KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – This year’s DISH Orange and White Game will be the first public look at new head coach Jeremy Pruitt’s program. The event, on April 21, will feature a live game at 2 p.m., using standard scoring and rules, and several other new fan-friendly promotions. Pruitt hopes fans will treat the annual exhibition at Neyland Stadium like it’s a Saturday in the fall.

Admission and parking are free. Free shuttles will be provided from the UT Ag Campus and the Kingston Pike Building (Lot 40). The clear bag policy for Neyland Stadium will be in effect.

“There’s something about going out into Neyland Stadium and playing the game,” Pruitt said. “One thing that we want to do, from the coaches to the trainers and managers, and everyone in the entire organization, we want to approach the spring game and actually play a game.

“My challenge is for our fan base. The first two scrimmages aren’t open, but the spring game obviously is. The best way to put them in an adverse situation is to show up. That presence will create pressure which will prepare them for next season.”

In addition to the live game where the first team offense will face the first team defense, Tennessee has several other promotions scheduled, including:

• 9:30 a.m. –  Toyota Vol Village in Lot 9 opens, which includes give-aways, face painting, music, photos with Smokey and the spirit squad, food options, inflatable games, interactive areas and more.
• 12:30 p.m. – Gates Open
• The first 5,000 fans in Gates 10 and 21 will receive a free “Fan-dana” from Coca-Cola.
• 12:55 p.m. – The Vol Walk
• 2 p.m. – Kickoff
• Additional events and promotions will be announced soon.

“I want to create a game-like situation for the team to see who the competitors are,” Pruitt added. “That’s one of the things we talked about going into spring practice, it was finding the guys who love to compete when the game is on the line. The only way to figure that out is to put them in a game like situation and pick sides and ‘let’s go.’”

Pruitt Announces August Fan Day For Autographs
Tennessee will transition the autograph session, which has been a part of the Orange and White Game in the past, to a date in early August during fall camp. The transition will give fans an additional opportunity to watch a Tennessee practice inside Neyland Stadium. Following the August Fan Day open practice, fans will be able to meet the players and coaches and collect autographs.

UT Athletics