Finally the Rocky Top truth

To Sports:

WOW, after so many years The Truth about Rocky Top is published in the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Mark Wiedmer’s Feb. 18 column, “Forty years ago, Mocs owned Rocky Top.” I had given up hearing this ever being known to the public, as I thought it was a conspiracy with UT that UTC would keep a lid on it.

You see, I was there every game back in the 1970s, and it is etched in my mind forever what those (Coach Ron) Shumate teams did for our basketball team and for our fledging city. It was awesome. Tickets were almost impossible to get, lights were dimmed and floodlights came on as each Moc player was introduced, and you could not hear yourself breathe because of the wild and energized crowd — awesome indeed!!

And yes, “Rocky Top” started right here, right then, before Knoxville knew how to spell it. … The Roundhouse was filled to the rafters for game after game. The Mocs program was the program at that time. Same with the football team under the late Joe Morrison. Such wonderful memories!

My thanks to Mark Wiedmer for his recognition of all of this, long overdue. Bob Nash, Ooltewah