."

Legendary VOL NETWORK announcer John Ward said...

"There are not many stars, but Condredge Holloway was a star."

Condredge played professionally in the Canadian Football League where he was the 1982 MVP & led the Toronto Argonauts to a championship in 1983.

In 2011, ESPN aired "The Color Orange:  The Condredge Holloway Story," produced by Knoxville native & country music star, Kenny Chesney.

Note:  It was my pleasure to meet Condredge last spring in my role as an usher at Lindsey-Nelson Stadium.  I got to see him at many games as he & his family are loyal VOL baseball fans.  

Update:  Condredge reminded me today (02-24-13) that his birthday has been incorrectly posted by internet sources.  

The correct date is January 25th.

                                                     Condredge Holloway & John White

                                                             Lindsey Nelson Stadium

                                                                 Knoxville, Tennessee

                                                                         May 4, 2012

SMOKEY IX: THE TRADITION LIVES

SMOKEY IX: THE TRADITION LIVES

Knoxville, TN  (HOUSEOFNEYLAND) SMOKEY IX, a.k.a. "PB Hudson's  Blue Smoky IX", became the mascot of the VOLUNTEERS on September 5, 2004.

In his debut, SMOKEY IX, according to his handler, Scott Walker, "was really nervous" when he ran through the "T" for the 1st time.

But Walker adds that SMOKEY IX has that "puppy spirit" & "is more playful with the fans."

Two years later, however, SMOKEY IX was accused of being more than playful with an Alabama player during warm ups.

SMOKEY IX was alleged to have "nipped at....perhaps even bitten" the player.

Earl Hudson, however, does not believe the latter.

Hudson says that SMOKEY IX "got a little of his uniform....didn't break the skin."

But the really BIG NEWS for SMOKEY IX & for all UT mascots before & after came on November 25, 2009.

"The American Kennel Club...made blue-tick hounds...the 162nd registered breed..."*

*A friend of mine, a big GEORGIA BULLDOG fan, used to claim that their mascot was a purebred & ours was just a mongrel.  

The Westminster Kennel Club announced in February 2010 that the bluetick coonhound would be "redshirted" for one year & then be allowed to qualify for competitions.

In the fall of 2011, SMOKEY IX began to "limp noticeably" & began to undergo treatment & eventually ACL surgery on January 24, 2012.

Vet Dr. Darryl Mills reported "the surgery went great."

SMOKEY IX has served under Coach Fulmer, the guy who left for Southern Cal, & Derek Dooley.

He will now continue the UT mascot tradition with new football coach Butch Jones.**

**Welcome Coach Jones & Happy Birthday!

HOUSE OF NEYLAND COMMENT

The University of Tennessee has the only bluetick coonhound mascot in the world.

While we have been struggling with success in our football program in the past few years, we can always take pride in our traditions, like SMOKEY.

There are many colleges who do not have REAL animals as their mascots, including the RED ELEPHANTS.

WE DO!  We have SMOKEY...thanks to you, our BEST FRIEND, for being there for us through thick & thin, win or lose.

Thanks for "GIVING YOUR ALL FOR TENNESSEE!"

SOURCE:

"SMOKEY: The True Stories behind the University of Tennessee's Beloved Mascot," by Thomas J. Mattingly & Earl C. Hudson. The University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, 2012.

SMOKEY VIII WAS A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP DOG

SMOKEY VIII WAS A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP DOG
                                  

Knoxville, TN  (HOUSEOFNEYLAND) SMOKEY VIII, a.k.a. "PB Brooks Hudsons  Blue Smoky VIII", was mascot of the VOLS 1998 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM.

SMOKEY VIII served from 1995 to 2003 under Coach Phillip Fulmer.

                                                                   Coach Phillip Fulmer
                                                                      Washington, D.C.
                                                               US Congress Photo (2008)

He & Phil put together a 91-22 record with a winning percentage of .805.

SMOKEY VIII could boast of 2 SEC titles (1997 & 1998).

The 8th Smokey retired after the 2003 football season & made his final appearance in the Peach Bowl vs. Clemson.

Tom Mattingly & Earl Hudson write that SMOKEY VIII was diagnosed with a nasal tumor & received radiation treatment & chemotherapy.

Earl Hudson added that SMOKEY VIII "was the best one we ever had....he was a great mascot."

SMOKEY VIII passed away on March 17, 2006.

SOURCE:

"Smokey:  The True Stories behind the University of Tennessee's Beloved Mascot," by Thomas J. Mattingly & Earl C. Hudson. The University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, 2012.

SMOKEY VII CANNED FOR "SNIPPING" AT UT TUBA PLAYER

SMOKEY VII CANNED FOR "SNIPPING" AT UT TUBA PLAYER
                                  

Knoxville, TN  (HOUSEOFNEYLAND) SMOKEY VII, a.k.a. "PB Brooks Blue Smoky VII", was mascot of the BIG ORANGE from 1992-1994.

The VOLS, under Coach Majors & Coach Fulmer, went 27-9 during that period for a .750 winning percentage.

Tom Mattingly & Earl Hudson tell us that SMOKEY VII was called the "black sheep" of the line as he had to be replaced in 1994 "after nipping at the heels of a band member, a tuba player named Tommy Chase, when the VOLS ran through the 'T'..."

Apparently this was not SMOKEY VII's 1st offense.

Earl argued that the band guy "obviously stepped on his foot (but) nobody ever explained that in the paper."

Just a personal observation here but the band guy was a TUBA player....those are usually big guys...& if, indeed, he stepped on SMOKEY's paw, I don't blame him at all for "nipping at his heels."  In fact, in my opinion, he should have bit him.

I guess the number VII was not a lucky one for this SMOKEY.

SOURCE

"Smokey: The True Stories behind the Univesity of Tennessee's Beloved Mascot," by Thomas J. Mattingly & Earl C. Hudson. The University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, 2012.

SMOKEY VI AND JOHNNY MAJORS DOMINATE

SMOKEY VI AND JOHNNY MAJORS DOMINATE  
                                  

Knoxville, TN  (HOUSEOFNEYLAND) SMOKEY VI, a.k.a. "PB Brooks Blue Smoky VI", was born the day before the UT victory over Alabama on October 15, 1982.

SMOKEY VI would be the VOL mascot under only one football coach, Johnny Majors.

He & Majors would boast a .724 winning percentage, & 3 SEC TITLES (those were the good old days).

SMOKEY VI was on hand, as were we, in New Orleans for the 1986 SUGAR BOWL when TENNESSEE absolutely crushed MIAMI & its hopes for a National Championship.*

*I would have to say that VOL victory was the most enjoyable I have witnessed even more than the upsets of LSU in 1959 & BAMA in 1982.  The reason is because of what that team had to overcome just to get to the Sugar Bowl, that no one gave them even the slightest chance to win, the cockiness of the Miami fans & the way the VOLS dominated defensively.  To top it off our seats were in the middle deck of the end zone, right in the middle of the goal posts on the end of the field where all but one of the VOL TDs were scored.

On a sad note, SMOKEY VI was the VOL mascot when Reverend Bill Brooks passed away on September 17, 1986 at the age of 81.

Mr. Brooks' wife, Mildred, took over for her husband in the care of SMOKEY.

During the 1991 UCLA game, SMOKEY VI had a heat stroke with the air temperature at 106 degrees & later that year, on December 19, SMOKEY passed away due to cancer.  

SOURCE:

"Smokey: The True Stories behind the University of Tennessee's Beloved Mascot," by Thomas J. Mattingly & Earl C. Hudson, The University of Tennessee Press, 2012.

SMOKEY V USHERS IN THE 1980S

SMOKEY V USHERS IN THE 1980s
                                  

Knoxville, TN  (HOUSEOFNEYLAND) SMOKEY V, a.k.a. "PR Blue Smoky V" became the VOLUNTEER mascot on June 1, 1980.

His 1st game was the GEORGIA game of 1980.

He is notably the VOLS mascot who was present for the historic TENNESSEE victory over the Crimson Tide in 1982.

It was that win, at Neyland Stadium, that broke the long winning streak of Bama's legendary coach, Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

The last time the VOLS defeated Alabama was the 24-0 win in Neyland Stadium in 1970.

Earl C. Hudson says that SMOKEY V "was a good (mascot)...that looked like SMOKEY VIII."

His handler, Jimmy Burton, said that SMOKEY V was so little "his ears dragged the ground."

Burton adds that SMOKEY V was nervous at 1st....so much so that he wouldn't run through the "T"...but he "got the hang of things."

Tom Mattingly & Earl C. Hudson's new book includes a picture of a DATA SHEET on SMOKEY V which appeared in the KNOXVILLE JOURNAL on Sept. 1.

The DATA on SMOKEY V included...

Bust 23", Waist 23", Hips 23"

Height 22"

Weight 86 pounds

Birthdate:  May 1980

Turn ons: Love, happiness, flirting with cheerleaders & having my stomach rubbed

Least Favorite Phrase: "Coach Majors wants to see you after practice."

SOURCE:

"Smokey: The True Stories behind the University of Tennessee's Beloved Mascot," by Thomas J. Mattingly & Earl C. Hudson, The University of Tennessee Press, 2012.

SMOKEY IV SERVES 2 YEARS AS UT MASCOT

SMOKEY IV SERVES 2 YEARS AS UT MASCOT
                                  

Knoxville, TN  (HOUSEOFNEYLAND) SMOKEY IV, a.k.a. "PR Blue Smoky Joe" became the VOLUNTEER mascot on September 24, 1973 & served under Coaches Bill Battle & Johnny Majors.

SMOKEY IV saw his VOLS compile a 12-10-1 record.

The reason for the short reign as UT's "top dog" was, Tom Mattingly & Earl C. Hudson tell us, his "valiant fight" with cancer.

SMOKEY IV died just before the VOLS were headed out to Houston for the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl.

He passed away on December 4, 1979.

Unfortunately, unlike SMOKEY I, SMOKEY IV had no offspring, so 'the bloodline was broken.'*

*There is a great picture in the new book "Smokey" of SMOKEY IV with his handler SAM HUFFAKER.

SOURCE

"SMOKEY:  The True Stories behind the University of Tennessee's Beloved Mascot," by Thomas J. Mattingly & Earl C. Hudson, The University of Tennessee Press, 2012.

THE TRADITION CONTINUES Smokey III

                 THE TRADITION CONTINUES 
                                      Smokey III

Knoxville, TN  (HOUSEOFNEYLAND) SMOKEY III, a.k.a. "PR Brooks Blue Smokey III" continued the Volunteer mascot tradition beginning on June 18, 1964.

Serving until 1977, his would be, according to Tom Mattingly & Earl C. Hudson, "the longest tenure of any (UT) dog."

Running & howling under football coaches Doug Dickey, Bill Battle & Johnny Majors, SMOKEY III could boast of a record of 109 wins, 44 losses & 6 ties.

I might add that SMOKEY III was our mascot during my years at the University of Tennessee as a student, 1966-1970 undergraduate, 1970-1974 graduate.

There is a photo in "Smokey: The True Stories behind the University of Tennessee's Beloved Mascot" of SMOKEY III with UT majorette Becky Nanney.*

*Becky was a fellow classmate of mine at Young High School. (see page 91).

Mattingly & Hudson write about SMOKEY III's encounter with Alabama's legendary coach Paul 'Bear' Bryant & his QB Scott Hunter.

It was the 3rd Saturday of October in 1968 when ABC-TV was at Neyland Stadium to telecast the game to a national audience.

During warmups, SMOKEY III's handler, a UT cheerleader, let him "come over close" to the Bama players & bark.

Scott Hunter took offense to this & "took a kick at that old hound."

Coach Bryant then walked up to Mr. Hunter & said:

"Scott, we've got enough trouble up here without you trying to kick their dog."

By the way, TENNESSEE won the game 10-9.

SOURCE:

"Smokey: The True Stories behind the University of Tennessee's Beloved Mascot," by Thomas J. Mattingly & Earl C. Hudson, The University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, 2012.

                          Photo by John White

SMOKEY II DIES IN LEXINGTON

           SMOKEY II DIES IN LEXINGTON
                  Death Caused by Acute Indigestion

Lexington, Kentucky  (HOUSEOFNEYLAND) SMOKEY II, the mascot of the Tennessee Volunteers, died on Sunday, November 25, 1963, in Lexington following the UT-UK game played at Stoll Field* on Saturday afternoon.

SMOKEY II, officially known as "PR Brooks Blue Smokey II," had been UT's mascot since 1955.

The death of SMOKEY II came on the same weekend following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

According to a report by AP, SMOKEY II died of "acute indigestion," but  Tom Mattingly & Earl Hudson writes, "someone...fed (Smokey) a chocolate pie after the game....one of the worst things anybody could feed a dog."

With one more game with Vandy left on the 1963 schedule, the VOLS secured a replacement SMOKEY from Bob Woodruff, UT's interim AD.

*Stoll Field, named after UK alumnus & Board of Trustees member, Judge Richard C. Stoll, served as UK's football field from 1916 to 1972.  It was the site of the 1st college football game ever played in the South.

SOURCE

"Smokey: The True Stories behind the University of Tennessee's Beloved Mascot," by Thomas J. Mattingly & Earl C. Hudson, The University of Tennessee Press,  2012.

THE DOGNAPPING OF SMOKEY II

         THE DOGNAPPING OF SMOKEY II
                           A Sad Doggie Tale

Knoxville, TN (HOUSEOFNEYLAND) Beauchamp Brogan, a UT grad but a UK law student & Delta Tau Delta frat guy,  discussed a plan to dognap UT's mascot before the UT-UK football game of 1955.

                                               Jim Brogan*
                             Son of Beauchamp Brogan

*Jim Brogan established the Beauchamp E. Brogan Investment Fellowship at the College of Business Administration, University of Tennessee in honor of his father. (www.utk.edu)

Brogan & some of his pals went to the home of Rev. Brooks posing as UT Pep Club photographers & were able to convince the Brooks that they were to "take Smokey for some pictures."

When they didn't return after several hours, Mrs. Brooks later said, "We knew something was wrong."

Later, the Brooks got a post card in the mail postmarked Corbin, KY.  It read...

"Rest assured Smokey will be all right.  Just a friendly rivalry. Will return."

SMOKEY II was taken to a horse farm in Lexington, KY. where he "was treated like a king."

To make sure everyone knew Smokey was o.k., they allowed photographers from the Knoxville News-Sentinel to be brought to the horse farm blindfolded...then allowed them to make Smokey's picture for the paper.

After "8 hectic days in Lexington," SMOKEY II was returned safe & sound to the TENNESSEE side of Stoll Field on the day of the football game.

Actually an exchange was made since UT students "catnapped" a UK stuffed mascot named Kernel.

The good news was that SMOKEY II was back where he belonged, but there is some bad news to report...

Tennessee lost to Kentucky 0 to 23 which gave the CATS 3 consecutive wins over the VOLS.

Ironically, Mr. Brogan was to become UT's general counsel & chief legal officer in 1975.

In a really funny twist, VANDY students attempted to dognap Smokey II the next week but "stole the wrong dog."

SOURCE:

"SMOKEY: THE TRUE STORIES BEHIND THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE'S BELOVED MASCOT," by Thomas J. Mattingly & Earl C. Hudson, The University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, 2012.

"SMOKEY II" A NEW DOG STEPS UP

                             "SMOKEY II"
                           A New Dog Steps Up

Knoxville, TN (HOUSEOFNEYLAND) Just as Rev. Brooks said, SMOKEY I had "good sons" that would "make good mascots," so SMOKEY II stepped up & would serve as the UT mascot from 1955 to 1963.

SMOKEY II, a.k.a. "PR Brooks Blue Smokey II" was born on October 16, 1954.

Tom Matttingly & Earl Hudson tell us that the 2nd Smokey mascot was "born on the day Tennessee lost to Alabama in 1954."

Not only did we lose to Bama that year, we were shut out 0 to 27.

Despite this gruesome fact, "Smokey II had a glorious career, complete with all kinds of magic moments."

One of those "magic moments" was certainly not when SMOKEY II was dognapped by UK students before the 1955 game in Lexington.

Return to the HOUSE OF NEYLAND tomorrow to hear the details about that story.

SOURCE

"SMOKEY: THE TRUE STORIES BEHIND THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE'S BELOVED MASCOT," by Thomas J. Mattingly & Earl C. Hudson, The University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, 2012.

                                         "Smokey is #1"
                            Photo by John White (2012)

"SMOKEY I: The First Dog of Tennessee"

                                  "SMOKEY I"
                        The First 1st Dog of  Tennessee

Knoxville, TN (HOUSEOFNEYLAND) Tom Mattingly says that Tennessee mascots "were born to do the job, born to be the mascot...ready to go when their number was called."

The University of Tennessee's first mascot was "SMOKEY I" born on Christmas Eve, 1946.

What a Christmas present for the VOL NATION.

He was officially known as "PR Brooks Blue Smokey" & he was to serve in the 1953 & 1954 football campaigns.

Tom Mattingly writes that SMOKEY I was a "novelty" on campus from Day One.

The "Orange & White" said in an article published on November 5, 1953...

"Smokey has always loved audiences, & he's really been eating up the attention he's been getting."

Unfortunately, SMOKEY I manged to escape the garage where he was being kept off of Rutledge Pike & was hit & killed by a passing car.

It was on Friday night, January 28, 1955.

SMOKEY I was 9 years old.

His owner, Reverend Bill Brooks, although grief-stricken, said:

"Smokey has 4 sons who will make good mascots."

SOURCE:

"Smokey: The True Stories behind the University of Tennessee's Beloved Mascot", by Thomas J. Mattingly & Earl C. Hudson, The University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, 2012.