Memories of the Strip
Alumni Remember the Strip
I'll never forget the night before the Bama game in 1976. There were about five of us standing on the bridge in front of Strong Hall. There was a sign on the bridge the said "Honk for the Vols.” Cars were going under the bridge honking and we started encouraging them. Pretty soon there were more and more people standing on the bridge until the crowd spilled out on to Cumberland Traffic came to a stand still. Members of the band showed up with their instruments and some cheerleaders in uniform.
It turned into the biggest "pep rally" I ever saw! It went on for some time until a poor guy with Alabama tags showed up. The crowd started rocking his new Caddy till the wheels were about to come off the ground. He gets out waving a pistol and the "pep rally" was over. Two years later the night before the Bama game was when the Kerns Bread truck incident occurred. I think after that the campus police put a stop to the impromptu "Bama pep rallies.” I'll always remember that night whenever I drive down the Strip.
—Mark Wooten, ’78, B.S., ’82 DVM
It was great to read stories about the Strip! They brought back memories of establishments that I haven't thought of in years A couple more come to mind that I didn't read about, though...eating $.10 hot dogs and and playing pinball machines for bonus games that could be cashed in for real money at the Vol Market; drinking beer and listening to live bands after flashing fake IDs at the Pump Room located at the corner of 17th and Cumberland. I remember coming back to school after a weekend at home and finding out the Pump Room had burned We were devastated.
One other memory comes to mind after reading Ken Beene's account of hitchhiking home to Signal Mountain. My freshman year, I lived at what was then known as New Melrose. We would walk down to the corner of 17th and Cumberland to catch a ride to Brainerd using signs that read "UT Student - Chattanooga." One Friday afternoon, my buddy and I left New Melrose to hitch a ride home. I am having trouble remembering my friend's name, but his first name was Jim and his last name started with Green, maybe Greenwood I also know he was a graduate of McCallie School in Chattanooga, while I am a Brainerd product.
Anyway, before I digress too far, we caught a ride part way home to somewhere around Athens on US 11. Interstate 75 wasn't completed all the way to Chattanooga in those days. We put out our signs again as we stood on the side of the road in Athens and shortly another car pulled over to give us a ride. It was a brand new 1964 Plymouth Fury with a 426 Hemi and pushbutton Torque Flite transmission. The car, which had Ohio plates, was driven by two young men who looked a little rough around the edges to say the least. They popped the trunk lid to put our bags in and we were surprised to see the trunk was completely empty. These two guys were in a brand new Ohio car with absolutely no belongings other than the clothing on their backs.
When we got in, the driver revved the engine, pushed one of the auto transmission buttons, and proceeded to leave two long black strips as we fish tailed down the highway. The next 60 miles or so to Chattanooga was a frightening experience, but we made it safely. I have always wondered two things about that trip. First, was that car stolen, and second, why didn't we ask them to pull over and let us out right away? Oh well, I guess we were young and stupid.
—Joe Hull ’67
My memories of the Strip are a lot more clear and vivid than my memories of the library while I was a student at Tennessee during the Nixon, Ford, and Carter administrations. I should have paid rent to that “just off the strip” institution Dan and Gracies Tavern for all the time I spent there. But my fondest memory of the Strip was the amorous couple who fornicated on the bull on top of the brick building across from the Krystal. It’s been a long time, but I think it was an apartment building. That couple put on quite a show during the height of the streaking fad and received a tumultuous ovation. Thanks for the memories wherever you are, and I hope your kids never found out!
—Doug “Smitty” Smith, Seattle, Wash.
My favorite memory of the Strip took place years after my wife and I graduated (1973). In the summer of 1996 we brought our two sons to Knoxville to attend the UT basketball camp. We live in Birmingham and this was the year after UT beat Alabama for the first time in what had seemed like forever. Wanting to start the boys' campus visit off with a real UT experience, we took them to Sam and Andy's. My family sat down at a table while I waited to pick up the sandwiches we ordered. Suddenly there is a murmur in the room and I turn to see Peyton Manning, his date, and another couple enter the deli.
I tried to be really cool and act like nothing was happening. Then behind me I heard my wife's loud voice - "Are you Peyton Manning? We live in Birmingham and you have made us soincredibly happy by beating Alabama!" She went on and on I was so embarrassed that I wanted to melt into the floor. Peyton was incredibly nice and acted totally patient and cool. I got our sandwiches and we all sat down.
Unfortunately, Peyton sat at a nearby table where he was looking over my head at a TV on the wall. I tried to avoid eye contact but he finally looked at me and sort of nodded knowingly. I was never sure if his nod meant, "It's OK," or "Oh you poor man!" We laugh about it now, and it turned into a great memory for my sons. However, I have always wanted to write Peyton and tell him I'm sorry for my crazy wife who interrupted his date!
—Gary Dunavant, Birmingham, Ala.
I graduated UTK in 1981, and one of my fondest memories of the Strip was on Wednesday nights, after the intramural football games, watching an unknown band at The Brewery called Alabama!
—Betty Lou Burnett, Brentwood, Tennessee
