{"id":851,"date":"2026-08-20T11:36:59","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T15:36:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/homecoming\/?page_id=851"},"modified":"2026-08-20T11:37:03","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T15:37:03","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/homecoming\/traditions\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"History"},"content":{"rendered":"

Homecoming is now a century-long tradition that invites both students and alumni to Rocky Top, celebrating Volunteer pride, the UT community, and campus connections. This event has undergone many pauses and transformations shaped by each generation, yet, throughout its evolution, Homecoming has continued to remain a cherished celebration for our Vol community.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n
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<\/svg> Grand Marshals by Year<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Year<\/strong><\/td>\nGrand Marshals<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2002<\/td>\nTina Wesson, 1983 Graduate, Winner of Season 2 Survivor<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2009<\/td>\nBobby Osborne, an American bluegrass musician. He was the co-founder of the Osborne Brothers, a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. Bobby and his brother Sonny wrote Rocky Top.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2012<\/td>\nChamique Holdsclaw, Former Lady Vol Basketball Player<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2013<\/td>\nCarol Aebersold, Elf on the Shelf creator<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2017<\/td>\nDel Bryant, Parent’s wrote Rocky Top, former head of BMI (Performing Rights Organization) (2003-2014), business person; & Dane Bryant parents\u2019 wrote Rocky Top<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2018<\/td>\nInky Johnson, Former Vol Football Player and Motivational Speaker<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2019<\/td>\nBriana Mason, first black Miss Tennessee<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2021<\/td>\nCandace Parker, Former Lady Vol Basketball Player<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2022<\/td>\nDrew H, Alumni<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2023<\/td>\nAl Wilson, Former Vol Football Player<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2024<\/td>\nTodd Helton, Former Vol Baseball and Football Player<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025<\/td>\nButch Wilmore, Former Vol Football Player<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n
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<\/svg> Homecoming Themes by Year<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Year<\/strong><\/td>\nTheme<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2000<\/td>\nSmokey\u2019s Safari<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2001<\/td>\nSmokey Rides Again*<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2002<\/td>\nThe Thrilla in Knoxvilla*<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2003<\/td>\nHowl-a-Ween Homecoming<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2004<\/td>\nBack Where We Began<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2005<\/td>\nTraditions Being with a T<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2006<\/td>\nRocky Top Round Up<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2007<\/td>\nSmokey’s Bayou Bash<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2008<\/td>\nGive Wyoming the BOOT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2009<\/td>\nRock-n-Roll the Tigers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2010<\/td>\nRocky Top the Rebels<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2011<\/td>\nClash of the Tennesseans<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2012<\/td>\nTrojans. Ancient History.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2013<\/td>\nCirque du Rocky Top<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2014<\/td>\nTennessee Traditions<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2015<\/td>\nMean Green meets Rocky Top<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2016<\/td>\nJourney through 100 years of Volunteers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2017<\/td>\nHomecoming 101: Intro to Rocky Top<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2018<\/td>\nSweet as Soda Pop<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2019<\/td>\nLighting the Way<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2020<\/td>\nAn Event Like No Other \u2013 For A Year Like No Other<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2021<\/td>\nCharge the Checkerboard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2022<\/td>\nSalute to Smokey<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2023<\/td>\n\u2026.. There\u2019s No Place Like Neyland<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2024<\/td>\nNeyland Night Lights<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025<\/td>\nTorchbearers and Trailblazers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2026<\/td>\nAll Roads Lead to Tennessee<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Homecoming is now a century-long tradition that invites both students and alumni to Rocky Top, celebrating Volunteer pride, the UT […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":71,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-wide.php","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-851","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nHistory - Homecoming<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"History - Homecoming - University of Tennessee, Knoxville\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/homecoming\/traditions\/history\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"History - Homecoming\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"History - 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