This paper explores the volunteer spirit at the University of Tennessee. It discusses how the volunteer nickname originated from a writer praising Tennessee for their enthusiasm during a football game against Sewanee. It then examines how the volunteer spirit represents the pride and dedication of Tennessee students and alumni. The paper concludes by arguing that maintaining the volunteer spirit will help the university continue its tradition of excellence.
The volunteer spirit has deep roots at the University of Tennessee dating back to the early 1900s. The nickname originated from an article written by John Reed in 1905 praising the Tennessee football team's enthusiasm in a close game against Sewanee. He noted