Necessity has long been the father of invention and in 1962, one enthusiastic fan of the Tennessee Volunteers recognized a need. George Mooney, a seasoned broadcaster who served for 16 years as the “Voice of the Vols,” never missed a fall Saturday at Neyland Stadium.
Traveling to campus each week, Mooney soon grew weary of the gameday traffic along Knoxville’s iconic thoroughfare, Kingston Pike. It occurred to him that a much more effective and efficient mode of transportation from his West Knoxville home would be to sail down the Tennessee River, arriving at the stadium with plenty of time for pre-game festivities. Without any docks in those early days, legend has it that Mooney had to improvise by tying his vessel to a tree and climbing through the underbrush to make his way to the stadium.
One man’s will to scale some river rock quickly caught on and the Volunteer Navy was born. This rich tradition, now 55 years in the making, is still going strong. The boats may be a bit sleeker, a bit more luxurious than Mooney’s little runabout, but the tradition and Volunteer spirit behind it remain the same.
Any given Saturday in the fall (when the Volunteers are playing at home), upwards of around 200 vessels can be found moored at the Vol Navy docks outside Neyland Stadium. Boats are welcomed on gameday in a first come, first served basis. A few boaters even arrive as early as Tuesday or Wednesday before the game to secure the coveted spots by the dock.
Larger vessels are moored right up to the docks, with smaller boats given the opportunity to tie off in a row. The Vol Navy is assisted by the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency to make sure that all boats are anchored safely.
The Vol Navy is informally overseen by the Vol Navy Boaters Association, which was founded in 2002 and has its own website complete with Vol Navy protocol, though the requirements are easily achievable.
“Being social is the only requirement for membership,” says Vol Navy Boaters Association co-founder and University of Tennessee grad Kevin Jeske-Polyak.
Vessels of all sizes can be spotted at the Vol Navy floating tailgate, including luxurious yachts, large cruisers, fully equipped houseboats, and sleek sail boats. Owning a boat is not even necessary. According to Jeske-Polyak, many members of the Vol Navy are regular crew members and guests of boat owners.
The Volunteer Navy has its own recognizable flag which can be seen flying from many of the vessels on Saturdays. This specially designed flag has been spotted on boats all over the world, and notably graces the walls of the Pentagon, after one was gifted to Vice Admiral Harry Harris of the United States Navy.
“The atmosphere on gameday is amazing,” says UT grad and Vol Navy member Jennifer McKinnish Burton. “Everyone is super friendly and you can go from boat to boat and just get to know people.”
She also mentioned that it’s not uncommon to have curious fans from the opposing team stop by to learn what the Vol Navy is all about. Vol Navy boaters come from far and wide, some traveling upriver from as far away as Alabama. Others tow their boats from various nearby regions and put in on the Tennessee River for gameday. And of course, there are plenty of Vol Navy members who travel the short distance from their residences across the waters of Watts Bar, Fort Loudoun and Tellico Lakes.
It’s not uncommon to see small amphibious aircraft land in the water and power over to join the Vol Navy as well.
Imagine stepping out the door of your beautiful waterfront home, and strolling down to your dock.
After boarding your vessel, perhaps an ultra-luxurious Searay L650 Fly, you slice through the water in style on your way to cheer the Vols on to victory.
This fantasy of enjoying your next tailgate with the Vol Navy might be closer to reality than you realize. Wallace Real Estate agents regularly work with sellers of incredible luxury properties that afford waterfront living and the opportunity to sail your vessel from home to the stadium on gamedays.
But the beauty and majesty of East Tennessee’s waterways aren’t limited to being enjoyed only during football season. The Tennessee River, as well as numerous other bodies of water in our region, create the backdrop for enjoying the wonder of nature all through the year. One recent study found that living near a body of water can improve health and wellbeing, even for those who reside in cities.
With miles of shoreline and numerous waterfront communities, East Tennessee is a wonderful place for water and outdoor enthusiasts to call home.
