NEYLAND STADIUM
 The present day Neyland Stadium, Shields-Watkins Field had its beginning in 1919. Col W.S. Shields, president of Knoxville's City National Bank and a UT trustee, provided the initial capital to prepare and equip an athletic field. Thus, when the field was completed in March of 1921, it was called Shields-Watkins Field in honor of the donor and his wife, Alice Watkins-Shields.
The stadium, apart from the field it grew to enclose, came to bear its own distinguished name - Neyland Stadium. It was named for the man most responsible for the growth and development of Tennessee football - Gen. Robert R. Neyland, who served as head coach from 1926 to 1952, with two interruptions for military service.
After retiring from the coaching ranks, Neyland was athletic director until his death in 1962. He was the guiding force behind additions to the stadium's capacity and is the one most responsible for the winning tradition that Volunteer fans have come to expect over the years. The latest addition to the facility is the Neyland Stadium Press Box and Executive Suites, officially opened Sept. 5, 1987. Located atop the West Upper Deck at Neyland Stadium, it replaces one built in 1962.
The stadium expanded in 1996 to a seating capacity of 102,544.
Neyland Stadium is the largest Stadium in the Nation. Over 4 million fans have attended Volunteer Home Games in the last five years.
Michigan Stadium, University of Michigan (107,501)
Neyland Stadium, University of Tennessee (102,854)
Beaver Stadium, Penn State University (93,967)
Ohio Stadium, Ohio State University (91,470)
Stanford Stadium, Stanford University (86,117)
|
How the House was Built
Neyland's House On The Hill
1919-University trustees vote to name a new proposed play ground Shields-Watkins Field in honor of benefactor W.S. Shields and his wife, the former Alice Watkins.
1920-A set of 1 7 rows of concrete stands were built that serves as the foundation for the current west stands.
1921-(March 16 & 17) A campus Field Day was declared, as classes were dismissed to allow students, faculty and administrators to prepare Shields-Watkins Field for competition.
1921-(March 19) First intercollegiate game on Shields-Watkins Field as Tennessee hosted the University of Cincinnati in baseball.
1921-(Sept.24) UT defeats Emory and Henry 27-0 before 1,200 fans in the first intercollegiate football game on Shields-Watkins Field.
1922-Vols debut in orange jerseys for the first time in 50-0 season-opening victory over Emory and Henry.
1926-East stands (17 rows) built as matching complement to west stands.
1929-(Sept.25) UT begins 55-game home streak without a loss with a 13-0 victory over Carson-Newman.
1929-Additional 42 rows and 11,060 seats added to west stands.
1929-(Sept.28) In the home opener, Gene McEver took the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown vs. Centre College.
1929-(Oct.19) Overflow crowd of 23,000 watch Tennessee defeat Alabama 6-0.
1935-Public address system installed.
1938-East stands expanded by 44 rows (12,030 seats) and a four-floor dormitory built under the stands.
1938, 1939 & 1940-Vols go undefeated and untied in the regular season for 1938, 1939 and 1940. In addition, the 1939 squad is the last college team to go through the regular season unbeaten, untied and unscored upon.
1939-Vol running back Johnny Butler makes his famous 56-yard run in UT's 21-0 win over Alabama.
1948-Massive south stands (15,000), including a 166-room dormitory built, making the stadium a horseshoe.
1951-Vols go through season undefeated and are named national collegiate champions.
1953-Students select a bluetick coonhound named Smokey as team mascot.
1959 - Tennessee defenders Wayne Grubb, Charley Severance and Bill Majors stop Heisman Trophy winner Billy Cannon of LSU short of the end zone to preserve the Vols' 14-13 victory over the No.1-ranked and defending national champion Tigers.
1960 -Army ROTC color guard revives memory of a famous Tennessee military unit that fought in the Mexican War.
1962 - (Oct.20) Stadium officially named Neyland Stadium, along with the dedication of the west upper deck (5,837 seats) and a new press box.
1962 - Volunteer Navy makes its first appearance along the banks of the Tennessee River outside the stadium.
1964 - Innovations include Vols running through the "T", checkerboard end zones and the letter "T" on helmets.
1965-The Tennessee walking horse makes its debut with a colorful pre-game trot around the field.
1966 - North stands, which include 5,895 seats, are erected in the end zone.
1968-East upper deck constructed (6,307 seats) and Tartan Turf installed as Tennessee and Georgia deadlock 17-17 in the season opener.
1968 - The famed Vol Network announcing team of John Ward and Bill Anderson begin their long-time association by calling the 1968 Tennessee-Georgia classic.
1970 - Legendary evangelist Billy Graham packed the stadium when his crusade came to Knoxville in the summer of 1970. President Richard Nixon made a surprise appearance at the crusade.
1971 - (Dec. 4) The Neyland Stadium Football Theft was perpetrated when a fraternity pledge swiped the ball from the field in full view of ABC's cameras carrying the Penn State game coast the coast.
1972 - Southwest upper deck (6,221 seats) and lights debut as Tennessee defeats Penn State 28-21 in the first night game at Neyland Stadium.
1972 - Hollywood stars Burt Reynolds and Dinah Shore created a stir in Section C when they attended the 1972 NFL pre-season game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Cleveland Browns.
1976 - Southeast upper deck (9,600 seats) completed making Neyland Stadium a double-decked horseshoe.
1980 - New north stands make Neyland Stadium a bowl and with 10,499 additional seats, push capacity to 91,249.
1982 - (Oct.16) Unranked Tennessee defeats No. 2-ranked Alabama 35-28; it is the Vols first victory over the Crimson Tide since 1970.
1983 - New team locker room constructed under the north stands; Vols begin running out of the "T" from the north end zone instead of the east sideline (old locker room).
1984 - For three nights in the summer, Michael Jackson, amid much hoopla, entertained his loyal following with concerts that were a part of superstar singer's Victory tour.
1984 - (Sept.22) The Army's famed Silver Wing parachute team touched down on the turf at Neyland Stadium in festivities that preceded the Tennessee-Army game.
1985 - (Sept.28) Tennessee upsets No. 1-ranked Auburn and future Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson 38-20.
1987 - Press box/executive suites constructed over west stands.
1989 - Orange and white checkerboard end zones return.
1991 - (Sept.28) Stadium-record 97,731 watch Tennessee defeat Auburn 30-21.
1992 - Press box named for long-time Tennessee Trustee and Athletics Board member Tom Elam.
1994 - Natural grass replaces artificial turf surface.
1995 - Level four, the broadcast level, of the press box named in honor of John Ward.
1996-Construction of north upper deck with 10,583 seats completes Neyland Stadium as a double-decked bowl with a in 1786 seating capacity of 102,485 (Second-largest stadium in the country.