TDMMC March Madness - CULTURE - Blue Turf vs. Rocky Top

[Phishfan]

Bronco Stadium is widely known for its unusual blue playing surface, installed in 1986 while in the Big Sky Conference. It was the first non-green playing surface (outside of painted end zones) in football history and remains the only one among NCAA Division I FBS schools.



With its good-natured regional references to a carefree lifestyle, the singing of "Rocky Top" by Tennessee college students and alumni at sports venues such as Neyland Stadium is well established. House of Bryant has granted the University of Tennessee a perpetual license to play the song as much and as often as success on the field dictates. Longtime director W. J. Julian created a marching band arrangement that was first played at Tennessee's October 21, 1972, game against the University of Alabama

[Phishfan]

I went to Knoxville once during Manning's senior year. The first thing I heard when we opend the car doors outside my friend's place was someone with their stereo speakers blaring Rocky Top out the windows. They play the crap out of that song.

[Brian Fein]

^^ I think that would annoy me to no end. 

That said, with some limited exceptions, I will always pick a unique stadium feature over singing a song.

[Dave Gray]

I originally hated the Blue Turf, but it grew on me and seems totally connected to Boise State.

[Landshark]

Other schools should follow suit on the blue turf

[Brian Fein]

^^ couldn't disagree more.  Other schools should come up with something original.

[Dave Gray]

^^ couldn't disagree more.  Other schools should come up with something original.

Word.

The reason the blue turf is good only because it's just the one school that does it.  Overexposure of these things are lame.

[el diablo]

^^^^^ I agree. I've been hoping for years that The U would do something like alternating sections of orange, green, & white. That would be original. But then again, they do share a home with the Dolphins. Oh well.