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.
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...
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.
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