KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer and Tennessee football head coach Jeremy Pruitt will headline the five-city Big Orange Caravan fan appreciation tour this May.
Reigning SEC Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year Rick Barnes and Lady Vol basketball head coach Holly Warlick will join Fulmer and Pruitt at several of the events.
A collaborative effort between Tennessee Athletics and the UT Knoxville Office of Alumni Affairs, the Big Orange Caravan will make stops in Chattanooga, Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta and in the Tri-Cities. The events will feature fan-friendly elements such as meet-and-greets with VFL greats and coaches, a Q & A hosted by “The Voice of the Vols,” Bob Kesling, appearances by the UT Spirit Squads and Smokey the mascot as well as a photo booth, cornhole, social media station, free popcorn, face painting and more.
“I always genuinely enjoyed engaging with our passionate Tennessee fans during the Big Orange Caravan when I was the football coach, and I’m really looking forward to hitting the road again in my new role as AD,” Fulmer said. “Our fans show their loyalty to our teams by traveling to Rocky Top to support them. Taking the Tennessee experience to our fans’ backyard is a fantastic way to thank them and pay them back for that loyalty—which plays a vital role in our success across all sports.”
The 2018 Big Orange Caravan tour kicks off on Thursday, May 10 at the First Tennessee Pavilion in Chattanooga (5:30-7:30 p.m. ET) before heading to the Expo Center at Agricenter International/Dome in Memphis on Tuesday, May 15 (5:30-7:30 p.m. CT). Nissan Stadium will host the 52nd Annual All Sports Picnic in Nashville on Thursday, May 17 (5:30-7:30 p.m. CT), while SunTrust Park in Atlanta will welcome the next event on Tuesday, May 22 (5:30-7:30 p.m. ET). The Big Orange Caravan will wrap up at the Meadowview Marriott in Kingsport for the Tri-Cities stop on Thursday, May 24 (5:30-7:30 p.m. ET).
Admission to all Big Orange Caravan events will be $5 per person in advance or $10 at the door. Students and youth will receive complimentary admission. Proceeds from admission will go to the local UT Knoxville Alumni Chapters’ scholarship funds (these donations are non-refundable).
Registration is open at BigOrangeCaravan.com.
“Last year the caravan in Memphis was a lot of fun,” said Michael Pham, who received the 2017 Memphis Chapter Scholarship. “It was great to see the reach and size of the Volunteer Family and it meant so much to me to be recognized as the Memphis Chapter Scholarship recipient.”
Online registration will close three days prior to each event. Walk-up registrations will be accepted at $10 per person (credit card or check only). Space is limited. Pre-registered guests will be entered to win prizes from Tennessee Athletics.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase at each event.
“We are excited to be part of Big Orange Caravan again this year and look forward to engaging with future Vols and their families,” said Fabrizio D’Aloisio, Assistant Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and Director of Undergraduate Admissions. “It’s an exciting time to be a Tennessee Volunteer as we continue to invest in our students through scholarship, enhancing our already excellent facilities and providing a world class academic experience. This is another way for prospective students to learn and experience UT.”
Representatives from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions will be present at each event to celebrate new incoming Vols and share information with families who have students with an interest in attending UT. The incoming freshman class at UT Knoxville is among the best and brightest in school history.
CHATTANOOGA
Date: Thursday, May 10
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: First Tennessee Pavilion
Address: 1826 Reggie White Blvd, Chattanooga, TN 37408
$5 per person / Complimentary admission for students and youth. All proceeds benefit the Chattanooga UT Knoxville Alumni Chapter’s Scholarship Fund.
MEMPHIS
Date: Tuesday, May 15
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. CT
Venue: Dome of Agricenter International
Address: 7777 Walnut Grove Road Memphis, TN 38120
$5 per person / Complimentary admission for students and youth. All proceeds benefit the Memphis UT Knoxville Alumni Chapter’s Scholarship Endowment.
NASHVHILLE
Date: Thursday, May 17
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. CT
Venue: Nissan Stadium
Address: 1 Titans Way, Nashville, TN 37213
$5 per person / Complimentary admission for students and youth. All proceeds benefit the Nashville Region UT Knoxville Alumni Chapter’s Scholarship Endowment. The Nashville event also will feature a silent auction sponsored by the Nashville Region UT Knoxville Alumni Chapter.
ATLANTA
Date: Tuesday, May 22
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: SunTrust Park
Address: 755 Battery Ave., Atlanta, GA 30339
$5 per person / Complimentary admission for students and youth. All proceeds benefit the Atlanta UT Knoxville Alumni Chapter’s Scholarship Fund.
TRI-CITIES
Date: Thursday, May 24
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Meadowview Conference Resort and Convention Center in Kingsport
Address: 1901 Meadowview Pkwy, Kingsport, TN 37660
$5 per person / Complimentary admission for students and youth. All proceeds benefit the Sullivan County Alumni Chapter’s Scholarship Fund and the Washington County Alumni Chapter’s Scholarship Fund.
-UT Athletics
