 01/30/99 By Smokey's Trail
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. Yes I was like everybody else, that thought it was going to rain, but I've watched the Vols all year long, and so I wasn't going to miss this special moment, with a estimated crowd of about 45,000 give or take a few, it was a great moment.
With a little prayer that the rain would hold off until after the celebration, we had a little mist near the end of the program, then it started to rain. It was truly an uplifting experience to see the Vols walk down Peyton Manning Pass, for some for the last time. Giving Phil Fulmer the high five and patting Al Wilson on the shoulder as well as other players and hearing Rocky Top from the Pride of the Southland Marching Band.
My wife was saving my seat on the 50-yard line while I was taking pictures of the SEC and National Championship banners, that were hanging up on the south end of the stadium. The University of Tennessee had a huge crank that was outside the south end of the stadium, that had a large screen that was hanging over the Vols letters inside the stadium.
They showed the Fiesta Bowl with John Ward announcing, on the big screen. Senior Jeff Hall gave the invocation and the Tennessee band played the national anthem. During the end of the anthem an American bald eagle named Challenger that was there at the Florida game, when we beat Florida 20-17 in overtime, flew from the north upperstands down across the field to the south 10-yard line.
It had the same effect on me as well as anybody else, it was an awesome sight to see. It made you feel proud to be an American and a Tennessee Volunteer. The band formed the T and the Vols ran through it, but the Vols that started in the Fiesta Bowl were introduced one at a time as they ran through the T. The coaching staff was introduced as well as they met their family in the middle.
There were many remarks from those that gave the trophies from the Fiesta Bowl and Sears. Also giving remarks were UT President Joe Johnson, Athletic Director Doug Dickey, coach Phil Fulmer and announcer John Ward. Senior linebacker and co-captain Al Wilson was the last one to speak, and got the biggest cheers.
"On behalf of my teammates and the coaching staff and everybody that had something to do with our football team, I want to thank the fans for all your support and all the love and care you showed throughout my four years at the University of Tennessee," Wilson said.
"We really do appreciate it and hope that in the future we can be known for a championship at Tennessee." At the end of the celebration the University of Tennessee showed a video set to music the National Championship with fireworks and the band closing with Rocky Top.
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