Poking the bear? Kentucky fan opens Tennessee week by painting Vols' Rock
As border rivalries go, Kentucky and Tennessee is one of the more underrated clashes in the country, especially because their chief rivals carry such weight. But this week, a Wildcats fan has already started Tennessee’s week on the wrong foot.
Katie Inman of WBIR tweeted a picture of the paint job, and wrote, “Rock update!!! Someone painted “GO CATS” over the beautiful homecoming scene! Uh oh. Who’s ready for Saturday?”
The Vols have largely controlled the series with an 80-25-9 mark, and Tennessee has won six of the last eight meetings, including last year, 24-7.
The Rock is often a destination for when big news happens around the Tennessee program, such as a coaching change or big win on the football field. Fans have also expressed criticism with coaches on the Rock. The Rock was also painted earlier this year to support a Florida boy who was bullied for his homemade T-shirt design to support the Vols.
BREAKING @UTKnoxville Rock update!!! Someone painted “GO CATS” over the beautiful homecoming scene! Uh oh. Who’s ready for Saturday? @wbir pic.twitter.com/XWd4XtHJub
— Katie Inman (@Katie_Inman) November 3, 2019
WOW! and they even spelled it right.
I guess that’s as good as its going to get.
Remember when they would try to kidnap Smokey?
Or steal the beer barrel? (1925 – 1998)
With the Vols holding the above stated edge in wins, listing it as a rivalry seems a little blah lately.
But we like to dream.
I absolutely consider this game a rivalry, and I could care less what the record is. I also agree, they should bring the beer barrel back. I love UT vs UK games, both in football and on the court!
I remember that too paris. Smokey shenanigans and the beer barrel. Should change it to the bourbon barrel though.
Well, we pretend we’re still in a rivalry with Alabama…so we get it.
It completely sucks the Beer Barrel is no more. Gotta figure a way to get that back in to this.
So someone explain to me, now they are SERVING beer in SEC Stadiums, why we can’t bring back the BARREL TROPHY?!
No beer at Kroger.
Well, I gotta be honest. I’d much rather see someone paint the rock with another school’s colors, then paint it with swastikas or white pride phrases, which has happened in the past.
That was definitely a UT fan trying it fire up the team. I’m sticking with that theory.