By Ralphine Major

It will soon be filled with fans from across the nation coming to watch the Tennessee Volunteers in a new and exciting season of football! The 100-year-old Neyland Stadium is a familiar place on The University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville, Tennessee. Once known as Shields-Watkins Field, the name was later changed to honor the great General Robert Neyland who was UT’s football coach for many years.

Neyland Stadium has been the site for other events as well. In the seventies, it was the place where the Billy Graham Crusade was held for several days. The crusade drew thousands to Knoxville including President Richard Nixon and country music icons Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. But Neyland Stadium is best known as the place where thousands converge during the fall for football. It is the place where Tennessee’s team runs through a giant “T” formed by the Pride of the Southland Marching Band. It is awesome to see thousands of fans packed in the stadium in an orange-and-white checkerboard pattern just like in the end zones. Over the years, Neyland Stadium has expanded and had several renovations. The picture shown here was taken in the seventies. It was a state-of-the-art structure then just as it is now. When I see a photo of Neyland Stadium, I can almost hear the voice of John Ward saying, “It’s football time in Tennessee!”

Words of Faith: “O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard.” Psalm 66:8 (KJV).